2 - EIR18-01;DA18-01; GPA18-06; AA 18-10_2525 N. Main Streets

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EXHIBIT A Resolution No. _____ Page 10 of 71 Certification of the Magnolia at the Park EIR 7.1 Aesthetics 7.1.1 Visual Character Threshold: Would the Project substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of the site and its surroundings? Findings: Significant and Unavoidable. (DEIR, pp. 4.1-16 through 4.1-26.) Facts in Support of Finding: As described in Section 4.1, Aesthetics, of the DEIR, with implementation of the Project, views of the Project site from the adjacent Santiago Park area would change from setback views of the existing 2-story office building partially screened by mature landscaping to that of forefront views of the 5-story residential building, with a landscaped tree buffer directly adjacent to the park. This would result in a significant and unavoidable change in views of the Project site from the park. The difference in scale and height, due to the Project’s location adjacent to the park, and limited visual setback buffer with the proposed landscaping, would result in a substantial difference in scale, height, and property setbacks that is considered significant pursuant to the City’s criteria related to the visual character of the site in comparison to the park. Thus, the visual change in height, scale, and setbacks from Santiago Park would be significant and unavoidable. (DEIR, pp. 4.1-16 through 4.1-26.) In addition, implementation of the Project would result in a significant and unavoidable change in visual scale, height, and setbacks from Edgewood Road and N. Bush Street. The background views of urban buildings would become forefront views, and the proposed size and scale of the Project would substantially increase the overall visual density of the built environment. The difference in visual scale and height with the proposed structure adjacent to the roadway and limited of visual setback buffer, would be substantial and considered significant pursuant to the City’s criteria. Thus, the visual change related to the height, scale, and setback from Edgewood Road and N. Bush Street would be significant. (DEIR, pp. 4.1-21.) The Project includes the following PDF that would reduce the visual impacts of the Project: • PDF-1: The landscape plan will incorporate the existing mature trees located along the eastern Project site boundary and to the extent feasible protect and preserve the existing mature trees within the 15-foot setback along the southern boundary within the 15-foot setback along the southern boundary that were identified as healthy by the Arborist Report. (DEIR, p. 3-18.) In addition, Mitigation Measure AES-1 require measures be implemented to retain and protect the trees along the eastern and southern Project site boundary and would reduce these impacts. Mitigation Measure AES-1 provides: Mitigation Measure AES-1: Construction plans and specifications shall state that the following measures shall be implemented by the construction contractor to protect the trees along the eastern Project site boundary and to the extent feasible protect and preserve the existing mature trees within the 15-foot setback along the southern boundary within the 15-foot setback along the southern boundary that are planned for preservation during construction of the proposed Project pursuant to the 2018 Arborist Report: • If the wall along the eastern boundary of the Project site cannot be heightened in-place and must be replaced, it shall be reconstructed with a precast concrete fence or a wall without a continuous footing. 2-46