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5. Environmental Analysis Anaheim General Plan/Zoning Code Update EIR City of Anaheim • Page 5-1 Section 5.0 provides the description of the affected environment, and analysis for each of the environmental resource areas evaluated. For each environmental impact issue analyzed, the DEIR includes a detailed explanation of the existing conditions, thresholds of significance that will be applied to determine whether the project’s impacts are significant or less than significant, analysis of the environmental impacts, and a determination of whether the project has a significant impact. A “significant impact” or “significant effect” means “a substantial, or potentially substantial, adverse change in any of the physical conditions within the area affected by the project.” (14 Cal. Code of Reg. 15382.) 5.1 AESTHETICS 5.1.1 Methodology Characterizing aesthetics can be highly subjective, therefore, the evaluation of aesthetic resources in the built environment and natural landscape requires the application of a process that objectively identifies the visual features of the landscape and their importance, and the sensitivity of receptors that view them. 5.1.2 Environmental Setting Aesthetics relates to visual resources, scenic vistas, and visual character. Visual character is generally divided into landforms topography and grading), views scenic resources), and light and glare increases in nighttime illumination). Visual Character Anaheim is already a largely built-out city. It contains nearly 1,500 acres of parks and open space (about 5% of its total land area) and another 11% in vacant land. The City of Anaheim is comprised of a number of distinct neighborhoods, as shown on previous Figure 4.3-1, Community Policy Areas. West Anaheim is home to a variety of residential neighborhoods and commercial areas. The North Euclid Street area serves as a major gateway into the City and consists of several multiple-family and single-family neighborhoods. East Anaheim is home to several single- and multiple-family neighborhoods. The North Central Industrial Area is an older, established industrial area and is adjacent to a residential neighborhood located north of La Palma Avenue, west of Olive Street. The Anaheim Colony is home to most of Anaheim’s historic resources, including the original Mother Colony House and a large number of State and nationally designated historic structures. It is also home to the City’s Downtown and Civic Center. Current land uses in the South Anaheim Boulevard area include a variety of residential, commercial and industrial uses as well as some office uses that complement the adjacent Western Medical Center Hospital. The Platinum Triangle is home to Angel Stadium of Anaheim and the Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim. The Anaheim Resort Resort® is a major tourist destination with attractions such as Disneyland, Disney’s California Adventure, Downtown Disney, and the Anaheim Convention Center. The Canyon is a 2,450-acre business park and is considered a major regional employment center. The City’s major open space features are located in the eastern part of the City within the Hill and Canyon Area. These include the Deer Canyon Preserve, the undeveloped Mountain Park Specific Plan area, and State-Owned land adjacent to the Chino Hills State Park and the Cleveland National Forest, on the eastern edge of the City that provides a potential gateway and link for wildlife corridors, trails, and recreation uses. The other major open space resource is the Santa Ana River. It is the centerpiece of a, 2,650-square mile watershed that involves major portions of three counties including Orange County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County. It includes the Santa Ana River Trail, a designated national recreation trail that, when completed, will incorporate 110 miles of trail system from San ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Page 5-2 • The Planning Center May 2004 Bernardino County in the northeast to Orange County in the southwest. It provides trails, bikeways, scenic views and other open space and recreational opportunities along its course. Visual Components Scenic Corridors A highway may be designated scenic depending upon how much of the natural landscape can be seen by travelers, the scenic quality of the landscape, and the extent to which development intrudes upon the traveler's enjoyment of the view. One of the most prevalent opportunities to view scenic resources in a City is its system of major streets and freeways. The circulation network of streets and roads serves a functional role, but also provides motorists opportunities to view the City. Streets and highways provide scenery in two ways. First, the road or highway may be scenic. For example, a street may be tree lined, or pass through scenic terrain or open space. On the other hand, the road or highway may make scenic vistas available to motorists and cyclists. California's Scenic Highway Program was created by the Legislature in 1963 with the intent of preserving and protecting scenic highway corridors from change that would diminish the aesthetic value of lands adjacent to highways. A highway may be designated scenic depending upon how much of the natural landscape can be seen by travelers, the scenic quality of the landscape, and the extent to which development intrudes upon travelers’ enjoyment of views. A 4.5-mile segment of SR-91 is an officially designated State Scenic Highway from SR-55 to the Weir Canyon Road interchange. This designation is enforced through the Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone