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SAN LEANDRO SHORELINE DEVELOPMENT DRAFT EIR <br />CITY OF SAN LEANDRO <br />AESTHETICS <br />Although the Project would change the Significant View identified in the San Leandro General Plan, the <br />major components of the view, both near -field and mid -to -far -field, would remain albeit in a slightly <br />altered form. As a result, the project would result in a less -than -significant impact to scenic vistas. <br />Applicable Regulations: <br />None <br />Significance Before Mitigation: Less than significant. <br />AES -2 The Project would not substantially degrade the view from a scenic <br />highway, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and <br />historic buildings. <br />The closest scenic highway is a portion of Interstate 580 starting at the northern border of San Leandro <br />and extending north to SR 24 in the city of Oakland. There are no views of the site available from this <br />scenic highway. Therefore, the Project would have no impact on views from a state scenic highway. <br />Applicable Regulations: <br />None <br />Significance Before Mitigation: No impact. <br />AES -3 The Project would not substantially degrade the existing visual character <br />or quality of the site and its surroundings. <br />The valuable visual features of the site occur on both its landside and waterside areas. On the landside, <br />the golf course provides a landscaped open space that is man-made rather than natural. The golf course is <br />lined with trees that largely block it from view of the neighboring residences and from the waterside <br />Marina portion of the site. On the waterside, the existing boats in the marina and the open waters of the <br />harbor are important visual features. Most of the Marina provides immediate and distant views of the Bay. <br />As discussed above, however, the visual character of the site under existing conditions is also defined by <br />the aging and underutilized Marina, which at this time, is visually uncoordinated. The vacant Boatworks <br />site and remnants of the Blue Dolphin site, the high vacancy rate for the boat slips, as well as broad <br />expanses of parking lot and sparse landscaping contribute to the lack of cohesion and appearance of <br />disuse, increasing the dilapidated character. <br />The Marina is visually separated from the eastern portion of the site, which contains the Marina 9 -hole <br />Golf Course. The large open parking lots of the Marina are currently in contrast with the grass and tree - <br />covered golf course. The Project would significantly alter the visual character of the site. On the landside, <br />new residential development would replace a portion of the golf course. The residential development will <br />be landscaped in accordance with the City's standards and most of the existing trees will remain. Trees <br />that are removed will be replaced in accordance with the City's tree ordinance, as discussed below. The <br />five golf course tees and holes in the development area will be reconfigured where they will still provide <br />an open space quality, albeit man-made. Based on the above discussion, the Project will change the <br />landside area but would not substantially degrade its visual character. On the water side, the 462 -boat <br />4.1-12 DECEMBER 2014 <br />