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8.0 <br /> Page 8 <br /> evaluating the significance of such effects. CEQA and other State regulations do not <br /> offer any guidance in this matter, thus staff and the consultant exhaustively studied <br /> policies of other municipaiities in order to identify an appropriate approach for Redwood <br /> City. It was found that shadow policies varied widely, and that practically no two were <br /> alike. <br /> Shadowing criteria were developed as the most appropriate for powntown Redwood i <br /> City: No new structure within the DTPP area shou[d cause any of the following uses <br /> and spaces to be more than 50 percent in shadow at 12:00 p.m. on the Spring Equinox: <br /> • Designated shadow-sensitive public open spaces; <br /> • Downtown parcels with lower maximum permitted building heights adjacent to parcels <br /> with higher maximum permitted heights; <br /> • Residential properties located outside but adjacent to the DPP area; <br /> • Light-sensitive features on historic resources; and <br /> • Historic character-defining facades. <br /> These criteria were selected for several reasons. First, they yield clear benefits that <br /> relate directly to peoples' experience of Downtown. Noon is the hour in which the <br /> greatest numbers of people are outdoors in Downtown and the City wants to ensure that <br /> sunny outdoor spaces are available for its citizens to enjoy. Likewise, while the new <br /> DTPP shadow threshold will ensure an adequate amount of sun for public enjoyment <br /> and comfort, it will not completely eliminate shade during the hot Redwood City <br /> summers, when shade can be an important resource. <br /> A second reason for the selection of the above criteria was compatibifity with the vision <br /> of the DTPP. While these criteria required substantial alterations to the DTPP in order to <br /> avoid impacts, the alterations were not such that the goal of creating a comfortable, <br /> compact, pedestrian-oriented downtown was undermined. To make the DTPP self- <br /> mitigating with regards to shadow impacts as measured by the above criteria, the DTPP <br /> height section was modified to reduce maximum permitted building heights in many <br /> areas, particularly near public open spaces and historic resources. <br /> A third reason for establishing the above criteria was measurability. Through the use of <br /> highly accurate computer simulations, the City is able to observe, quantify, and analyze <br /> the shadow effects under each of the criteria described above. These computer <br /> simulations have identified the structures and locations where shadow effects would <br /> exceed the City's proposed criteria. The Plan was modified through reductions on <br /> maximum atlowable building heights in order to address potential shadow impacts. <br /> Reducing the building heights avoids the need to conduct shadow studies at a later date <br /> for individual projects. <br /> This approach to identifying and addressing shadow effects has been determined to be <br /> appropriate by the City's CEQA consultant and by an additional third party planning <br /> consultant with experience in the development of shadow policies hired by the city <br /> specifically to provide additional oversight. Software utilized to model shadows is <br /> 8 <br />