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7.B. - Page 51 Redwood City Chapter 4.Environmental Impact Analysis Would the project: a. Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? No New Impact.According to the Redwood City General Plan and General Plan EIR,scenic vistas are primarily available from the southern and western portions of the City within the elevated hillside neighborhoods, including views from the Edgewood County Park, Easter Cross,Canada College,and Easter Bowl.These areas,because of their elevated locations,provide opportunities for scenic views of the nearby Peninsula communities and San Francisco Bay to the east-northeast.As described in the 2007 FEIR(page 4.3-1),views from the project site facing north,east,and west are of an existing surface parking lot and landscaped areas in the foreground and commercial buildings, Middlefield Road and multifamily residences in the background.Current views of the project site from Middlefield Road include a surface parking lot in the foreground with security light poles and scattered trees in the landscaped medians as well as the Costco warehouse and fueling center building.There are views of the Santa Cruz Mountains to the west.These physical conditions and viewscapes remain the same in 2012 as they existed in 2006. From the viewpoint of Middlefield Road and multifamily residences,the only physical change to the project site since 2006 has been the addition of the fueling center canopy,which can be seen in the background. Due to the distance, intervening topography,and buildings,and because the expanded canopy associated with the proposed modifications would be the same height as the existing canopy,the impact of the proposed modifications would be the same as that which was analyzed in the 2007 FEIR(see page 4.3-3) and would not have an adverse effect on a scenic vista.There would be no new impact. b. Substantially damage scenic resources,including,but not limited to trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings along a scenic highway? No New Impact.According to the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) State Scenic Highway Mapping System,there are three designated scenic highways within the San Mateo County (County),one of which is located less than 4 miles from the project site.Interstate 280 (I-280), which runs southeast to northwest approximately 3.3 miles southwest of the project site,is a designated scenic highway from the Santa Clara County line to the San Bruno city limit. I-280 traverses the valley created by the San Andreas Fault and provides forest and mountain vistas, background water and mountain panoramas,and enclosed lake and mountain ridge views (Caltrans 2007). Because I-280 is situated within a densely vegetated and enclosed valley,views of the proposed modifications would be unavailable.Existing mature trees and vegetation and well as topographic features would completely block views of the project site from this scenic highway. Furthermore,the proposed modifications are not located along a scenic highway,would not have any effect on the physical environment along a scenic highway,and would not remove or otherwise affect large rock outcroppings,protected tree species,historic buildings,or any other scenic resources.Therefore,there would be no new impact. c. Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? No New Impact.The project site is currently developed with a 160,620 sf commercial retail warehouse building,a surface parking consisting of 745 parking stalls,and a fueling center with three islands and 12 fueling stations.The surrounding visual character of the project site is characterized by commercial uses and single-and multifamily residences.The adjacent land uses include Orchard Supply Hardware to the west,Safe Keep Storage to the east, Caltrain/UPRR railroad tracks to the south,and a Sigona's Market to the north.No changes to the existing Costco warehouse are proposed,and the proposed modifications are limited to the reconfiguration of the existing Addendum No.2 to the Environmental Impact Report for September 2012 the Redwood City Costco Wholesale Project 4-6 ICF 00154.12