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4 Environmental Analysis 4.1 Aesthetics under agricultural production while driving on two-lane roads through rural portions of the county (San Joaquin County 2014). The Top of the World Scenic Lookout is located along Patterson Pass Road, approximately 4.3 miles to the west of the Project site. 4.1.2.5 Viewer Groups In general, the types of viewers present within the viewshed of the Project are classified as local residents and motorists. The following discussion summarizes the composition of the groups identified within the viewshed of the Project and their characteristics that are relevant to the visual assessment. Local Residents The local resident viewer group consists of people who live within the viewshed of the Project. Residences within the Project viewshed are found along West Patterson Pass to the north, Midway Road to the west, the frontage road south of the PG&E Tesla Substation, and near 1-580 and 1-205 northeast of the Project site. The closest residences on land not owned by the current property owner are approximately 0.2 mile (approximately 1,000 feet) north of the Project site on the other side of West Patterson Pass and 0.2 mile (approximately 1,000 feet) southwest of the Project site at the southern terminus of Midway Road. Local residents may be more sensitive to changes in their specific views and may have adverse reactions to views of the Project facilities. The existing landscape already includes the PG&E Tesla Substation and numerous transmission towers and lines and, as a result, the addition of the Project would not be as significant a change as it would if the landscape had no development. For example, residents with a view across the open grasslands within the Project viewshed who have views of the PG&E Tesla Substation and multiple transmission towers and lines may be less sensitive to landscape changes than those with solely a view of open grasslands. Travelers Travelers passing through an area typically view the landscape from motor vehicles on their way to work or other destinations. Travelers include people engaged in various types of business or personal travel. Commuters do not tend to stop along their travel routes, have a relatively narrow field of view because they are focused on road and traffic conditions, and are destination-oriented. Passengers in commuter vehicles would have greater opportunities for prolonged offroad views toward landscape features and, accordingly, may have greater perception of changes in the visual environment. Travelers are typically moving, have a relatively narrow field of view, and are destination-oriented. Generally, drivers in this group are focused on driving and on the road and traffic conditions, but do have the opportunity to observe roadside scenery. 4.1.2.6 Existing Visual Character Six KOPs were selected to assess the level of visual change resulting from the Project energy storage facility as described in Section 4.1.1.3, Key Observation Points, on the existing environment. The locations of the six KOPs are presented in Figure 4.1-2. The KOPs were selected to capture representative vantages from Midway Road, West Patterson Road, and 1-580, and residences southwest and north of the Project site. Photographs from each KOP under existing conditions are presented in Figures 4.1-3 through 4.1-8. Griffith Energy Storage Project 4.1-16 Tetra Tech/SCH 2022120675 Draft Environmental Impact Report August 2023