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SEIR No. 339 City of Anaheim• Page 5.1-1 5. Environmental Analysis 5.1 AESTHETICS 5.1.1 Environmental Setting Regional Character The Platinum Triangle is in the south central portion of the City of Anaheim, approximately 35 miles southeast of downtown Los Angeles, in north Orange County, California. Regionally, the City of Anaheim is surrounded by the cities of Fullerton, Placentia, and Yorba Linda to the north; Riverside County to the east; the cities of Orange, Garden Grove, Stanton, and unincorporated Orange County to the south; and the cities of Cypress and Buena Park to the west. The project area is situated northeast of Interstate 5 south of the Southern California Edison easement, west of the Santa Ana River channel, and north of the Anaheim City limit. The City of Anaheim is a largely built-out city with little or no topographic relief throughout its central and western portions. The City’s remaining open space features are left only to the eastern part of the City in the Hill and Canyon Area, including undeveloped portion of the Mountain Park Specific Plan area. Views and vistas in the Hill and Canyon Area to the east are important visual amenities in the City, along with major parks of region and statewide interest that are adjacent to the city, such as Deer Canyon Preserve, state-owned land adjacent to the Chino Hills State Park and the Cleveland National Forest. Local Character A landmark can be any prominent feature within a city, including buildings, geographic features, or cultural centers. Landmarks often serve to give a city its own distinct character and image, as well as help orient residents and visitors. The Platinum Triangle and its surrounding area are highly urbanized with no geographic features or natural resources of importance. Instead, landmarks such as Angel Stadium of Anaheim with the “Big A” sign and Honda Center provide visual prominence and can be seen from many surrounding uses and streets within the project vicinity. Representative photographs of the project area are shown on Figures 5.1-1 and 5.1-2. No scenic corridors or highways are in the vicinity of the project area. The closest officially designated State Scenic Highway within the City of Anaheim is a 4.5-mile segment of State Route 91 (SR-91) from State Route 55 (SR-55) to the Weir Canyon Road interchange; however, the project area is not visible from any part of SR-91. The project area is transitioning from light industrial to mixed use development in accordance with the Adopted Platinum Triangle Master Land Use Plan (MLUP). As of April 2010, 1,577 dwelling units had been constructed within the Platinum Triangle, 343 units were under construction and an additional 6,445 units were approved through development agreements and not yet under construction. In addition 16,264 square feet of commercial development had been constructed, 13,105 feet were under construction and an additional 413,871 square feet of commercial development and 899,419 square feet of office development had been approved through development agreements, but not yet constructed. A full list of approved and pending projects is provided on the City’s website at www.anaheim.net (go to Planning Department and ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS Page 5.1-2 • The Planning Center August 2010 click on link to the Platinum Triangle). Representative photographs of the project area are depicted on Figure 5.1-3. Shade, Shadow, and Illumination Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Honda Center are two of the most prominent shadow sources in the project area and generally cast shadows in the adjacent parking areas. Other sources include high-rise office uses along State College Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue and several taller structures along Katella Avenue adjacent to the stadium. In addition, approved developments within the PTMU Overlay Zone that have been constructed or are in the planning stages are comprised of medium- to high-rise structures with a typical maximum building height of 100 feet, with exceptions. For instance, the Experience at Gene Autry project, which has been approved through a development agreement between the City and the Property owner, includes residential towers up to 300 feet in height. Due to the various sports-entertainment uses and restaurants uses, night lighting is widespread throughout the project area. Existing ambient sources of nighttime lighting are characterized by neon and fluorescent signage associated with commercial and retail land uses and additional sources such as parking lot lighting, structural lighting for hotels and restaurants, overhead street lighting along roadways, lighting from vehicle headlights and sign/building illumination, and lighting during nighttime sporting events at Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Honda Center. 5.1.2 Thresholds of Significance According to Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines, a project would normally have a significant effect on the environment if the project would: AE-1 Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista. AE-2 Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a State scenic highway. AE-3 Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings. AE-4 Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area. The Initial Study, included as Appendix A, substantiates that impacts associated with the following thresholds would be less than significant: • Threshold AE-1 • Threshold AE-2 • Threshold AE-4 ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis SEIR No. 339 The Planning Center • Figure 5.1-1 Site Photographs Angel Stadium of Anaheim Honda Center The Grove of Anaheim ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS Page 5.1-4 • The Planning Center August 2010 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis SEIR No. 339 The Planning Center • Figure 5.1-2 Site Photographs View of State College Boulevard looking south at railroad gate crossing. Katella Avenue & State College Boulevard intersection. Residential and office buildings on State College Boulevard. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS Page 5.1-6 • The Planning Center August 2010 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis SEIR No. 339 The Planning Center • Figure 5.1-3 Site Photographs Industrial buildings on State College Boulevard. Orangewood Avenue & State College Boulevard intersections. