Commissions approve limited shadow allocations and conditionally accept Redwood Park proposal; planning vote 4–3

The Recreation and Park Commission and the Planning Commission each considered staff analyses of the project’s shadow impacts and the proposed donation and expansion of Redwood Park. Rec & Park adopted staff’s resolution unanimously (5–0). The Planning Commission later voted 4–3 to raise Maritime Plaza’s cumulative shadow limit modestly, establish a limit for Sue Bierman Park, and authorize allocating that shadow budget to the 555 Washington project.

Staff framed its recommendation around five criteria: cumulative impacts, whether the new shadow affects high-use portions of the parks, future uses, park size, and the amount of existing shadow. Planning and Rec & Park staff told the commissions that most new shadow occurs late in the day, affects park edges or intermittently used lawns, and would not materially…