5A Public Hearings 2018 0220 - Laserfiche WebLink

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b. Views and Scenic Resources The City’s 2035 General Plan identifies the primary significant views within San Leandro as those looking west to the San Francisco Bay from the shoreline and from the hills above the I-580 Freeway, and views looking east to the hills near the I-580 Freeway and to the foothills from hills near the I-580 Freeway (City of San Leandro 2016b). The 2035 General Plan does not identify significant views within the vicinity of the Specific Plan Area, but does identify several areas in proximity to the Specific Plan Area as major City gateways as shown in Figure 9. Major gateways near the Specific Plan Area include the 150th Avenue/Hesperian Boulevard/East 14th Street intersection, the section of Hesperian Boulevard between the Bay Fair BART Station tracks and the Hayward station tracks, and the section of East 14th Street between Fairmont Avenue and 159th Avenue. However, these gateways are not considered scenic resources or vistas under the 2035 General Plan. The main public views of the Specific Plan Area are from the East 14th Street and Hesperian Boulevard corridors and are primarily of the adjacent commercial and residential development in the 13 subareas. Private residences along East 14th Street, Hesperian Boulevard and Coelho Drive also have views of urban development within the Specific Plan Area. There are some views of nearby hillsides through street corridors, such as from 150th Avenue which provides intermittent views of the hills in Lake Chabot Regional Park approximately one mile northeast of the Specific Plan Area, and from East 14th Street which provides intermittent views of the East Bay hills approximately 16 miles northeast of the Specific Plan Area, among others. No views of the San Francisco Bay or the shoreline are available from or through the Specific Plan Area. The portion of the I-580 Freeway within the vicinity of the Specific Plan Area is listed as an eligible State Scenic highway by Caltrans, but has not been officially designated as a scenic highway (Caltrans 2011). The location of the I-580 in relation to the Specific Plan Area is shown in Figure 10. At its nearest point to the Specific Plan Area, I-580 is located approximately 2,000 feet to the northeast of East 14th Street. Section 17.104.090 of the Municipal Code defines the I-580 Freeway’s scenic corridor as extending up to 90 feet from the highway. There are few visual resources within the Specific Plan Area. No historic resources have been identified within this area; the terrain is relatively flat and free of rock outcroppings; and trees are generally limited to street trees and ornamental trees in and around parking lots and adjacent to buildings. The City contains a number of heritage redwood trees; however, none are located within the Specific Plan Area. Street trees within the Specific Plan Area are generally present on landscaped outskirt areas that surround the commercial centers along East 14th Street, Hesperian Boulevard, and Fairmont Drive, and also line the streets near the residential uses along the East 14th Street and Hesperian Boulevard corridors. c. Light and Glare The Specific Plan Area is urban in character and currently has high nighttime light levels due to streetlights on East 14th Street, Hesperian Boulevard, Fairmont Boulevard, and around the Bay Fair BART Station, as well as exterior lights at adjacent commercial uses and residences. Headlights from motor vehicles traveling through the Specific Plan Area also contribute to nighttime lighting. Glare is primarily a daytime phenomenon, caused by sunlight reflecting from structures (including windows), roadways, and cars. However, glare can also be created at night by vehicle headlights. Land uses in the Specific Plan Area that would be most sensitive to night lighting and glare are residences located adjacent to East 14th Street, Hesperian Boulevard, and Coelho Drive. 127