Supervisors, planning director agree to study before reaffirming Prop K; June ballot placement postponed

President David Chu told the Rules Committee that he and cosponsors will delay placing a measure reaffirming Proposition K on the June ballot after the mayor and the Planning Department agreed to a more thorough study and a stakeholder task force.

Chu framed the proposal as a reaffirmation of the 1984 ballot measure, saying the original policy had protected sunlight in parks for decades. He told the committee that community concerns about recent changes to shadow allowances and measurement methodology had prompted sponsors to seek a slower, more data‑driven approach.

Planning Director Ram told the committee the department will slow planned technical updates and participate in a public process. He described the department’s current practice of doing a preliminary shadow analysis for projects above 40 feet and said detailed shadow impacts are calculated after a project is designed; he said a recent cumulative analysis of proposed projects showed additional shadow totaling less than 0.5 percent of park area.

The sponsors said they intend to convene or support a task force—including neighborhood stakeholders and advocacy groups such as SPUR—to examine measurement methodologies and recommend any legislative changes. In return, the Planning Department pledged not to move forward with the proposed 2010 technical criteria until the study and community process are complete.

Several members of the public, including Brad Paul (who helped draft Prop K) and Jennifer Clary of San Francisco Tomorrow, commended the delay and urged clear, easily understood graphics and expanded protections for non‑Rec & Park open spaces. Chu closed the item by thanking participants and saying the sponsors hope to place a refined measure on the November ballot after the study and task‑force work.