4.1 AESTHETICS AND VISUAL QUALITY

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1 SCOPE AND METHODOLOGY 4.1 AESTHETICS AND VISUAL QUALITY This section evaluates the potential impacts to aesthetics and visual quality. Aesthetics refers to visual resources and the quality of what can be seen, or overall visual perception of the environment, and may include such elements as scenic values, visual character, new visible elements, and lighting. Areas of prime aesthetic value are found in the area s scenic routes and open space, including the San Gabriel River, regional parks, and the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. Sources utilized in the preparation of this section include aerial photographs, in-field visual assessments, and the City of Azusa s Analysis of Existing Conditions and Trends report. ENVIRONMENTAL SETTING The San Gabriel Mountains The San Gabriel Mountains are the northern backdrop to Azusa. They are a tremendous landmark, a memorable visual presence of nature in the city and a key recreational resource. Historically, these mountains have been used by Azusa and surrounding cities as a watershed, feeding the entire region with water and providing sand and gravel for surface mining. The San Gabriel Mountains are a source of geographic and spiritual identity for Azusa. They provide an identifiable boundary to the City and generate the gentle topographic slope that qualifies Azusa as a Southern California foothill community. Residents, visitors, hikers, bikers, and horseback riders alike appreciate the aesthetic value of the foothills of Azusa. The Local Scenic Roads provide panoramic views of the Azusa hillsides and the San Gabriel Mountains including Mt. Baldy and Mt. Wilson while Azusa s trail system allows those seeking outdoor activities closer viewpoints. Local Scenic Roads The 1983 General Plan contained a Scenic Highways Element, a mandatory element at that time, which established goals, objectives, criteria, standards and a Scenic Highways Plan. Beyond the structure of the old Scenic Highways Element, there is a trail network that originates in Azusa and fans out into the foothills and along the San Gabriel River. The recommendations of the old Scenic Highways Element were as follows: Sierra Madre Avenue. Sierra Madre Avenue from Todd Avenue to Barranca Avenue is a proposed local scenic road. Sierra Madre Avenue is located along the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains. This route provides distant vistas of the San Gabriel Valley to the south and close up views of the open foothills to the north. This road s hilly nature gives it a series of vistas at each rise. Route 39. Route 39 Azusa Avenue from the 210 Freeway to Route 2 was designated to be included in the State Scenic Highway System. This roadway was divided into two major segments, Urban Route 39 from the 210 Freeway to the north City boundary and mountainous Route 39 from the north City boundary to the Planning Area boundary, the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Urban Route 39. This segment consists of two parallel one-way streets, Azusa Avenue (northbound) and San Gabriel Avenue (southbound). These two streets join to form San Gabriel Canyon Road just north of Sierra Madre Avenue. These two streets join again just north of the I-210 Freeway to become Azusa Avenue from the south

