PATTULLO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT EAC APPLICATION PART B SECTION 6.4 VISUAL QUALITY 6.4 VISUAL QUALITY Visual Quality – Summary of Assessment . The Project is located within a predominately urban residential and industrial land use setting that includes several residential, commercial, recreational, and industrial areas and transportation infrastructure. At night these areas also have visible light sources. During daytime viewing the Project could potentially change the visual quality in the area due to an increase in the visibility of infrastructure and a change in its visual character. During night-time viewing Project-related temporary construction lighting and permanent street and navigational lighting could potentially change the existing lighting conditions. Potential Project-related residual effects on visual quality could arise during construction and operations as result of: o A change in daytime views o A change in night-time views . Key mitigation measures include: Lighting plan o o Landscape plan o Communication and engagement with the community . No significant Project-related residual or cumulative effects on visual quality are expected. 6.4.1 Context and Boundaries This section describes the context for assessment of potential Project-related effects on the Visual Quality Valued Component (VC). It includes the selection and rationale of the Visual Quality VC, subcomponents, and indicators, an overview of the regulatory context, and the definition and rationale for the spatial, temporal, administrative, and technical assessment boundaries. 6.4.1.1 Valued Component Selection Visual Quality has been identified as a Valued Component in the Valued Components Selection and Rationale Document for the Project. The following provides additional rationale for the assessment of Project effects on visual quality. 6.4.1.1.1 Rationale for Selection of Visual Quality For the purposes of this assessment, the term “Visual Quality” refers to the visual aesthetic aspects of a landscape, which are often related to public enjoyment of scenic views and concerns over the visual impact of development. These matters are of interest in an area where scenic landscapes provide the context for residential, recreational, and tourism activities, such as within Metro Vancouver, including urban areas along the Fraser River. 6.4-1 PATTULLO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT EAC APPLICATION PART B SECTION 6.4 VISUAL QUALITY The Pattullo Bridge Replacement Project (Project) has the potential to affect visual quality as a result of the visibility of the construction and operation of the new Pattullo Bridge and associated approaches, interchanges, and road extensions in the City of New Westminster and the City of Surrey. The Project overlaps parts of federal land and water under the jurisdiction of the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority (VFPA). Public and stakeholder consultation, ongoing consultation between MoTI and Aboriginal Groups, and related Project-specific studies have identified concerns related to effects on visual quality. As such, visual quality is a component of the human environment that is considered to have Aboriginal, regulatory, and social importance. An assessment was undertaken to determine the existing visual quality of the landscape setting surrounding the Project and to examine the potential for visual effects from the Project components and activities. The assessment fulfills the requirements of the BC Environmental Assessment Act and the VFPA Project Environmental Review (PER) process as laid out in the Application Information Requirements (AIR) for the Project (posted on EAO website ePic). The assessment of visual effects is considered a pathway to support the assessment of the following VCs: . Marine Use VC . Land Use VC The assessment of visual effects also contributes to the assessment of current land and resource use for traditional purposes (Section 11.0) and Aboriginal Interests (Section 12.0). The evaluation of visual effects was informed by the assessments of Lighting and Shading, which are considered pathways to support the Visual Quality VC. Section 6.5 Lighting assesses the environmental setting and effects to perceived lighting conditions (i.e., configuration of light sources and related level of brightness) at selected receptor locations during the night-time, whereas Section 6.6 Shading assesses the environmental setting and effects to the pattern of shadow (i.e., visible extent and form of shadow cast by objects surrounding the Project) during the daytime. The selected subcomponents for the Visual Quality VC are Daytime Viewing to address effects associated with the perception of Project-related changes to visual quality that are visible during daylight hours, and Night-time Viewing to address effects associated with the visibility of Project-related lighting and changes to visual quality during night-time hours. Table 6.4-1 summarizes the subcomponents of the Visual Quality VC. Table 6.4-1 Subcomponents of Visual Quality Valued Component Subcomponent Rationale for Selection Daytime Viewing The Project could potentially affect daytime viewing conditions and visual quality for residents and visitors (e.g., recreational and tourism users). Night-time Viewing An increase in light levels from Project-related operational street and navigational lighting that could alter night-time viewing conditions and visual quality from nearby locations. 6.4-2 PATTULLO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT EAC APPLICATION PART B SECTION 6.4 VISUAL QUALITY 6.4.1.1.2 Indicators of Potential Effects The assessment of potential Project effects on Visual Quality evaluates the level of change to visual quality from current viewing conditions for the Daytime Viewing and Nighttime Viewing sub-components. The following parameters were used to analyze and characterize potential effects: . Visibility of the Project – for daytime viewing, refers to the visible extent and prominence of Project components from key viewing locations; for night-time viewing, refers to the visibility of Project light sources from key viewing locations. Visual contrast of the Project – for daytime viewing, refers to the visual character of Project components and the resulting level of visual contrast between the Project and the existing landscape setting from key viewing locations. The determination of visual contrast is used further for visual impact assessment to characterize the effects of visual contrast on potential viewers. For night-time viewing, contrast refers to a change in perceived lighting levels related to Project lighting from key viewing locations. The assessment adapted established standards and guidelines and qualitative definitions were used to compare pre-Project (baseline) and Project-related viewing conditions. Table 6.4-2 summarizes the indicators and measurable parameters for each subcomponent of the Visual Quality VC. Table 6.4-2 Indicators for Assessment of Potential Effects for Visual Quality Subcomponent Indicators Measurable Parameter Daytime Viewing Level of change in visual quality from . Visibility of Project features and their visual current daytime viewing conditions prominence from key viewpoints . Visual contrast of Project features with the existing visual character and the resulting visual impact to viewers from key viewpoints Night-time Viewing Level of change in visual quality from . Visibility of Project lighting from key viewpoints current night-time viewing conditions . Change in perceived light levels from key viewpoints 6.4.1.2 Regulatory Context The Project site is located within the Metro Vancouver area of British Columbia and overlaps portions of New Westminster, Surrey, and federal land and water under the jurisdiction of the VFPA. Existing relevant information and planning documents on visual resources, obtrusive lighting, and shade management were reviewed to understand the regional context for visual quality management during daytime and night-time. This included a review of the British Columbia Visual Landscape Inventory (VLI) database (MFLNRO 2011); the British Columbia Strategic Land and Resource Plans (SLRP) listing (MFLNRO n.d.); regional and municipal planning guidance and bylaws for Metro Vancouver, New Westminster, and Surrey; and the VFPA land use plan and permitting process. The regulatory and policy setting of the Project as it relates to the management of visual quality is summarized below. The analysis of Project visual effects provides information relevant to subsection 5(1) and 5(2) of CEAA 2012 related to effects on federal lands and effects on Aboriginal peoples. 6.4-3 PATTULLO BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECT EAC APPLICATION PART B SECTION 6.4 VISUAL QUALITY Within British Columbia, visual resources are managed under the authority of the Forest and Range Practices Act (MFLNRO 2002) and through policy within higher-level SLRPs that draw on the application of the Visual Resource Management (VRM) system of the BC Ministry of Forests, Lands, Natural Resource Operations and Rural Development (FLNRORD). The VRM system provides a systematic framework for managing visual resources on forested landscapes through the use of inventories of visually sensitive areas throughout the province and the designation of visual quality objectives for each area. A review of the VLI database identified no established visually sensitive areas or management objectives within the Metro Vancouver area. Similarly, no SLRPs have been developed for the Metro Vancouver area. Regional, municipal, and public authorities may provide visual design