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City of San Leandro 311 MacArthur Boulevard Residential Project 18 Project-Specific Impacts a. Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? The General Plan EIR describes the visual character in the context of the project site as suburban neighborhoods with tree-lined streets, and identifies scenic vistas of the hills east of the city generally visible in the project vicinity. The General Plan EIR determined less than significant impacts to scenic vistas would occur, because policies and existing regulations are in place to protect views of scenic vistas in the city. The project site is in an urban area and is not part of a scenic vista as identified in the 2035 General Plan, nor does it contain visually dominant features unique to the project site. Although the project includes the construction of three-story townhomes, this development would not substantially obstruct views of the hills east of the city, which are identified as a scenic vista within the city. Existing structures and vegetation generally obscure views of these hills, unless the viewer travels along an east-west-oriented roadway. Hillside views are available from Broadmoor Boulevard at its intersection with MacArthur Boulevard adjacent to the site, but these views would remain available, as proposed buildings would only be visible in the far right-hand corner of this view. The proposed project would be consistent with 2035 General Plan policies regarding scenic vistas, including Policy LU-8.2. Furthermore, the project would improve the commercial corridor along MacArthur Boulevard with varied features on the three-story structure, such as balconies, recessed walls, and landscaping. These features would be consistent with Section 2-690 of the San Leandro Zoning Code, as revised by Ordinance 2018-021. LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT OR LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT WITH MITIGATION INCORPORATED b. Would the project substantially damage scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? The General Plan EIR found no impacts to scenic resources because no views from state scenic highways would be degraded. Northeast of San Leandro, Interstate 580 is a California Department of Transportation (Caltrans)-designated state scenic highway (Caltrans 2019). However, mature trees and other vegetation along the highway prevent clear views of the city to the west, including views of the project site. Although trees would be removed from the project site, no impacts would occur because the site is not visible from a scenic highway. As analyzed in Section 5, Cultural Resources, the buildings on-site are not historic resources. Therefore, similar to the conclusion in the General Plan EIR, there would be no impact to scenic resources within a state Scenic Highway. NO IMPACT c. Would the project, in non-urbanized areas, substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from a publicly accessible vantage point). If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality? The project site is located in an urbanized area, and the 2035 General Plan contains regulations governing scenic quality and scenic resources. The project would be consistent with applicable zoning and land use regulations (see Project Consistency with Adopted City Plans and Ordinances, Table 2, as well as Section 11, Land Use and Planning). Therefore, the project would have a less than significant impact to scenic quality.