5. Environmental Analysis 5. ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS 5.1 AESTHETICS Characterizing aesthetics and aesthetic impacts is highly subjective by nature. Aesthetics, as evaluated in this Section of the EIR, involves establishing the existing visual character including visual resources and scenic vistas unique to the City of San Bernardino, the SOI and the Arrowhead Springs area. Visual resources are determined by identifying existing landforms, natural features or urban characteristics; views of sensitive receptors (i.e., residential, schools, recreation areas, etc.); and existing light and glare (i.e., nighttime illumination). The aesthetic impacts of the proposed project are evaluated by determining the aesthetic compatibility of the proposed project with the surrounding area taking into consideration the visual qualities as well as the sensitivity of receptors to these features. 5.1.1 Environmental Setting 5.1.1.1 San Bernardino General Plan Update Visual Character The City of San Bernardino lies on a broad, gently sloping lowland that flanks the southwest margin of the San Bernardino Mountains. The lowland is underlain by alluvial sediments eroded from bedrock in the adjacent mountains and washed by rivers and creeks into the valley region where they have accumulated in layers of gravel, sand, silt and clay. This low lying valley is framed by the San Bernardino Mountains on the northeast and east, Blue Mountains and Box Springs Mountain abutting the Cities of Loma Linda and Redlands to the south, and the San Gabriel Mountains and the Jurupa Hills to the northwest and southwest, respectively. The Santa Ana River has a number of tributaries in the vicinity of San Bernardino that contribute flow to the main stem of the river including Lytle Creek, Cajon Creek, Warm Creek, East Creek and West Twin Creek (see Figure 3.1-2). The east branch of the California Aqueduct traverses the northwestern portion of the City. These watercourses provide valuable riparian habitat that supports flora and fauna within the San Bernardino Valley. Figures 5.1-1 and 5.1-2 show photographs of the City of San Bernardino that depict the visual character of the City. The City’s total planning area is 45,231 acres, or approximately 71 square miles. This includes 38,402 acres, or 60 square miles, of incorporated territory and 6,829 acres, or 11 square miles, of unincorporated lands within the City’s SOI. The City of San Bernardino is surrounded by Highland on the east, Redlands to the southeast, Loma Linda on the south, Colton to the southwest and Rialto on the west. These cities also lie in the valley region of San Bernardino and are comprised primarily of urban land uses. To the north, in the San Bernardino Mountain range, the City is bound by the San Bernardino National Forest. In addition the San Manuel Indian Reservation abuts the City’s northeastern boundary. Visual Resources The San Bernardino Mountains comprise the City’s northern boundary and provide the primary backdrop for residents of the City of San Bernardino (see Figure 5.1-1, top). Historically the City of San Bernardino has been utilized for a multitude of uses including, tourism centered around the regions unique geothermal activity, agricultural, military, industrial, commercial and residential. Today much of the valley has been urbanized and the City of San Bernardino has been built out from its original central historic district which is centered around the rail lines, because San Bernardino became the hub for the Santa Fe, the Union Pacific and the Southern Pacific railroads early on in the City’s history. To the west of the central downtown district are the transportation industries that developed around the Santa Fe rail yard. Residential districts developed during the late nineteenth century spread from the downtown commercial district northward along E Street toward the Shandin Hills. Today, single-family residential, open space, flood control and education facilities General Plan Update and Associated Specific Plans EIR City of San Bernardino • Page 5.1-1 5. Environmental Analysis This page left intentionally blank. Page 5.1-2 • The Planning Center July 2005 5. Environmental Analysis City of San Bernardino Site Photos View of the San Bernardino Mountains looking northeast from downtown San Bernardino. View of the City of San Bernardino looking south toward Box Springs Mountain and Blue Mountain. San Bernardino General Plan Update and Associated Specific Plans EIR The Planning Center • Figure 5.1-1 5. Environmental Analysis This page left intentionally blank. Page 5.1-4 • The Planning Center July 2005 5. Environmental Analysis This page intentionally left blank. Page 5.1-6 • The Planning Center July 2005 5. Environmental Analysis comprise the majority of the current land uses in the northern portions of the City, while industrial uses comprise the majority of land uses on the northwestern and southeastern potions of the City. Figure 5.1-1 (bottom) displays the viewshed of the City from the foothills looking south, toward Box Spring