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<br />02/26/2007 <br /> <br />D. The shadowing effects at 601 Brewster Avenue are not considered a substantial <br />adverse physical change to the property and alternatives to reducing such effects <br />are not required to be evaluated in the FEIR. <br /> <br />E. The Appellant has not presented evidence of any direct physical change or <br />indirect physical change that could result from the shadowing effects on his <br />property. A substantial adverse physical change to the property has neither been <br />identified nor described. <br /> <br />F. In fact, the shadow study submitted by the appellant contains evidence of the <br />non-substantial shadowing that could be caused by a new 8-story building <br />adjacent to the appellant's property. As the sun traverses across the sky, the <br />shadowing on appellant's property would intensify and then dissipate. As the <br />Appellant's shadow study demonstrates, shadow would not be cast on 601 <br />Brewster Avenue for all daylight hours. <br /> <br />G. Shadow studies have been conducted in Redwood City to address the protection <br />of sensitive habitats, residential environments, and public areas such as <br />Downtown Redwood City's Courthouse Square that are established to <br />specifically provide venues of increased solar access. <br /> <br />H. Shadow studies were conducted for the Marina Shores Village project because <br />the proposed building massing (17 residential towers) and heights (up to 21 <br />stories) were unprecedented in that area of low-lying residential environment and <br />sensitive natural habitat. Based on City-adopted General Plan policies <br />specifically calling for the protection of sensitive natural and residential <br />environments, the City decided it was important for the Marina Shores Village <br />EIR to discuss the potential shadow effects that the proposed towers would cast <br />on sensitive shoreline and nearby existing residences. <br /> <br />I. Shadow impacts to commercial areas are not recognized in any pertinent City <br />plans and policies. Adopted City of Redwood City plans and policies regarding <br />visual quality include provisions of the Redwood City Strategic General Plan, the <br />Redwood City Zoning Ordinance, and the Redwood City Planning Division Urban <br />Design Guidelines. <br /> <br />J. Even though Redwood City Urban Design Guidelines state "Natural sunlight <br />provisions shall be encouraged for all projects, particularly in the case of <br />residential developments and public and private outdoor areas," this guideline (as <br />well as the other pertinent plans and policies set forth in the Marina Shores <br />Village EIR Section 5.2) does not include any specific recognition or protections <br />regarding shadow impacts to commercial areas. <br /> <br />K. Furthermore, even though the City described the shadow impacts in the Marina <br />Shores Village Project to include "commercial and office" uses as being affected <br />by the shadows, the entire discussion of the impact in the EIR focuses primarily <br />on impacts to existing residential and natural environments. <br /> <br />ATTY/RESO/RESO.1685 <br />022607 <br /> <br />14765 <br />Muff# 603 <br />