Ordinance amending the Administrative Code to simplify and streamline procedures for local compliance with the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), including removing shadow analysis as a specific type of environmental impact, reducing the time to appeal CEQA determinations to the Board of Supervisors from 30 to 15 days, and removing some procedures for environmental documents that are not required by CEQA; to implement recent changes in state law regarding the timing of compliance with CEQA; and affirming the Planning Department’s determination under CEQA.

This bill amended the Housing Accountability Act to include time frames for CEQA review completion, influencing local compliance procedures.

This included Action 8.5.6, requiring the City to identify and amend local CEQA procedures that exceed state requirements.

This review identified concerns with San Francisco’s CEQA practices and mandated the elimination of unnecessary supplemental studies.

This bill emphasized that CEQA should not delay essential projects unrelated to environmental protection, further prompting local reforms.

Supervisor Mahmood introduced the ordinance to amend the Administrative Code to simplify CEQA compliance procedures.

The Planning Commission found that shadow is not a physical environmental effect under CEQA and recommended approval of the ordinance.

The Planning Department confirmed that the proposed amendments are not defined as a project under CEQA guidelines.

The ordinance is scheduled for a committee hearing, following its referral and responses from relevant departments.