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YnitW Study—LID Annexation a)Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? ❑ ❑ ❑ 0 b)Substantially damage scenic resources,including,but not limited to,trees,rock outcroppings,and historic buildings within ❑ ❑ ❑ a state scenic highway? c)Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ d)Create a new source of substantial light or glare that would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? ❑ ❑ 0 ❑ The current project area is an agricultural area with a flat topography, fairly typical of rural areas within San Joaquin County. There are few structures of significance on or near the project area other than the grain silos located just south of the project. Potential aesthetic impacts associated with the development of the Stewart Tract were addressed both in the General Plan and River Islands EIRs. The discussion in the River Islands EIR as it related to the LID annexation specifically included potential impacts of both transmission and distribution lines and the placement of an electrical substation. The General Plan EIR also provided the following recommended mitigation measure that was adopted by reference in the River Islands EIR: "All gas,electrical,telephone,and cable distribution lines should be placed underground; if overhead transmission line rights-of-way are required,they should be incorporated into open space corridors so as to minimize their visual impacts on the urban environment." The River Islands EIR mentions overhead electrical lines in its analysis of impacts to surrounding areas of the project site: "After project implementation, the project elements visible from the surrounding lands would be houses on the high-ground corridors and potentially small portions of the project bridges, the electrical transmission line connectingto o the project site, and tops of buildings in the Employment Center and potentially the Town Center. However, most views of the houses would be obscured by existing levees and planned landscaping/revegetation, and other project features would be visible only from limited locations. In addition, from most vantage points, viewers from surrounding lands would be limited to the low densities of residents in dispersed farmsteads/homes and farmers and others tending agricultural lands." As a result, overhead lines would not create a significant impact; the River Islands EIR and MMRP included no mitigation as a result. Existing distribution overhead lines (owned by PG&E) would be initially purchased by LID to serve existing customers and then phased out when underground distribution lines to serve the ultimate development associated with River Islands is completed. LID proposes to place all distribution lines and smaller transmission lines(under 35kV) underground. All larger transmission lines from the PG&E interconnection to the substation site would be overhead lines, placed along existing rights of way(within landscaped corridors) and open space corridors. As suggested by previous mitigation,all underground pipelines, including gas and electrical distribution lines,would be located within existing and proposed rights-of-way. Where possible, installation of the electrical 18