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after mitigation,it could contribute considerably to localized cumulative stationary-source noise. A significant and unavoidable cumulative impact would occur because no mitigation is available to mitigate this impact° Project traffic would increase traffic noise along Grant Line Road,Mountain House Parkway,Byron Road, I-205, and I-580, along which existing noise-sensitive uses(residential) are located. According to the noise analysis .� conducted for the project(see Section 4.13,"Noise"),project traffic noise would not exceed County standards at existing noise-sensitive receptors for uses along most of these streets but would exceed standards at existing noise-sensitive uses along Grant Line Road(Grant Line Village,seven existing residences on the north side of Grant Line Road).However, sound walls are proposed under the proposed project and/or are required by mitigation in Section 4.13,"Noise,"which would reduce this impact. Similarly, sound walls would be developed by Specific Plan lI to reduce its traffic noise impacts, and it is assumed that,as required by the County,future ` projects that add substantial traffic to Grant Line Road,Mountain House Parkway,and other local roads would be required to do the same.However,traffic noise impacts on existing noise-sensitive uses is evaluated by adding project traffic to existing traffic volumes on adjacent streets, and mitigated based on the incremental increase in noise,rather than by adding project traffic to future cumulative traffic volumes and mitigating based on the incremental increase between existing and cumulative noise. Hence,cumulative noise on area streets could potentially exceed any feasible mitigation(sound walls)that may be required on a project-by-project basis. Therefore,cumulative traffic noise could exceed applicable County noise standards in the future on Grant Line Road,Mountain House Parkway, I-205, and I-580, and the project could contribute considerably to this noise because it would add a considerable amount of traffic to these roadways.A significant and unavoidable cumulative impact could thus occur with respect to traffic noise. 6.3.13 VISUAL QUALITY Development along the I-205 corridor has increasingly changed the visual character from agricultural and open- space use to urban use,thus altering and limiting the views available to motorists on nearby roadways.This trend will continue as future projects are implemented in the region,and the proposed project would contribute to this ,o cumulative change in views.As development proceeds in the project region as a whole,substantial changes in visual conditions would continue as agricultural lands and open space are replaced by urban development. Increased urban development would also lead to increased nighttime light and glare in the region and more limited views of the night sky. The cumulative effect of these changes on visual resources from past and planned future projects,as well as the contribution from the proposed project, is considered significant and unavoidable. Although these cumulative impacts can be minimised to a degree through vegetative and topographic screening of structures,use of outdoor lighting that limits glare,appropriate building design, and other measures,the significant and unavoidable cumulative impact cannot be fully mitigated.Therefore,the cumulative change of agricultural and open-space views in the project region to urban land uses and the associated increase in nighttime light and glare are considered significant and unavoidable impacts. In addition,the project's incremental contribution to these impacts is a significant and unavoidable cumulative impact. 6.4 SUMMARY OF CUMULATIVE IMPACTS As described in Subsection 6.3 above,the proposed project would result in significant and unavoidable cumulative impacts in the following areas: land use and agriculture—farmland conversion; transportation—impacts on I-205,I-580,I-5, and Altamont Pass Road; Sound walls would be required around all commercial and industrial uses.Loading docks would need to be enclosed,and landscape maintenance activities would need to be restricted to electric rather than gasoline-based lawn mowers and leaf blowers.These actions are contrary to many MHMP policies,including policies limiting the use of sound walls. College Park at Mountain House Specific Plan III Draft EIR EDAW San Joaquin County 6.15 Cumulative Impacts