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS Page 5.1-8 • The Planning Center August 2010 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS SEIR No. 339 City of Anaheim• Page 5.1-9 5.1.3 Environmental Impacts The following impact analysis addresses the threshold of significance for which the Initial Study disclosed a potentially significant impact. The applicable threshold is identified in the brackets after the impact statement. IMPACT 5.1-1: THE PROPOSED PROJECT WOULD ALTER THE VISUAL APPEARANCE OF THE PROJECT AREA. [THRESHOLD AE-3] Impact Analysis: The Proposed Project would allow for the construction of an additional 8,643 dwelling units, up to 6,007,166 square feet of additional office area, up to 2,645,282 square feet of additional commercial area, and up to 1,500,000 square feet of institutional area in the Platinum Triangle Mixed Use (PTMU) Overlay Zone Mixed Use District, and up to 3,277,806 square feet of additional office space in the new PTMU Overlay Zone Office District. Therefore, development in accordance with the increased development intensities would inevitably result in changes to the visual appearance of the project area as the height, size, and scale of structures increase. The Proposed Project would also modify widths of streets and street intersections within the Platinum Triangle to ensure that increased development intensities are accommodated. All new mixed use development would be required to continue to adhere to the adopted design standards set forth in the Chapter 18.20, Platinum Triangle Mixed Use (PTMU) Overlay Zone, and other applicable zoning regulations of the City of Anaheim Municipal Code. For instance, the existing regulation requires that if a residential development of more than 400 units is proposed on a parcel of five acres or greater, then more than one building type shall be constructed to achieve a product diversity. Development within the Platinum Triangle would be designed in accordance with the adopted Platinum Triangle design principles such as creating appropriate block size, providing various housing types, developing parks and recreational leisure area, and creating streets that are attractive, safe, and engaging to pedestrians as well as automobiles. The Proposed Project would remove the FAR requirements for Mixed Use Districts. However, the maximum site coverage of 75 percent and setback requirements for the PTMU Overlay Zone would not change and would guide individual projects toward variations in density and open space. The proposed Office Districts would allow an FAR consistent with the property’s corresponding General Plan land use designation. The adopted maximum building height within the PTMU Overlay Zone is 100 feet, unless otherwise approved by a conditional use permit, and within the Arena and Stadium Districts, there is no height restriction. The proposed ARTIC District would also have no height restrictions while development within the proposed Office District would be limited to 100 feet, unless otherwise approved by a conditional use permit. Therefore, development projects within the project area would be constructed of sizes and scales that are consistent with existing development in the area and provide a mix of block, building, and unit configurations to enhance the visual quality and attractiveness of the project area as intended by the Platinum Triangle. As implementation of the Proposed Project occurs over an extended period of time, various urban design attributes incorporated in the MLUP and PTMU Overlay Zone would ensure that individual projects are architecturally consistent and well landscaped as envisioned by the MLUP. New Water Well A new water well is proposed adjacent to the proposed Fire Station No. 12 between Anaheim Way and Santa Cruz Street south of Stanford Court. Although building elevations for the water well are not yet ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS Page 5.1-10 • The Planning Center August 2010 available, they will go through a design review process so that the building setback and architectural treatments for the new well facility are compatible with the proposed Fire Station No. 12. State College Boulevard Railroad Undercrossing The AT&SF railroad crosses State College Boulevard approximately 250 feet north of Wright Circle within the Platinum Triangle. In order to improve traffic flow and safety, the City of Anaheim is working with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) on an underpass concept at this location. Figure 3-12 shows the proposed undercrossing location and conceptual illustration. Because it is an underpass concept, any visual impact would be minimal, as it would not be visible from surrounding areas. It is anticipated that this undercrossing would improve the visual quality of the area as landscaping would be incorporated into the project design. Shade/Shadow Analysis The issue of shade and shadow pertains to the blockage of direct sunlight by on-site buildings, which affects adjacent properties. Shading is an important environmental issue because the users or occupants of certain land uses, such as residential, recreational, outdoor restaurants, and pedestrian areas have expectations for direct sunlight and warmth from the sun. Factors that influence the extent and range of shading include season; time of day; weather; building height, bulk, and scale; spacing between buildings; and tree cover. The longest shadows are cast during the winter months, when the sun is lowest on the horizon, and the shortest shadows are cast during the summer months. Shadows are longer in the early morning and late afternoon. The City does not provide any specific provisions in regulating shade or shadow impacts. Therefore, this analysis assumes that the extent of shadow impacts is considered substantial if 50 percent of sun-sensitive area is in shade/shadow for at least 50 percent of the duration for the season three hours between 9 AM and 3 PM during winter daylight hours). The Platinum Triangle envisions a vibrant community that promotes pedestrian walkways, benches, public plazas, parks, and public gathering places. Although extensive shading is commonplace and an accepted part of the normal pattern of light during early morning and late afternoon in late fall and early winter, especially in a built-up urban area, occupants of these areas would expect a certain level of sunlight. As indicated previously, shadow are dependent on the height and size of the buildings