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4.14.4 IMPACT ANALYSIS ANALYSIS METHODOLOGY _ The visual quality analysis examines the potential changes in the visual environment that could occur as seen from public vantage points.This was accomplished by: ► documenting the existing visual environment at each of the proposed improvement sites through photographs from representative public vantage points("viewpoints"), ► identifying the most likely changes in the visual conditions at these improvement sites as seen from the public vantage points, and ► determining whether these changes would meet significance thresholds. IMPACTS AND MITIGATION MEASURES _ The Initial Study(IS)prepared for the College Park project found that the other visual impacts associated with the proposed project(i.e.,aesthetics,views,and light and glare impacts associated with the conversion of the site _ from rural to urban use,visual impacts associated with development of water tanks required to serve development in Mountain House,visual impacts associated with development of a community college instead of residential uses in the southwest portion of the site)were adequately evaluated in the previous EIRs covering the project site (1994 MHMP EIR and 2002 Delta College EIR). It was further found in the IS that the proposed project would not exacerbate these impacts. Additionally,the IS found that the proposed project would not result in any visual impacts associated with views from a designated scenic highway because there are not any scenic highways designated in the project study area. Therefore, in accordance with Section 15063(b)(1)(C)of the State CEQA Guidelines,the visual impacts identified above and the potential for the proposed project to impact views from a scenic highway are not evaluated further in this Draft EIR. See the IS (Appendix D of this Draft EIR)for further discussion. IMPACT Visual Quality—Alteration of Visual Character along Grant Line Road from Tree Removal. The 4.14-1 proposed project would result in the removal of approximately 188 mature trees along Grant Line Road, altering the visual character along this roadway.A significant and unavoidable impact would occur. _ As discussed in Chapter 3,"Project Description,"Grant Line Road is planned under the MHMP and proposed under the College Park project to be widened from two to four lanes, and curb, gutter,and sidewalk improvements _ are to be provided along the roadway, from Hansen Road to I-205.These improvements would require the removal of approximately 188 mature trees which currently grow on both sides of Grant Line Road for an approximately 4,000 foot stretch extending west from Mountain House Parkway(Figure 4.10-2 in Section 4.10, "Biological Resources,"and Viewpoint No. 1,Figure 4.14-2). The MHMP and the MHCSD Design Manual set forth landscaping and edge treatment design requirements along Grant Line Road. Section 4.5(h)of the MHMP requires that roadway improvements to Grant Line Road occur – consistent with the cross sections identified for this roadway in the MHMP(Chapter 9, Figure 9.20),and requires the provision of East/West Arterial Landscape treatments,including large canopy trees on either side and down the center median of Grant Line Road. Section 4.5,Implementation h, of the MHMP requires that landscaping _. plans that include walls,fences,trails, sidewalks, and a conceptual layout of trees, shrubs, and ground cover be submitted for this roadway in the context of each specific plan.The MHCSD Design Manual,Chapter 3,requires the plantings along Grant Line Road to be reminiscent of the native Oak Savannah of the San Joaquin Valley, _ with evergreen canopy trees on sculptured berms with shrub masses on both sides and down the center median of EDAW College Park at Mountain House Specific Plan III Draft EIR Visual Quality 4.14-16 San Joaquin County