Appendix U Visual Impact Assessment Visual Impact Assessment Icebreaker Wind Farm City of Cleveland, Ohio Prepared for: Icebreaker Windpower Inc. 1938 Euclid Avenue, Suite 200 Cleveland, OH 44115 Telephone: 216-965-0613 Facsimile: 216-965-0629 www.leedco.org Prepared by: 217 Montgomery Street, Suite 1000 Syracuse, New York 13202 P: 315.471.0688 F: 315.471.1061 www.edrdpc.com January 2017 TABLE OF CONTENTS 1.0 Introduction ........................................................................................................................................................ 1 2.0 Project Description ............................................................................................................................................ 2 2.1 Project Site .................................................................................................................................................... 2 2.2 Proposed Project ........................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2.1 Wind Turbines ....................................................................................................................................... 5 2.2.2 Electrical System .................................................................................................................................. 7 2.2.3 Meteorological Tower ............................................................................................................................ 8 2.2.4 Operations and Maintenance Center .................................................................................................... 9 2.2.5 Laydown Staging/Areas ........................................................................................................................ 9 3.0 Existing Visual Character ................................................................................................................................ 10 3.1 Physiographic/Land Use Setting ................................................................................................................. 12 3.2 Landscape Similarity Zones ........................................................................................................................ 13 3.2.1 Zone 1: Open Water/Lake Zone ......................................................................................................... 13 3.2.2 Zone 2: Suburban Residential Zone .................................................................................................. 14 3.2.3 Zone 3. High-Density Residential Zone ............................................................................................. 15 3.2.4 Zone 4. Developed Open Space Zone ............................................................................................... 15 3.2.5 Zone 5. Commercial Zone .................................................................................................................. 16 3.2.6 Zone 6. Undeveloped Open Space Zone ........................................................................................... 17 3.2.7 Zone 7. Industrial Zone ...................................................................................................................... 18 3.2.8 Zone 8. Urban Core Zone .................................................................................................................. 18 3.2.9 Zone 9. Highway Transportation Zone ............................................................................................... 19 3.2.10 Zone 10. Harbor Waterfront Zone ...................................................................................................... 19 3.3 Viewer/User Groups .................................................................................................................................... 22 3.3.1 Local Residents .................................................................................................................................. 22 3.3.2 Through Travelers/Commuters ........................................................................................................... 22 3.3.3 Tourists/Recreational Users ................................................................................................................ 22 3.4 Visually Sensitive Resources ...................................................................................................................... 23 4.0 Visual Impact Assessment Methodology ......................................................................................................... 28 4.1 Project Visibility ........................................................................................................................................... 28 4.1.1 Viewshed Analysis .............................................................................................................................. 28 4.1.2 Field Verification ................................................................................................................................. 29 4.2 Project Visual Impact ................................................................................................................................... 30 4.2.1 Viewpoint Selection ............................................................................................................................. 30 4.2.2 Visual Simulations ............................................................................................................................... 33 4.2.3 Visual Impact Evaluation ..................................................................................................................... 35 5.0 Visual Impact Assessment Results ................................................................................................................. 36 5.1 Project Visibility ........................................................................................................................................... 36 5.1.1 Viewshed Analysis Results ................................................................................................................. 36 5.1.2 Field Evaluation Results ...................................................................................................................... 40 5.2 Analysis of Existing and Proposed Views .................................................................................................... 40 5.2.1 Open Water Views .............................................................................................................................. 43 5.2.2 Shoreline Views with Built Features .................................................................................................... 53 5.2.3 Beach/Shoreline Recreational Views .................................................................................................. 63 5.2.4 Developed Shoreline Views ................................................................................................................ 66 5.2.5 Elevated City Views ............................................................................................................................ 72 5.3 Nighttime Impacts ........................................................................................................................................ 79 6.0 Conclusions ..................................................................................................................................................... 82 7.0 Literature Cited/References ............................................................................................................................. 86 ii FIGURES, TABLES, & APPENDICES FIGURES Figure 1. Regional Project Location ............................................................................................................................... 3 Figure 2. Proposed Project Layout ................................................................................................................................. 4 Figure 3. Computer Model of Proposed Turbine ............................................................................................................ 6 Figure 4. Visual Study Area ......................................................................................................................................... 11 Figure 5. Land Use Map............................................................................................................................................... 21 Figure 6. Visually Sensitive Resources ........................................................................................................................ 27 Figure 7. Visual Simulation Methodology .................................................................................................................... 34 Figure 8. Viewshed Analysis ........................................................................................................................................ 39 Figure 9. Viewpoint Location Map ................................................................................................................................ 42 Figure 10. Viewpoint 8 ................................................................................................................................................. 45 Figure 11. Viewpoint 12 ..............................................................................................................................................