contained in the Anaheim Municipal Code. This freeway runs along the banks of the Santa Ana River. Views include mountain ridgelines, canyons, rolling hills, intermittent riparian and chaparral vegetation, and residential and commercial development. The SR-91, east of Weir Canyon is an eligible State Scenic Highway. The status of a state scenic highway changes from eligible to officially designated when the local jurisdiction adopts a scenic corridor protection program, applies to the California Department of Transportation for scenic highway approval, and receives notification from Caltrans that the highway has been designated as a Scenic Highway. Landmarks 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. Some prominent landmarks within the City of Anaheim include the Matterhorn attraction with the Disneyland theme park, the “Big A” sign and Angel Stadium of Anaheim, the Arrowhead Pond, and the Kraemer Building, a National Register Historic Structure located within the Anaheim Colony Historic District. Viewsheds As previously discussed, the City is relatively flat, with little topographic relief, throughout its central and western portions, while the Hill and Canyon Areas span the eastern half of the City and its Sphere-of- Influence. Views and vistas in the Hill and Canyon Area are important visual amenities in the City. In addition, seven major parks of regional and statewide interest, including the Chino Hills State Park and the Cleveland National Forest, are adjacent to the City. These parklands have sensitive viewsheds that overlook portions of the City. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Anaheim General Plan/Zoning Code Update EIR City of Anaheim • Page 5-3 Regulatory and Policy Setting The following programs are used by the City to maintain or enhance the quality of aesthetic resources in Anaheim. General Plan The City’s adopted General Plan contains an Environmental Resource and Management Element (ERME) which was established to consolidate and satisfy the requirements of the Conservation, Open Space, Recreation and Riding and Hiking Trails Elements and to recognize the interrelationships, similarities and overlapping responsibilities of these Elements. The purpose of the ERME Element is to specify spaces, or areas, (whether land or water), which should remain open for 1) the preservation of natural resources; 2) the managed production of resources including food and fiber; 3) outdoor recreation and the enjoyment of scenic beauty; and 4) the public’s health, safety and welfare. All of these resources within the City are identified in this Element. Zoning Code The Zoning Ordinance establishes zoning districts and specifies the land uses permitted in each district. Regulations apply to building heights, yards, and other open spaces around buildings. Anaheim’s Zoning Code contains a Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone that addresses standards for orderly growth in this area of scenic importance. The City’s development review procedures also contain provisions for consideration of visual impact and site design. These shall be applied to preserve or enhance the visual experience. Specific Plans and Landscape Corridor Plans The City also has adopted a number of Specific Plans which give regulatory and design guidance for selected areas of the City and its Sphere-of-Influence. Anaheim also has a comprehensive program of arterial/corridor streetscape improvement plans which include capital improvements to major arterials, including median and parkway design/landscaping programs. The Anaheim Municipal Code sets guidelines for the management of Anaheim’s street trees. Within the Community Services Department, the Urban Forestry Section is responsible for the maintenance of over 70,000 city trees located in parks and along Anaheim’s city streets. City tree trimming crews also provide power line clearance tree trimming to approximately 32,000 trees found on private property. 5.1.3 Thresholds of Significance The criteria used to determine the significance of an impact are derived from City-approved Thresholds of Significance based on the City of Anaheim’s Initial Study and the model Initial Study checklist contained in Appendix G of the State CEQA Guidelines. The project would typically result in a significant impact to aesthetics if it would: • Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista; • Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway; • Substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings; • Create a new source of substantial light or glare which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area; ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Page 5-4 • The Planning Center May 2004 5.1.4 Analysis of Environmental Impacts Aesthetic resources within the City will be protected through implementation of the Green Element and Community Design Element of the General Plan. The purpose of the Green Element is to combine all of Anaheim’s open space, conservation, recreation and landscaping resources into one comprehensive, integrated document. Rather than separate these components, the Green Element recognizes their interrelationship and builds upon it with the inclusion of a “Green Element,” as seen in Figure 5.1-1. The objectives of the Green Element are to: • Expand public parks and open space amenities; • Improve the City’s trail and bicycle network for local and regional connections; • Beautify arterial corridors with landscape plans, edge treatments and gateways; and • Use existing opportunities, such as easements, vacant land, and the Santa Ana River to