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SAN LEANDRO SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT DRAFT EIR
<br />CITY OF SAN LEANDRO
<br />AESTHETICS
<br />CAL Green
<br />California Green Building Standards Code of the California Code of Regulations, Title 24, Part 11, known as
<br />CALGreen, establish building standards aimed at enhancing the design and construction of buildings
<br />through the use of building concepts that have a reduced negative impact or positive environmental
<br />impact and encouraging sustainable construction practices. CALGreen includes standards for planning and
<br />design, energy efficiency, water efficiency and conservation, material conservation and resource
<br />efficiency, and environmental quality. Specifically, Section 5.106.8, Light Pollution Reduction, establishes
<br />Backlight, Uplight, and Glare (BUG) ratings to minimize the effects of light pollution for nonresidential
<br />development.
<br />4.1.1.2 EXISTING CONDITIONS
<br />Visual Character
<br />Landscape and Visual Character of the Site and Surroundings
<br />The Project site contains an aging marina which, at this time, is largely suffering from blight. As a result,
<br />the relatively flat site consists of a large amount of vacant parking space, small wooden buildings
<br />associated with marine uses, docks and piers (some of which are in a state of disrepair), the vacant Blue
<br />Dolphin and Boatworks sites, the currently operating Marina Inn, Horatio's restaurant, EI Torito, San
<br />Leandro Yacht Club, Spinnaker Yacht Club, and the Mulford -Marina Branch Library. A portion of the site at
<br />the southern end is unpaved and vacant (Boatworks site). Additionally, there are a variety of recreation
<br />and leisure facilities including bicycle and pedestrian paths, the nine -hole Marina Golf Course (including
<br />two relatively large water features), benches, picnic tables, barbecues, grass covered open space, trees,
<br />small and large boat launches, and observation points. Although there are existing public amenities such
<br />as benches, open space, and landscaped areas, an overall defined character is lacking and generally
<br />uninviting. Along the path of the outer boundary of the Project site along the water's edge, there are no
<br />public benches or areas for seating. Currently the 462 -slip public boat harbor is at 30 percent occupancy
<br />which contributes to the underutilized character of the site. However, the presence of the boats in the
<br />harbor provide an attractive aspect to the character of the site since it provides a visual link to the San
<br />Francisco Bay, and contributes to the overall character of the marine environment in the area. In addition,
<br />the site contains a public art installation as well as commemorative displays.
<br />The character of the site is also impacted by the adjacent uses and the character of those sites. Views of
<br />the Project Site are shown in Figure 4.1-2. Residential uses in the Marina area generally encompass
<br />neighborhoods to the northeast and east, including the Mulford Gardens, Marina Faire, Little Alaska, and
<br />the Seagate and Marina Gardens developments. These areas generally comprise of dense tree canopy,
<br />large lots, remnant farms, and an eclectic mix of older and newer homes.' To the south and southeast are
<br />recreation uses in the form of Marina Park and the Tony Lema 18 -hole Golf Course, as well as the Marina
<br />Faire neighborhood and Heron Bay neighborhood further to the south. These areas are characterized by
<br />the large amount of open space in the area and the pedestrian -oriented amenities including several
<br />walking and biking paths, part of which is a segment of the San Francisco Bay Trail.
<br />4 City of San Leandro, General Plan, page 3-25.
<br />4.1-6 DECEMBER 2014
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