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3.1 Visual and Lighting 3.1 Visual and Lighting 3.1.1 Introduction This section of the EIR describes existing visual conditions at the project site, with an emphasis on visibility from nearby residents and public roadways. The existing visual character of the region and project site is addressed, along .vith the sensitive visual receptors and sensitive visual resources known to be present. Applicable County policies related to visual resources arc presented. Potential changes in light and glare are the primary concern, but information related to scenic resources and changes in visual duality are also discussed. 3,1 .2 Setting Visual Character of the Region San Joaquin County is one of California's leading agricultural centers;the County typically ranks in the top 10 of California's 58 counties for gross value of agricultural production, therefore. agric-ultural landscapes are a dominate featw•e ofthe County. The primary scenic resources within San Joaquin County are the natural, rural, and agricultural landscapes of-non-urbanized areas of the County. and the agricultural and natural landscapes of the Delta. These natural scenic resources include rural agricultural landscapes,the Delta, marshes, wetlands, river corridors, rangelands, and scenic panoramas. Major landforms in the County include the foothills of the Diablo Range in the southwest, the foothills of the Sierra Nevada in the east, and the Delta in the northwest. I:lo\,4ever-, because of often poor air quality within the County, views of the scenic panoramas of the Diablo Range and the Sierra.Nevada are often obscured, with views of the Sierra Nevada beim.: limited many days annually. Furthermore.because of the flatness of most of the County's terrain and often poor air quality views are limited many days throughout the year. Most scenic views arc limited to the near- and medium-ran<ge from viewpoints such as public recreation areas and roadways. Visual Character and Views of the Project Site The exist.ino 142 acre Munn & Perkins Facility is located on the south side of East River Road approximately 1,000 feet west of Harold Avenue in southeastern San Joaquin County approximately 2 miles southeast of the City of Escalon (Figure 3.1-1). The site is characterized by typical quarry operations irrcludinga sand and gravel processing plant, an asphaltleoncretc recycling plant, an asphalt plant. storage silos. various material stockpiles. truck scales. and an office. The project site contains large orchard areas (almonds and walnuts), which include both reserve areas and prior quarry areas in various stages of reclamation back to agricultt.rre_The visual character of the project area is predominantly agricultural with almond orchards dominating the landscape. Munn & Perkins also operates a sand quarry on the north side of Last River Road northeast of the project site. Views of the sand quarry arc obscured by a landscaped bet-Ill. .............. _..... Munn&Perkins Quarry Excavation PeIMIIi 3.1-1 E5_1211 URG Draft EIR April 2011