2 This segment provides broad views of the foothills, canyon, and mountains. The panoramic view from Mt. Wilson on the west to Mt. Baldy in the east is seen from most portions of this corridor. The foreground of these vistas is that of the urbanized portion of Azusa. Visual improvements along this corridor could greatly enhance the hillside vistas. Mountainous Route 39. This segment of Route 39 is the northerly extension of San Gabriel Canyon Road from the City Limits to the City s Planning Area boundary, or the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Route 39 continues northerly to the Crystal Lake Recreation Area. San Gabriel Canyon Road. The San Gabriel Canyon Road provides views of the canyon and the San Gabriel Mountains. The dam structures and the water bodies of the Morris Reservoir and the San Gabriel Reservoir provide desirable visual highlights to this corridor, as well as recreational opportunities. This corridor has regional significance because it provides transportation access to such a large outdoor recreation area. Foothill Freeway (I-210). The I-210 Freeway provides Azusa with its principal regional access. A roadway depressed below grade for most of its way through Azusa, the freeway rises to an above grade elevation as it passes Azusa Avenue, providing vistas of the urbanized portion of Azusa and the foothills and San Gabriel Mountains. Currently, the freeway has minimal landscaping gravel, rocks, and errant weeds. Caltrans plans to re-landscape in the area 2006 which would further the City s image and aesthetic appeal. However, the sound wall currently under construction along the Foothill Freeway could cut off mountain vistas and could impact scenic resources in this particular area. Foothill Boulevard and Alosta Avenue. Foothill Boulevard traverses most of Azusa and then curves to align itself with Alosta Avenue creating the principal arterial crossing from the City of Duarte, through Azusa and into the City of Glendora. This street provides important access into Azusa as well as vistas to the foothills and San Gabriel Mountains. Palm Drive from Foothill Boulevard to Dhammakaya Retreat. Palm Drive, a north/south street, terminates at the Dhammakaya Retreat. This palm tree lined street gives its neighborhood that classical Southern California image. Many surrounding land uses have views of the palm trees lining Palm Drive. Given their historical context and aesthetic appeal, the palm trees are considered a scenic resource. Azusa Avenue (Route 39), Foothill Freeway to Arrow Highway. This is the southern segment of Azusa Avenue (Route 39) in Azusa. This is one of the principal entrances to the City s southern neighborhoods as well as the connection to Designated Route portions of Route 39. While more removed from the foothill areas, this corridor also provides wide vistas of the foothills and the San Gabriel Mountains. With streetscape improvements, this segment could be the logical extension of the northern Designated Route and provide Azusa with an improved visual image. Trail Systems Azusa has trail network for hikers, bicyclist, and horseback riders to enjoy the open space of the San Gabriel Mountain foothills. The network includes the following trails: San Gabriel River Bike Path. Cyclists can ride the 35-mile San Gabriel River Bike Path from Azusa to the ocean at Seal Beach. This route passes through the Santa Fe Dam Recreation Area in Irwindale and can be accessed from many streets that cross the river. A trailhead in Azusa serves as access to this route from its location at Foothill Boulevard and the San Gabriel River. A county owned parking lot is provided to those who wish to use the foothill trail network, on foot, bike or horseback

3 Glendora Ridge Mountainway Trail. This mountain trail begins on private property at the end of Hilltop Drive in Azusa. This route follows the ridges above the northeast portions of Azusa s foothills, then moves north to terminate east of Morris Reservoir near Glendora Mountain Road, at a paved road that comes out of Glendora, and leads to Mount Baldy Village and also to the East Fork of the San Gabriel River. Van Tassel Mountainway Trail. This mountain trail begins at Fish Canyon Road south of the San Gabriel Valley Gun Club. This trail follows the Van Tassel Creek up into the foothills, where it provides vistas of the valley below. It continues on to connect with a network of trails, one of which terminates at the fork of the East and West Forks of the San Gabriel River. The Van Tassel Trail accommodates hiking, biking, and horseback riding and allows for adventurous enjoyment of the San Gabriel Mountains. The San Gabriel River The San Gabriel River is a unique natural and historical resource in the City of Azusa and Los Angeles County. It is the current landscape buffer that defines the formal northern edge of the City. The river and surrounding lands have, over time, been fenced off, filled with flood control facilities and walled in by mining operations for residential and industrial uses. In essence, the River has become the residual back alley of the City. However, this regional amenity can potentially regain its status as the jewel of the City and County. It remains unpaved and continues to have the potential to support lush riparian vegetation and a wide variety of birds and other wildlife. It also has the potential to become the City s primary open space and regional park featuring pedestrian and bicycle paths and educational gathering areas. Visual Character The visual character of Azusa is primarily of a residential nature. A variety of housing types from single-family homes, tract residential developments, and multi-family housing surround commercial zones along major arterials such as Foothill Boulevard and Azusa Avenue. Much of the recent housing built has been tract residential development. As discussed above, open space and scenic vistas play an important role in shaping the visual character. SIGNIFICANCE CRITERIA The assessment presented below uses the following criteria as a guide to identifying potentially significant adverse visual and aesthetic impacts resulting from the proposed project. Specifically, a significant impact would result if the proposed project: Has a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista; Substantially damages scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway; Substantially degrades the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings; or Creates a new source of substantial light or glare, which would adversely affect day or nighttime views in the area. ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS The policies of the proposed General Plan aim to maintain and enhance the aesthetic resources of Azusa. By maintaining views of the foothills via scenic roads through the appropriate scale of building design 4.1-3