Mountain and Blue Mountain. In addition, the former Norton Air Force Base, now known as the San Bernardino International Airport and Trade Center, occupies the southeastern portion of the City. The biological conditions in San Bernardino and throughout the region are highly modified from a pristine environment, although some areas still retain significant biological resource value. Upland areas support inland coastal sage scrub vegetation with a fauna typical of such habitats in southern California. Alluvial fans and floodplains of the valley floor support distinctive scrub vegetation containing an assortment of plants characteristic of both coastal sagebrush and chaparral communities. Deep canyons that support riparian and oak woodland plan communities provide a high quality habitat for a diverse assemblage of large and small wildlife species. Broad canyons and mountain slopes support mainly chaparral and woodland vegetation of a relatively undisturbed nature. In addition to its diverse natural communities, San Bernardino supports a wide variety of plant and animal species within its boundaries and SOI. Landform The San Bernardino Mountains, to the north of the City of San Bernardino, climb to an elevation of 4,237 feet above mean sea level (msl) at Arrowhead Peak near the Arrowhead Springs Specific Plan area. Just to the west of Arrowhead Peak and north of the Verdemont Heights Specific Plan area is Marshall Peak, which rises to an elevation of 4,003 feet above msl. The northwestern portions of the City are nestled in the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. The Shandin Hills, a small hilly portion of the City just south of the California State University San Bernardino, rise to an elevation of 1,717 feet above msl on Little Mountain. The majority of the developed portions of the City are located on the low lying valley floor at an elevation of approximately 1,000 feet above msl. The topography slowly rises toward the San Bernardino Mountains to the north. Scenic Vistas and Corridors Although much of the character of San Bernardino can be derived from its unique setting adjacent to the San Bernardino Mountains, unique geothermal resources, and central location in the San Bernardino Valley, the City of San Bernardino also obtains much of its character from its distinct neighborhoods. Each neigh- borhood has, or can have, its own unique character that is a source of pride for the residents. Neighborhood character is defined by many factors: what the neighborhood looks like, what it feels like, how well it is maintained, etc. But more importantly, it is an image in the minds of those who live and work there and in the perceptions of those who visit. These distinct neighborhoods provide the aesthetic foreground (closest viewing area) for the City of San Bernardino. The Verdemont Heights area lies in the northwestern corner of the City of San Bernardino. This area encompasses 3,011 acres. This community is comprised primarily of low density residential uses, which are nestled in the north-south sloping foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains. Residents of this area currently enjoy views overlooking Cajon Creek Wash to the southeast and the Glen Helen Regional Park. Furthermore, this unique area is bordered on the north by the San Bernardino National Forest. Several seasonal creeks flow from the mountains in the north including Cable Creek, which is fed by the Meyers Canyon and Meecham Canyon creeks. Figure 5.1-2 (top) depicts residential uses within the foothills of the San Bernardino Mountains within the Verdemont Heights area. In the northwestern portion of the City lies the California State University San Bernardino. The University area lies just south of the flood control basins of the Devil Canyon Flood Control Basin and the East Branch of the California Aqueduct, south of the Verdemont Heights area. Growth and development within this portion of the City has occurred independent of growth within the rest of the City due to the University. General Plan Update and Associated Specific Plans EIR City of San Bernardino • Page 5.1-7 5. Environmental Analysis The City’s downtown area stretches from 9th Street on the north, to Mill Street and Rialto Avenue on the south, from Interstate 215 on the west, to Waterman Avenue on the east. The City’s downtown area creates a unique aesthetic environment as it is comprised of many historic structures that give the downtown area a distinct atmosphere. Figure 5.1-2 (bottom) depicts the historic character of the City’s downtown district. Rivers, creeks and washes within the City of San Bernardino also add to the aesthetic middle ground of views around the City of San Bernardino. (Middle-ground would be the viewing area that is visible at a distance between 500 feet to one mile away.) In the southern portion of the City, the Santa Ana River meanders through the valley allowing for unique natural biological communities that depend on this year round water source and provides an aesthetically pleasing quality to the southern portions of the City.