XIII. AESTHETICS

1. There are no scenic routes (streets or highways) designated in the vicinity of the FMC Substation site or power line corridor (City of San Jose, 1994). The Guadalupe River Park is a public scenic area that would have limited views of project power lines from two street level entrances (PG&E, 1997, 1998). Generally, views of the existing power line from within Guadalupe River Park are extremely limited because the line is located below the street level of Coleman Avenue. New power poles would not be installed and existing power poles would not be relocated along Guadalupe River Park. Therefore, visual impacts to Guadalupe River Park would not change and the impacts of the project to visual quality are therefore considered less than significant.

Another area of future scenic value is the planned public park within the San Jose International Airport Approach Zone (east of Coleman Avenue). Portions of the proposed power line alignment are visible from vantage points in the existing open space area. However, the view from the open space area is blocked by existing industrial uses along the entire length of Coleman Avenue (PG&E, 1997). Visual impacts for future park users would be less than significant.

A new power line would be constructed along the west side of Stockton Avenue, adjacent to the Bellarmine College Preparatory School ballfield. The line would be a dominant visual feature from the vantage point of the ballfield. However, because the viewshed is dominated by existing utility poles, railroad tracks, and a neighboring cement plant that are seen through existing landscape screening along the school’s eastern fence line, the addition of a new power line would add to the cumulative visual character already present. The effect would be more in degree rather than kind of change, and therefore would not substantially change the existing visual character (PG&E, 1997). This impact would be considered less than significant.

2. Pursuant to CEQA, public views are eligible for protection and/or mitigation from project effects if there is a demonstrable negative aesthetic impact. The proposed substation structure and equipment would have an ultimate height of approximately 35 feet. An eight-foot concrete brick sound wall would be constructed along the east side of the FMC Substation site, adjacent to Stockton Avenue. Wood and Tubular Steel Poles would be installed or would replace the existing poles for the proposed power line. The PEA provides photo renderings of existing conditions and graphical simulations of the proposed substation improvements from public areas surrounding the project site (PG&E, 1997).

   Three residences, located on Stockton Avenue, would have close range views of the expansion of the FMC Substation. In order to minimize the visual (and noise) impacts from substation components, an eight-foot, concrete brick soundwall east of the substation would be erected. To screen views of the substation elements that rise above the eight-foot soundwall, PG&E proposes to plant trees along the eastern site boundary. The canopies would screen the substation from those residential views when the trees approach and reach maturity, which may require seven to ten years. With implementation of project-proposed mitigation measures, the project would have a less than significant visual impact on residents adjacent to the FMC site.

   The aesthetic effects of poles and power lines on Guadalupe Park, the future park area south of the airport, and Bellarmine College Preparatory School are discussed in item XIII.a, above. The areas along alignments of the proposed power line are predominantly industrial uses consisting of industrial and commercial businesses, industrial storage areas, an elevated highway, billboards, and existing utility lines and poles. The existing visual quality is generally low; therefore, implementation of the project would not create new features in strong contrast with the surrounding visual character; therefore, the power lines would have a less-than-significant impact.

3. New lights would be installed at the project site. This lighting would be hooded, directed downward, and confined to the FMC Substation site in order to minimize glare. In addition, the lighting level would be reduced from that of the former FMC parking lot. The project would therefore result in a less than significant impact.

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