4 and keeping up the trail network, the important visual presence of the San Gabriel Mountains would be preserved. Policies relevant to the preserving the San Gabriel Mountains as a visual resource include the following: Urban Form 5.1 Encourage the new housing projects to be built in a form and scale compatible with and appropriate to their surroundings. Recreation 5.1 Enhance local foothills and river areas because of their inherent environmental, ecological, and/or aesthetic contributions to the community and the region. 5.2 Conduct an inventory of trail and other foothill and river recreation facilities on a periodic basis to determine renovation needs and/or capital improvements, prepare a capital improvements programs and adopt a prioritization schedule for improvement. As stated in the Environmental Setting, the San Gabriel River has the potential to be a notable scenic resource for Azusa and the surrounding region. However, efforts would be required to restore river conditions. In addit ion to the Recreation Policies listed above promoting enhancement of the river area, Mobility Policy 2.2 and associated program, M5, call for the creation of a meandering River Parkway from which the river can be appreciated. The Mobility policy and program calling for the River Parkway are as follows: Mobility 2.2 Improve the street system in the northwestern part of the city including, but not limited to, a new River Parkway and the extension of Sierra Madre Avenue. M5 Build a new River Parkway (as Principle Collector) along the east bank of the San Gabriel River. This road should be a meandering roadway with one lane in each direction and turn lanes at intersections. This new parkway road should connect to San Gabriel Canyon Road to the north and to Foothill Boulevard to the south. South of Sierra Madre Avenue, it should be a Secondary Arterial. The overall visual character of the city would not be adversely affected, and in many cases would be improved by the proposed General Plan. According to the proposed land use map, commercial uses can occur in the mixed-use areas in the West End Industrial District and in the University District. Along Foothill Boulevard, the commercial uses will be restricted to San Gabriel Avenue on the east and Pasadena Avenue on the west. A commercial/residential mixed-use development would occur in this area and extend north to Santa Fe Avenue and south to First Street. The mixed-use style of development, where businesses, stores, and public services are accessible to residents living right in the same area, allows for a more pedestrian and bicycle -oriented environment, keeping the neighborhood and predominantly residential feel of Azusa. Certain of the proposed urban design policies address landscaping, calling for a systematic approach to street tree plantings and other greenery. Historic buildings are another feature of Azusa s visual character that would be protected both by Urban Form and Historical and Cultural Resources Policies. Additionally, as the city and the proposed General Plan encourage mine reclamation, the aesthetic character of the city would continue to improve

5 As the projects should generally be compatible with the surrounding environment of Azusa no new sources of glare or light beyond an acceptable urban/suburban level are anticipated. Any new project introduced under the proposed General Plan would go through the required environmental review and assess as part of the project evaluation potential sources for glare or light. Policies and programs applicable to the preservation or improvement of Azusa s visual character include the following: Urban Form 1.1 Require development projects to establish the historicity of existing buildings and landscapes and require City review and permission to allow for the removal in accordance with California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and the Cultural and Historic Preservation Ordinance Front new buildings directly on the thoroughfares and respect the presence of neighborhoods immediately behind them by protecting the privacy of residential uses and minimizing intrusions such as noise, light and glare Where landscape occurs between the sidewalk, buildings or parking lots, it should define the specific character of each project. UF-6 Update the Street Tree Master Plan and adopt a Street Tree Ordinance where the ordinance determines street tree design, appropriate street tree species, and appropriate planting/design requirements for the street tree placement. Expand the City s street tree planting program and determine a street tree-planting schedule in accordance with the Street Tree Master Plan and Street Tree Ordinance. Historical and Cultural Resources 2.2 Designate three or more Historic Districts including but not limited to: a Downtown District, a Sunset/San Gabriel District, and a Foothill District. The policies of the proposed General Plan cover varied categories that ensure the preservation or enhancement of Azusa s visual resources and character. Implementation of the proposed General Plan would not result in impacts to the aesthetic resources of Azusa. MITIGATION MEASURES Since no impact to aesthetics is anticipated, no mitigation measures are recommended. LEVEL OF IMPACT AFTER MITIGATION No significant impacts to aesthetics are anticipated