2014-069 - Final Environmental Impact Report No. 2014-01

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5. Environmental Analvsis 5.1 AESTHETICS This section discusses the visual character, visual and scenic resources, landform, and scenic corridors on the project site and its vicinity. The analysis identifies the proposed project's aesthetic impacts related to these characteristics. 5.1.1 Environmental Setting Visual Character The Santa Ana General Plan describes Harbor Boulevard as a "major image maker for the City" (Santa Ana 2010). It identifies Harbor Boulevard as a traditional intercity corridor that links the ocean to inland areas. Therefore, the appearance of Harbor Boulevard plays an important role in establishing the image of Santa Ana to drivers traveling through the City. The North Harbor Specific Plan (NHSP) boundaries cover the portion of Harbor Boulevard between Westminster Avenue on the north and Gloxinia Avenue on the south. Generally, the NHSP extends about one to two blocks to the east and west of Harbor Boulevard between the northern and southern ends. The NHSP also extends east and west along some of the cross - streets along Harbor Boulevard, including McFadden Avenue, 1st Street, 5th Street, and Westminster Avenue. Harbor Boulevard is characterized as having auto - oriented light industrial businesses, high density apartment complexes, one- to two -story medical and general office space, one- to two -story commercial strip malls, restaurants, motels, larger shopping centers, and parking lots. Portions of Harbor Boulevard have planted medians, and sidewalks extend along both sides throughout the entire length of the NHSP. Some areas have mature street trees lining the median in the middle of blocks. Most of the NHSP area does not include any single - family housing, however, two mobile home parks are included in the NHSP boundaries at Bali Hi Iane and Camille Street, just south of 1st Street. Visual Resources The areas along Harbor Boulevard that have the greatest visual appeal are the areas with mature trees, residential (apartment) landscaping, and commercial landscaping. Figure 5.1 -1, Existing Visual Resources, gives examples of these types of visual resources. The architecture along North Harbor Boulevard generally consists of boxy, single -story building structures with clean facades and signage. There is no consistent architectural or landscape theme applied throughout the NHSP area. In the original 1992 NHSP, design guidelines encouraged the use of historical mimetic architecture; however, there are no examples of this currently on the ground within the NHSP. Mimetic architecture is the design of buildings to look like the product they are selling (e.g., a donut shop that is shaped like a donut). Other themes of architecture were not October 2014 Page 5.1 -1