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SANTA ANA CLIMATE ACTION PLAN INITIAL STUDY CITY OF SANTA ANA 3. Environmental Analysis Section 2.4 provided a checklist of environmental impacts. This section provides an evaluation of the impact categories and questions in the checklist. 3.1 AESTHETICS a) Have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? Less Than Significant Impact. The Draft CAP proposes measures that would aid in reducing the City's GHG emissions, and, thus, would not directly lead to development that would affect scenic vistas. However, the proposed measures encourage the installation of solar photovoltaic (PV) systems both through new private installs on residences and businesses, or on municipal facilities, to provide alternative sources of energy. The municipal solar PV system measure assumes the installation of a 160 kW system, which could be installed on one City facility or could represent the total capacity of several systems on multiple City facilities. However, for purposes of environmental analysis, if installed as one system on one structure, the system would cover an area of approximately t00 feet by 200 feet. Both private and municipal PV systems would most likely be placed on rooftops, which could alter scenic views. However, the City is built out, relatively flat, and does not have significant hills or viewpoints that may provide scenic vistas. Nearby hills, including the Santa Ana Mountains to the east and the Puente Hills and the San Bernardino Mountains to the north, are visible from some areas within the City. However, PV systems on commercial or civic structures would likely not be significant enough to block or greatly alter the viewshed and would be subject to Planning and Building Agency review and approval, . In addition, AB 2188, which took effect on January 1, 2015, required local governments to adopt a streamlined and expedited permit approval process for small residential rooftop solar energy panels.a The City of Santa Ana adopted an ordinance to comply with AB 2188 regulations. The ordinance stipulates that once the application process is complete, a permit shall be issued.5 Therefore, small residential rooftop systems, consistent with the size and placement requirements set forth in the ordinance, are not subject to design review or other approval, such as local aesthetic policies. Therefore, impacts to scenic vistas would be less than significant. b) Substantially damage scenic resources, including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? Less than Significant Impact. There are no state - designated scenic highways within the City of Santa Ana or within view of the City. A segment of State Route 91 (SR -91), from SR -55 to the City of Anaheim east 4 California Legislative Information. Bill Information, AB -2188 Solar energy: permits. Available online at: http : / /leginfo.legislature.ca.gov /faces /bilINai,Chentxhtnil?bill id= 20132014OAB2188, accessed October 13, 2015. 5 City of Santa Ana Building Safety Division. Streamlined Residential Solar Plan Check and Permitting. Available online at: htLD: / /Ww V ci s',mlg-,ma ca us/ pb1 /budditigsafety /`Re�idemialSolg asg, accessed October 13, 2015. October 2015 Page 21 75B -119