A supervisor's aide says shadow-based CEQA appeals have stalled more than 2,000 SF homes since 2017

A aide presenting the Shade Act on behalf of Supervisor Bilal Mahmood tells the Planning Commission that CEQA appeals built on shadow analysis have delayed or killed more than 2,000 housing units across more than a dozen San Francisco projects since 2017. Shadow review is not required by state environmental law, but San Francisco added it to its local CEQA process and gave neighbors a free appeal route on that basis. The proposed Shade Act would strip the validity of those shadow-based appeals while leaving shadow studies in place for parks, where a voter mandate requires them. The aide also says the broader ordinance would align city timelines and appeal procedures more closely with state law, shaving months off project approvals and reducing costs.