from which they are cast, and the angle of the sun. Angel Stadium of Anaheim and Honda Center are two of the most prominent existing shadow sources in the project area. The majority of approved and planned structures in the PTMU Overlay Zone are medium to high-rise structures with a typical maximum building height of 100 feet. However, exceptions are allowed with the approval of conditional use permits and some districts have no height restrictions. With the exception of proposed development standards for office buildings and hotels, the PTMU Overlay Zone design standards do not allow a continuous roof or parapet line exceeding 120 feet in length without vertical break that cause a change in height of at least 6 feet, and requires a building that exceeds 240 feet in length to step down in at least one location at least one floor for a minimum length of 24 feet. In addition, all properties would have a minimum open setback for the full width of the property regardless of style. These requirements would reduce shade/shadow impacts by breaking up continuous shade lines and allow sunlight. The extent and duration of shadows cast by buildings developed in the Platinum Triangle would depend on the actual design, bulk, height, and location of structures in relation to open space and pedestrian areas, without the actual site plans and building elevations. Therefore, an attempt to evaluate the actual shade/shadow impacts at the program level would be speculative. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS SEIR No. 339 City of Anaheim• Page 5.1-11 Nonetheless, the increased allowable density and height of the Proposed Project would result in increased shadow and widths being cast by the existing conditions. Therefore, despite the existing design guidelines, there is a potential that over 50 percent of on- and off-site shadow-sensitive areas would experience shade/shadow effects for more than 50 percent of the sunlight hours. Future development projects adjacent to uses that are deemed shadow sensitive would be required to demonstrate that they would not interfere with those uses’ exposure to natural sunlight and to incorporate design features that allow direct sunlight for at least 50 percent of the sun-sensitive areas for at least 50 percent of duration for the season. Therefore, with mitigation, implementation of the Proposed Project would result in less than significant impacts associated with the project area’s visual appearance. 5.1.4 Cumulative Impacts The project area is characterized by urban uses and does not contain any scenic resources or natural open space areas. Cumulative development will intensify urban uses in the area through proposed increases to commercial and office uses and residential units. Some of the buildings in the project area would include visually prominent structures. While the Proposed Project will intensify the urban character of the area, properties developed within the Platinum Triangle will be required to comply with the Platinum Triangle MLUP, and the PTMU Overlay Zone, which will create a more cohesive and visually appealing character for the project area. Therefore, the Proposed Project would not contribute to a significant cumulative aesthetic impact. The ARTIC facility design is intended as an iconic structure with visual prominence. It is anticipated that the facility would be a unique architectural structure that would alter the existing skyline and be visible from various points in the City and also from the City of Orange. The facility would replace the existing old buildings in the area and enhance the aesthetic quality of the surrounding area. ARTIC is within the proposed ARTIC District, which is generally bounded by the Arena District to the north, Katella District to the west, Stadium District to the south, and the Santa Ana River to the west. ARTIC and the ARTIC District are proposed to be compatible with the surrounding development, Angels Stadium in the Stadium District and Honda Center in the Arena District. Although residential units are proposed within the Katella District, only commercial and office uses are in the Katella sub-area immediately west of Douglass Road. Sensitive receptors in the Stadium and Arena Districts would already be exposed to unique regional facilities such as the Angels Stadium and Honda Center and development of the ARTIC facility would be a compatible addition to the visual characteristic in the area. 5.1.5 Existing Regulations and Standard Conditions Future development projects within the Platinum Triangle shall be required to comply with the planning principles and the urban design elements contained in the Platinum Triangle MLUP as amended, and the development standards contained in the PTMU Overlay Zone (Chapter 18.20 of the Anaheim Municipal Code) as amended. 5.1.6 Level of Significance Before Mitigation Without mitigation, the following impacts would be potentially significant: • Impact 5.1-1 The Proposed Project would alter the visual appearance of the project area. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis AESTHETICS Page 5.1-12 • The Planning Center August 2010 5.1.7 Mitigation Measures Impact 5.1-1 Applicable Mitigation Measure from MMP No. 106A The following mitigation measure was included in the Updated and Modified Mitigation Monitoring Program No. 106A (MMP No. 106A) for the Platinum Triangle, adopted by the City Council on October 25, 2005, as part of the Subsequent Environmental Impact Report No. 332 and are applicable to the Proposed Project. Additions are shown in bold and deletions are indicated in strikeout format. The mitigation reference number from MMP No. 106A is shown in (italics). 1-1 Prior to approval of a As part of the Final Site Plan application, where adjacent uses are deemed to be shadow sensitive (i.e.e.g., residential, recreational, outdoor restaurants, and pedestrian areas), the property owner/developer for future development projects shall demonstrate that the Proposed Project would not preclude shadow sensitive receptors’ exposure to natural sunlight for at least 50 percent of duration for the season, for at least 50 percent of the shade-sensitive area, to the satisfaction of the Planning Director. (5.1-1) 5.1.8 Level of Significance After Mitigation The mitigation measure identified above would reduce potential impact associated with aesthetics to a level that is less than significant. Therefore, no significant unavoidable adverse impacts relating to aesthetics remain.