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4.1 Aesthetics and Visual Quality Draft EIR

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4.1 Aesthetics and Visual Quality Draft EIR City of Azusa General Plan & Development Code 4.1 Aesthetics and Visual Quality Draft EIR 4.1 AESTHETICS AND VISUAL QUALITY SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY This section evaluates the potential impacts to aesthetics and visual quality. Aesthetics refers to visual resources and the quality of what can be seen, or overall visual perception of the environment, and may include such elements as scenic values, visual character, new visible elements, and lighting. Areas of prime aesthetic value are found in the area’s scenic routes and open space, including the San Gabriel River, regional parks, and the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Sources utilized in the preparation of this section include aerial photographs, in-field visual assessments, and the City of Azusa’s Analysis of Existing Conditions and Trends report. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The San Gabriel Mountains The San Gabriel Mountains are the northern backdrop to Azusa. They are a tremendous landmark, a memorable visual presence of nature in the city and a key recreational resource. Historically, these mountains have been used by Azusa and surrounding cities as a watershed, feeding the entire region with water and providing sand and gravel for surface mining. The San Gabriel Mountains are a source of geographic and spiritual identity for Azusa. They provide an identifiable boundary to the City and generate the gentle topographic slope that qualifies Azusa as a Southern California foothill community. Residents, visitors, hikers, bikers, and horseback riders alike appreciate the aesthetic value of the foothills of Azusa. The Local Scenic Roads provide panoramic views of the Azusa hillsides and the San Gabriel Mountains including Mt. Baldy and Mt. Wilson while Azusa’s trail system allows those seeking outdoor activities closer viewpoints. Local Scenic Roads The 1983 General Plan contained a Scenic Highways Element, a mandatory element at that time, which established goals, objectives, criteria, standards and a Scenic Highways Plan. Beyond the structure of the old Scenic Highways Element, there is a trail network that originates in Azusa and fans out into the foothills and along the San Gabriel River. The recommendations of the old Scenic Highways Element were as follows: Sierra Madre Avenue . Sierra Madre Avenue from Todd Avenue to Barranca Avenue is a proposed local scenic road. Sierra Madre Avenue is located along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. This route provides distant vistas of the San Gabriel Valley to the south and close up views of the open foothills to the north. This road’s hilly nature gives it a series of vistas at each rise. Route 39. Route 39 Azusa Avenue from the 210 Freeway to Route 2 was designated to be included in the State Scenic Highway System. This roadway was divided into two major segments, Urban Route 39 from the 210 Freeway to the north City boundary and mountainous Route 39 from the north City boundary to the Planning Area boundary, the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Urban Route 39. This segment consists of two parallel one-way streets, Azusa Avenue (northbound) and San Gabriel Avenue (southbound). These two streets join to form San Gabriel Canyon Road just north of Sierra Madre Avenue. These two streets join again just north of the I-210 Freeway to become Azusa Avenue from the south. taha 9926 4.1-1 City of Azusa General Plan & Development Code 4.1 Aesthetics and Visual Quality Draft EIR This segment provides broad views of the foothills, canyon, and mountains. The panoramic view from Mt. Wilson on the west to Mt. Baldy in the east is seen from most portions of this corridor. The foreground of these vistas is that of the urbanized portion of Azusa. Visual improvements along this corridor could greatly enhance the hillside vistas. Mountainous Route 39. This segment of Route 39 is the northerly extension of San Gabriel Canyon Road from the City Limits to the City’s Planning Area boundary, or the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Route 39 continues northerly to the Crystal Lake Recreation Area. San Gabriel Canyon Road. The San Gabriel Canyon Road provides views of the canyon and the San Gabriel Mountains. The dam structures and the water bodies of the Morris Reservoir and the San Gabriel Reservoir provide desirable visual highlights to this corridor, as well as recreational opportunities. This corridor has regional significance because it provides transportation access to such a large outdoor recreation area. Foothill Freeway (I-210). The I-210 Freeway provides Azusa with its principal regional access. A roadway depressed below grade for most of its way through Azusa, the freeway rises to an above grade elevation as it passes Azusa Avenue, providing vistas of the urbanized portion of Azusa and the foothills and San Gabriel Mountains. Currently, the freeway has minimal landscaping— gravel, rocks, and errant weeds. Caltrans plans to re-landscape in the area 2006 which would further the City’s image and aesthetic