AgdaPkt 2013-07-22 - Laserfiche WebLink

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7.A. - Page 19 Issues• Summary of Impacts Potentially Less than Significant Less than Significant With Mitigation Significant No Im act Incor orated Im act Im act L AESTHETICS -- Would the project: a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? X b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock X outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? c) Substantially degrade the e�sting visual character or quality of the site and its X surroundings? d) Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect X day or nighttime views in the area? (" Glare" is defined in this EIR as the reflection of harsh bright light sufficient to cause physical discomfort or loss in visual performance and visibility.) e) Cast shadow that substantially impairs the beneficial use, important values, or X livability of any shadow-sensitive use, including public parks, plazas or open space areas; buildings using passive solar heat collection or solar collectors; historic resources with a shadow-sensitive character-defining feature; or shadow-sensitive portions of residential parcels? Documentation a. The Downtown Precise Plan EIR (pp. 6-26 and 6-27) concluded that no scenic vistas or view corridors would be substantially obstructed or degraded by future development that occurs in accordance with the DTPP. The impact of the DTPP was considered to be less than significant, and no mitigations were required. The proposed project is in compliance with all applicable DTPP regulations, and as a result, no additional aesthetic impacts are anticipated. Furthermore, the amendments to the DTPP would not result in arry new development that would have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista; therefore no additional impacts are anticipated. b. The only designated scenic highway in Redwood City is Interstate 280, located approximately 3 miles west of the DTPP area. The DTPP area and project site are not visible from Interstate 280, and the Downtown Precise Plan EIR (pp. 6-26 and 6-27) concluded that no scenic vistas or view corridors would be substantially obstructed or degraded by future development that occurs in accordance with the DTPP. The impact of the DTPP was considered to be less than significant, and no mitigations were required. The proposed project is in compliance with all applicable DTPP regulations, and as a result, no additional aesthetic impacts are anticipated. c. The Downtown Precise Plan EIR (pp. 6-27 and 6-28) concluded that the development occurring in conformance with the DTPP would result in a more discernible and distinctive Downtown form, improved height and scale relationships at sensitive transitions to adjacent low-rise neighborhoods, and would enhance the overall historic character of the area. The impact of the DTPP was considered to be less than significant, and no mitigations were required. The proposed project is in compliance with all applicable DTPP regulations, and as a result, no additional aesthetic impacts are anticipated. Furthermore, the amendments to the DTPP would not result in the modification of building heights or scale and therefore would not result in arry new or unanticipated aesthetic impacts. It should be noted, however, that the amendments would remove some of the conceptual design elements such as Depot Circle and the elevated railroad tracks. While these elements are to be removed from the DTPP, the removal of such conceptual elements would not result in the degradation of the existing environment. More specifically the Depot Circle concept would be replaced with Depot Plaza, which is anticipated to have a beneficial effect. The introduction of exposed surface parking lots as a temporary land use is not anticipated to degrade the existing visual character or quality of the Downtown and its surroundings largely because the existing context of the Downtown has a variety of exposed surface parking lots. The temporary accommodation of exposed surfaces lots is to help the facilitation of new development projects by providing interim parking solutions while projects are under construction or otherwise need temporary accommodations. More specifically, in order to allow temporary exposed surface parking the PlanningManager/Designee shall make the following findings: 10