expand accessible open space and recreation opportunities. The Green Element uses a variety of open space opportunities and resources to create a unified vision for a more beautiful, healthy city. As seen in Figure 5.1-1, the Green Element considers not only existing parks and open space, but also potential recreational opportunities, such as schools, utility easements, water uses, and vacant land. It also identifies opportunities to enhance the appearance of existing areas through enhanced landscaping of Anaheim’s corridors, community edges, and City The emphasis of the Green Element is not only to make spatial connections throughout the City through parks, trails, open space, and landscaping but also to create policy connections to help the City conserve its natural and cultural resources such as water, energy and historic districts. Anaheim devotes major funding to public landscaping, including medians, parkway maintenance and street trees. The Urban Forestry Section of the Community Services Department maintains street trees in residential, commercial and industrial areas and maintains the Official Trees Specie List, which consists of the 25 most commonly found parkway trees within Anaheim. The Tree Power Program, funded by the Anaheim Public Utilities Department, provides free shade trees to private property owners with the goal of reducing demand for electricity. The non-profit Community ReLeaf Anaheim coordinates community partnership tree plantings within the City’s right-of-way. The City has attained the status of “Tree City USA” every year since 1984 by the National Arbor Day Fund and maintains a database of the condition and location of its over 70,000 public trees. Because landscaping along public rights-of-way is one of the most effective methods of improving community appearance, the City has also made it a major aesthetic and capital improvement priority. Since the City is framed and traversed by major arterial corridors, it is imperative that the City creates a Citywide landscape plan at major entry points, key intersections and corridors, where visibility is the greatest. Through implementation of the Green Element, powerline easements that intersect with these corridors will be landscaped to soften the visual impacts of the power lines from these corridors and to provide visible access points to those easements that are designated as open space connections on the Green Element. Major stretches of corridors in the City are already beautifully landscaped; the goal is to expand this program throughout the City. Combined with efforts to underground utilities and provide unifying streetscape elements, implementation of the General Plan and Zoning Code Update will improve the overall visual quality in the City of Anaheim. ---PAGE BREAK--- ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Page 5-6 • The Planning Center May 2004 This page intentionally left blank ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Anaheim General Plan/Zoning Code Update EIR City of Anaheim • Page 5-7 The Community Design Element is not a required Element of the General Plan, but the City has long recognized the importance of community appearance and identity to its vitality, economic health and overall quality of life. Combined with the “Green Element” – which combines parks and recreation, open space, conservation, and public landscaping into a comprehensive plan to beautify the City - the Community Design Element provides policy guidance for the built environment. It supports the Land Use Element by providing design policies that complement the City’s diverse land uses, the Circulation Element by providing guidance for aesthetically enhancing arterial corridors, and the Economic Development Element by recognizing the relationship between quality design and economic viability, stability and growth. IMPACT: WOULD THE PROJECT HAVE A SUBSTANTIAL ADVERSE EFFECT ON A SCENIC VISTA OR SUBSTANTIALLY DAMAGE SCENIC RESOURCES, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, TREES, ROCK OUTCROPPINGS, AND HISTORIC BUILDINGS WITHIN A STATE SCENIC HIGHWAY Impact Analysis: A 4.5-mile segment of SR-91 is an officially designated State Scenic Highway from SR- 55 to Weir Canyon Road interchange. This freeway runs along the banks of the Santa Ana River. Views include mountain ridgelines, rolling hills, canyons, intermittent riparian and chaparral vegetation, and residential and commercial development. The City’s major open space features are located in the eastern part of the City within the Hill and Canyon Area, which includes the undeveloped Mountain Park Specific Plan area within the City’s Sphere-of-Influence. This area of the City consists of moderate to steep topography, and will require more extensive landform modifications to accommodate development. However, much of this area consists of open space uses including public parks, dedicated open space, and golf course. Most of Coal Canyon, which is located in the most eastern part of the Hill and Canyon Area, south of the SR-91 Freeway, is within the City limits but is owned by the State of California, and will be maintained as open space in perpetuity. In addition, a substantial amount of open space acreage within the Mountain Park Specific Plan area is permanently protected as part of the Irvine Ranch Land Reserve. A total of 5,093 acres is designated as Open Space within the City. Total Open Space/Recreation within the City, including golf courses, parks, open space and water uses, is 7,788 acres. The designation of 7,788 acres for Open Space/Recreation within the City will avoid any significant impacts relating to visual character