appeal. However, the sound wall currently under construction along the Foothill Freeway could cut off mountain vistas and could impact scenic resources in this particular area. Foothill Boulevard and Alosta Avenue . Foothill Boulevard traverses most of Azusa and then curves to align itself with Alosta Avenue creating the principal arterial crossing from the City of Duarte, through Azusa and into the City of Glendora. This street provides important access into Azusa as well as vistas to the foothills and San Gabriel Mountains. Palm Drive from Foothill Boulevard to Dhammakaya Retreat. Palm Drive, a north/south street, terminates at the Dhammakaya Retreat. This palm tree lined street gives its neighborhood that classical Southern California image. Many surrounding land uses have views of the palm trees lining Palm Drive. Given their historical context and aesthetic appeal, the palm trees are considered a scenic resource. Azusa Avenue (Route 39), Foothill Freeway to Arrow Highway. This is the southern segment of Azusa Avenue (Route 39) in Azusa. This is one of the principal entrances to the City’s southern neighborhoods as well as the connection to “Designated Route” portions of Route 39. While more removed from the foothill areas, this corridor also provides wide vistas of the foothills and the San Gabriel Mountains. With streetscape improvements, this segment could be the logical extension of the northern “Designated Route” and provide Azusa with an improved visual image. Trail Systems Azusa has trail network for hikers, bicyclist, and horseback riders to enjoy the open space of the San Gabriel Mountain foothills. The network includes the following trails: San Gabriel River Bike Path. Cyclists can ride the 35-mile San Gabriel River Bike Path from Azusa to the ocean at Seal Beach. This route passes through the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale and can be accessed from many streets that cross the river. A trailhead in Azusa serves as access to this route from its location at Foothill Boulevard and the San Gabriel River. A county owned parking lot is provided to those who wish to use the foothill trail network, on foot, bike or horseback. taha 9926 4.1-2 City of Azusa General Plan & Development Code 4.1 Aesthetics and Visual Quality Draft EIR Glendora Ridge Mountainway Trail. This mountain trail begins on private property at the end of Hilltop Drive in Azusa. This route follows the ridges above the northeast portions of Azusa’s foothills, then moves north to terminate east of Morris Reservoir near Glendora Mountain Road, at a paved road that comes out of Glendora, and leads to Mount Baldy Village and also to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Van Tassel Mountainway Trail. This mountain trail begins at Fish Canyon Road south of the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club. This trail follows the Van Tassel Creek up into the foothills, where it provides vistas of the valley below. It continues on to connect with a network of trails, one of which terminates at the fork of the East and West Forks of the San Gabriel River. The Van Tassel Trail accommodates hiking, biking, and horseback riding and allows for adventurous enjoyment of the San Gabriel Mountains. The San Gabriel River The San Gabriel River is a unique natural and historical resource in the City of Azusa and Los Angeles County. It is the current landscape buffer that defines the formal northern edge of the City. The river and surrounding lands have, over time, been fenced off, filled with flood control facilities and walled in by mining operations for residential and industrial uses. In essence, the River has become the residual back alley of the City. However, this regional amenity can potentially regain its status as the jewel of the City and County. It remains unpaved and continues to have the potential to support lush riparian vegetation and a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. It also has the potential to become the City’s primary open space and regional park featuring pedestrian and bicycle paths and educational gathering areas. Visual Character The visual character of Azusa is primarily of a residential nature. A variety of housing types from single-family homes, tract residential developments, and multi-family housing surround commercial zones along major arterials such as Foothill Boulevard and Azusa Avenue. Much of the recent housing built has been tract residential development. As discussed above, open space and scenic vistas play an important role in shaping the visual character. SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA The assessment presented below uses the following criteria as a guide to identifying potentially significant adverse visual and aesthetic impacts resulting from the proposed project. Specifically, a significant impact would result if the proposed project: · Has a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista; · Substantially damages scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway; · Substantially degrades the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings; or · Creates a new source of substantial light or glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area.
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