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Parkway,approximately 1,600 feet south of Byron Road; and(2)in the southeastern comer of the Pombo <br /> property, approximately 900 feet east of Mountain House Parkway and 1,600 feet south of Byron Road.Two <br /> pond configuration options are also being considered: (1)an at-grade pond(fully below grade with the pond <br /> surface at grade); and(2)an above-grade pond(below/above grade with the tops of berms at 12 feet above grade). <br /> The existing view of the pond site as seen from Mountain House Parkway is provided as Viewpoint No. 2 in <br /> Figure 4.14-2.The specific location and cross section of each pond is shown graphically in figures in the <br /> Irrigation Feasibility Study for the Pombo Property,Appendix F of this Draft EIR. <br /> Regardless of the location and configuration options for the pond,the pond would adversely affect scenic vistas <br /> (i.e.,views of the farmland in the foreground and the distant Sierra Nevada in the background).Any such impacts <br /> on visual character and scenic vistas would be fleeting, as motorists on Mountain House Parkway would have <br /> their views affected for only several seconds while driving past the pond.Any such impacts would be temporary, <br /> lasting as long as the land disposal operation takes place(which is proposed as an interim operation,lasting only — <br /> until such time as river discharges commence associated with the Mountain House Wastewater Treatment Plant). <br /> The MHMP and MHCSD Design Manual set forth landscaping and edge treatment requirements along Mountain _ <br /> House Parkway that would soften the visual impact of the pond. Section 4.5(h)of the MHMP requires that <br /> roadway improvements to Mountain House Parkway occur consistent with the cross-sections identified for this <br /> roadway in the MHMP(Chapter 9,Figure 9.25).The same section also requires the provision of North/South <br /> Arterial Landscape treatments,including large canopy trees on either side and down the center median of <br /> Mountain House Parkway. Section 4.5, Implementation h,of the MHMP requires that landscaping plans that <br /> include walls, fences,trails,sidewalks,and a conceptual layout of trees, shrubs,and ground cover be submitted <br /> for this roadway.MHCSD Design Manual Chapter 3 requires plantings along Mountain House Parkway <br /> reminiscent of the agricultural orchards and windrows of the San Joaquin Valley,including columnar trees, <br /> groves of densely planted small flowering trees,and shrubs on both sides and down the center median of the <br /> roadway.MHCSD Design Manual Chapter 14 requires undesirable elements of public works facilities be <br /> screened through the use of plantings or berms. These requirements would soften the visual impact of the pond <br /> regardless of the location and configuration options implemented. <br /> As discussed above,the visual character and scenic vista impacts of the pond would be fleeting and temporary, <br /> and existing County landscaping and edge treatment requirements would visually soften and buffer views of the <br /> pond from Mountain House Parkway.However,because the segment of Mountain House Parkway adjacent to the r <br /> Pombo property is not proposed for improvement under the College Park project(i.e.,MHMP improvements to <br /> this roadway at this location would occur under Specific Plans I and II),there is no guarantee that the landscaping <br /> and edge treatment requirements for Mountain House Parkway would be implemented before development of the <br /> pond.Furthermore,the pond may be visible between the landscaping and edge treatments.A significant impact <br /> could occur. <br /> Mitigation Measure 4.14-2:Visual Quality—Alteration of a Scenic Vista from Mountain House Parkway. — <br /> The following measures shall be implemented by the College Park developers: <br /> ► If the landscaping and edge treatments required by the MHMP and MHCSD Design Manual have not been _ <br /> developed on the east side of Mountain House Parkway fronting the Pombo property by Specific Plans I or II <br /> at the time the proposed pond is developed on the Pombo property,the required landscaping and edge _ <br /> treatments on the east side of Mountain House Parkway in the vicinity of the proposed pond shall be installed <br /> by the College Park developers.This shall be done concurrent with development of the pond. <br /> ► If the aboveground pond option is developed,the west-facing pond berm shall be densely landscaped by the <br /> College Park developers. In addition,the berm shall be constructed by the College Park developers using <br /> contoured and rounded slopes to avoid angular face slopes.This shall be done concurrent with development <br /> of the pond. - <br /> EDAW College Park at Mountain House Speclic Plan III Draft EIR <br /> Visual Quality 4.14-18 San Joaquin County <br />