or quality. The preservation of landforms within the Hill and Canyon Area as part of The Irvine Ranch Land Reserve and the Cypress Canyon addition to the Chino Hills State Park will result in a substantial open space preservation area that includes the highest and thus most visible portions of the City. As a result, potential impacts to scenic vistas are less than significant. The primary purpose of the Community Design Element is to improve the visual character of the City through comprehensive design policies. Several of the goals and policies within the Community Design Element address views to and from the designated State Scenic Highway. In the section on design policies for The Canyon, located just north of SR-91, enhancement of views to the Santa Ana River and the development within The Canyon are addressed. Furthermore, the Zoning Code includes a Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone to provide for and promote orderly growth in an area of the City considered to have distinctive, scenic importance. The Zoning Code provides for the protection, preservation and enhancement of the unique and natural scenic assets of this area. The Scenic Corridor (SC) Overlay Zone is defined as that area lying easterly of the intersection of SR-55 and SR-91, westerly of the Riverside County line, southerly of the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad right-of-way, and northerly of the present or any future south city limits of the City of Anaheim. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Page 5-8 • The Planning Center May 2004 Relevant Goals and Policies Proposed General Plan policies related to view corridors from major freeways include: • Identify and preserve/enhance view corridors for major landmarks, community facilities, and natural open space in the planning and design of all public and private projects. (Community Design Element, Goal 1.1, Policy 5) • Continue to work with Caltrans in its implementation of the State Scenic Highway Program. Ensure the preservation and enhancement of scenic routes through special highway design and building regulation. (Circulation Element, Goal 4.1, Policy 1) • Landscape arterial highways in keeping with the intent of the Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone and the Santa Ana River Greenbelt Plan, and maintain the residential character of the neighborhood by avoiding interference and intrusion into adjacent communities. (Circulation Element Goal 4.1, Policy 3) • Take such actions as may be necessary to protect the scenic appearance of the band of land generally adjacent to the scenic highway right-of-way, including, but not limited to: − Regulation of land use and intensity of development; − Detailed land and site planning; − Control of outdoor advertising; − Careful attention to and control of grading and landscaping; and, − Careful design and maintained appearance of structures and equipment. (Circulation Element Goal 4.1, Policy 4) Proposed General Plan policies related to views from the eastern segment of SR-91 include: • Improve and project the image of the area through continuing the development of enhanced at key intersections, improved landscaping along the Santa Ana River and groundwater recharge basins, and, a coordinated sign program. (Community Design Element, The Canyon, Policy 1) • Where practical, orient buildings to take advantage of the Santa Ana River as a scenic and recreational amenity. (Community Design Element, The Canyon, Policy 4) • Continue to work with Caltrans in its implementation of the State Scenic Highway Program. Ensure the preservation and enhancement of scenic routes through special highway design and building regulation. (Circulation Element, Goal 4.1, Policy 1) Proposed General Plan policies related to views of The Canyon from the SR-91 include: • Provide ample landscaping throughout the area to encourage a professional atmosphere. (Community Design Element, The Canyon, Policy 2) • Encourage building products with individual identity, distinctive signage, and varied color and materials rather than long, monotonous blank walls. (Community Design Element, The Canyon, Policy 3) • Continue to work with Caltrans in its implementation of the State Scenic Highway Program. Ensure the preservation and enhancement of scenic routes through special highway design and building regulation. (Circulation Element, Goal 4.1, Policy 1) Proposed General Plan policies related to enhancing arterial corridors include: • Identify and preserve/enhance view corridors for major landmarks, community facilities, and natural open space in the planning and design of all public and private projects. (Community Design Element, Goal 1.1, Policy 5) • Consider the unique natural features of the Hill and Canyon Area when arterial streets and highways are improved or constructed. (Circulation Element, Goal 4.1, Policy 2) ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Anaheim General Plan/Zoning Code Update EIR City of Anaheim • Page 5-9 Existing Codes and Regulations • Future projects shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Anaheim Municipal Code including the Scenic Corridor Overlay Zone. Level of Significance Before Mitigation: Less than significant. Mitigation Measures: No mitigation measures are necessary. Level of Significance After Mitigation: No significant adverse impacts were identified and no mitigation measures are necessary. IMPACT: WOULD THE PROJECT SUBSTANTIALLY DEGRADE THE EXISTING VISUAL CHARACTER OR QUALITY OF THE SITE AND ITS SURROUNDINGS Impact Analysis: The visual character of the City is influenced by the quality of its freeways, arterial