SU0014674 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MOUNTAIN HOUSE NEIGHBORHOOD'F"PROJECT INITIAL STUDY Environmental Checklist Potentially Significant Potentially Unless Less Than Significant Mitigation Significant No Impact Incorporated Impact Impact AESTHETICS. Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? 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? d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area? Environmental Checklist Explanations a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? The project would not be visible from designated Scenic Routes. The nearest designated scenic route in the County's General Plan is the I-580 link to 1-5 about 2.2 miles south of the project site. However, the site would be visible from public roadways, both existing and proposed, such as Mountain House Parkway, Central Parkway, and Mascot Boulevard(see Figure 1). The existing rural visual quality of the site would be replaced with urban-type development, with buildings ranging in height from 25 to 45 feet. This new development would be partially screened from view by proposed landscaping along roadways. Landscaping along streets and in public areas would be required as a part of the CSD Board of Directors design review and approval process. New soundwalls would be constructed along a number of roads within the project site(see Figure 5). These soundwalls would create a visual barrier to the interior portions of the community that would be mitigated by new landscaping at the perimeter of the walls. This landscaping has been identified in the CSD Design Manual and would include requirements for vines planted a maximum of 10 feet on center for all soundwalls. If the walls exceed 7 feet in height, as recommended in Section H of this Initial Study, an amendment to the Design Manual may be necessary. Views toward Mt. Diablo and associated foothills to the west of the site would be restricted by new buildings and new landscaping along east-west corridors. However, some of these views would be available during winter months when deciduous trees were out of leaf. b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? As mentioned above, the project would not be visible from a designated state scenic highway. Existing trees at the project site include willow trees(approximately 30 feet in height) along the irrigation ditch in the central portion of the site and mature pines associated with a private residence in the northeast corner of the project site. These trees would be removed for new development. New landscaping would be added throughout the project site along new and existing roads. Over time, individual homeowners would C:v0951srC1JNmnt,MMY\flNAl.namnLMMY•PAnnDOC IWnaoo> 119 V.P. AESTHETICS