corridors and the land uses adjoining them as well as the quality of its residential, commercial, public, and industrial areas. This visual quality is affected by many factors including General Plan designations and policies, Specific Plans, Zoning regulations and enforcement, the City’s Capital Improvement Program, and private property maintenance. The City’s adopted General Plan, Zoning Code, and Capital Improvement Program have the most direct effect on community identity. A major focus of the Anaheim General Plan and Zoning Code Update is to enhance the visual quality of the City and its surroundings. Through its Land Use Element, the City is focusing on improving the vitality of its arterial corridors by consolidating retail activity at major intersections and designating mid- block corridor areas for high quality, multi-family housing. In addition, the Zoning Code addresses visual character through bulk and height restrictions, setback requirements, and landscape requirements. By adopting a Community Design Element, the City is taking comprehensive steps to improve its visual character. The Community Design Element focuses on policies at different levels, from City-wide to neighborhood levels. All of these policies have the common goal of improving the visual quality of the City either by enhancing existing positive conditions, developing guidelines to improve future development projects, or creating capital improvements which improve community aesthetics. In addition to a comprehensive set of City-wide design policies, the Element also includes separate design policies, principles, and guidelines for quality development in The Platinum Triangle and Downtown Anaheim areas, as well as North Euclid Street, West Anaheim, East Anaheim, North Central Industrial Area, The Canyon, and the Hill and Canyon Area. Implementation of the proposed mixed-use zoning in The Platinum Triangle and The Colony and Downtown area will improve the visual character of the area as older industrial areas convert to new residential/mixed-use development. The Platinum Triangle represents the greatest potential for change to an existing area by introducing large-scale office, retail, entertainment, and residential uses in a mixed-use setting. This change, however, is carefully managed through General Plan policies and a new Platinum Triangle Mixed-Use Overlay Zone, Design Guidelines, and Public Realm Landscape and Identity Program, Public Reclamation Landscape Program and Public Reach Streetscape Program, which are being prepared to implement The Platinum Triangle Mixed-Use designation and . The Platinum Triangle area would be governed by The Platinum Triangle Mixed-Use Overlay Zone, which will be considered by the Planning Commission and City Council shortly after adoption of the General Plan and Zoning Code Update. Within the proposed Specific Plan Expansion Area, the visual character would be improved through implementation of the Specific Plan Design Guidelines and landscape criteria. Implementation of the ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Page 5-10 • The Planning Center May 2004 Specific Plan Amendment would provide redevelopment opportunities in this area to improve the overall visual character of the area. Currently many of the structures are old and dilapidated. Protection of the residential neighborhoods located directly east of adjacent to the proposed Expansion Area would be achieved through compliance with the Structural Height Map for the intersection of Harbor Boulevard and Orangewood Avenue. In addition, there are other restrictions which limit the height of a building adjacent to residential to one-half the distance from the building to the residential zone boundary unless otherwise approved by a conditional use permit. For example, a building setback 60 feet from residential zone boundary would have a height of 30 feet unless an increased height were approved pursuant to a conditional use permit. Therefore, future development would be required to be consistent with the character of the existing area. West of Harbor Boulevard are existing hotel uses within the City of Garden Grove, which would be consistent with the proposed Specific Plan Amendment. Amendment No. 2 to the Northeast Area Specific Plan involves the redesignation of five areas currently planned for commercial uses to industrial uses. One area (Area C) will be zoned for commercial uses. Since commercial and industrial uses are similar in nature, no significant aesthetic impacts are anticipated. Anaheim has 11 approved specific plans governing land use development in designated areas. Specific plans are customized regulatory documents that provide more focused guidance and regulation, for particular areas. They generally include a land use plan, circulation plan, infrastructure plan, development standards, design guidelines, phasing plan, financing plan, and implementation plan. Through implementation of the applicable design guidelines, potential aesthetic impacts are minimized through incorporation of design criteria and landscape requirements. The Green Element offers goals and policies that seek to improve and expand the City’s comprehensive tree programs and to strengthen the identity of major corridors and the City as a whole through its comprehensive program of boulevard landscaping, including medians, and parkways. Relevant Goals and Policies Proposed General Plan policies related to views of the City from adjacent parks of regional and statewide interest include: • Require that infill hillside development minimize alteration of the natural landforms and natural vegetation. (Green Element, Goal 1.1, Policy 1) Policies which redirect development and provide guidelines for quality development: • Redirect and consolidate underutilized/under-performing strip commercial development to high- activity locations, particularly at key corners of major street intersections. (Economic Development Element, Goal 2.2, Policy 1) • Facilitate the transition of mid-block strip commercial to residential uses in selected areas. (Economic Development, Goal 2.2, Policy 2) • Ensure that the development of new commercial centers provides for quality design, pedestrian amenities, convenient access, and distinctive architecture. (Economic Development, Goal 2.2, Policy 3) Policies related to revitalization of Anaheim’s Downtown: • Use the Anaheim Colony Vision, Principles and Design Guidelines to ensure that new development reflects the diverse architectural heritage, and that the detailing and scale of the area is maintained and/or enhanced. (Community Design Element, Goal 130.1, Policy 1) ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Anaheim General Plan/Zoning Code Update EIR City of Anaheim • Page 5-11 • Incorporate historic themes and community symbols into the design of the Downtown area to distinguish it as Anaheim’s historic/civic core. (Community Design Element, Goal 130.1, Policy 2) • Provide generous pedestrian amenities such as wide sidewalks, ground-level retail uses, parkways, vintage streetlights, sitting areas, and street furniture as key features of Downtown Anaheim. (Community Design Element, Goal 130.1, Policy 3) Policies related to The Platinum Triangle: • Develop a comprehensive, Mixed-Use Overlay Zone and Design Guidelines to implement the vision for The Platinum Triangle. (Community Design Element, Goal 152.1, Policy Existing Codes and Regulations • Grading plans shall conform to the procedures and requirements of Chapter 17.06, “Grading, Excavations and Fills in Hillside Areas,” of the Land Development and Resources section of the Anaheim Municipal Code, which provide design criteria for hillside grading including standards related to curved linear slopes, transition with natural slopes, varying slope ratios, and planting bays. • Projects located within existing specific plan areas will be required to comply with all relevant design guidelines and landscape requirements. • Future projects shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Anaheim Municipal Code with regard to landscaping, lighting, and setback requirements. Level of Significance Before Mitigation: Less than significant. Mitigation Measures: No mitigation measures are necessary. Level of Significance After Mitigation: No significant adverse impacts were identified and no mitigation measures are necessary. IMPACT: WOULD THE PROJECT CREATE A NEW SOURCE OF SUBSTANTIAL LIGHT OR GLARE WHICH WOULD ADVERSELY AFFECT DAY OR NIGHTTIME VIEWS IN THE AREA Impact Analysis: As development occurs based on implementation of the General Plan and Zoning Code Update, additional lighting may be needed to provide nighttime street and building illumination. Other sources of light include security lighting, nighttime traffic, and light associated with future development. Development opportunities within The Platinum Triangle and The Colony and Downtown area will not result in significant increases of nighttime light or glare. Development within the Hill and Canyon Area does have the potential to increase nighttime illumination, although most lights associated with development will be directed inward towards the interior of each site. This is particularly important where proposed development is located adjacent to open space areas. Anaheim’s General Plan and Zoning Code Update addresses the topic of glare and new light sources in a number of ways. Its Community Design and Green Elements call for comprehensive corridor landscape programs and use of trees, hedges, and berms as screening measures along roadways. Reduction of light impacts on open space from the Mountain Park development and increased impacts from new community parks are addressed. The Community Design Element further addresses reduction of glare through its design policies and separate design guidelines for the Anaheim Colony Area. This is accomplished through guidance related to building surfaces, lighting in pedestrian areas, sign policies, buffering of parking lots, and screening in industrial areas. ---PAGE BREAK--- 5. Environmental Analysis Page 5-12 • The Planning Center May 2004 Relevant Goals and Policies Proposed General Plan policies related to light or glare include: • Require new development to mitigate light and glare impacts on surrounding sensitive habitat and open space areas, where appropriate. (Green Element Goal 14.3, Policy 1) • Continue to improve and maintain proper lighting in park facilities and fields without undue glare impacts on adjoining residential areas. (Green Element, Goal 201.1, Policy 2) Existing Codes and Regulations • Future projects shall comply with the applicable provisions of the Anaheim Municipal Code with regard to landscaping, lighting, and setback requirements. Level of Significance Before Mitigation: Less than significant. Mitigation Measures: No mitigation measures are necessary. Level of Significance After Mitigation: No significant adverse impacts were identified and no mitigation measures are necessary. 5.1.5 Significant Unavoidable Adverse Impacts Adherence to the proposed General Plan Goals and Policies, Zoning Code, and existing codes and regulations listed above will prevent the occurrence of any significant impacts related to aesthetics, visual character, or light and glare.