| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 74 4 CUMULATIVE IMPACTS 4.1 Aesthetics, Light and Glare SEPA rules require that the cumulative impacts of the project be analyzed as well as the specific direct and indirect impacts. In this case, cumulative impacts can have several meanings. First, cumulative impacts could result from the gradual implementation of the project in phases, and secondly, cumulative impacts could result as the cumulative viewing of the antennas or antennas from multiple viewpoints as the viewer moves through the landscape. In the first case, Alternative II could be seen as the first phase of a two phase construction sequence, which could culminate in the construction of the Preferred Alternative with the addition of 4 additional short antennas in a future construction phase. In that case, the eventual cumulative impacts would be the same as those identified for the Preferred Alternative. The only difference would be that it would take longer for the entire project to be implemented, and the actual construction permits would likely be issued in separate steps. The Preferred Alternative resulted in the finding of an additional instance of an unavoidable significant impact at one of the simulation viewpoints (Viewpoint 15), compared to Alternative II. Additionally, although no significant impacts were identified for the viewpoints along the valley floor using the applied methodology, these are the viewpoints that would be most affected by construction of the numerous smaller antennas, principally because they are almost the only viewpoints from which those antennas would be visible. The majority of the discussion in this visual impact discussion has focused on the tall antenna, for several reasons � it is visible from many more locations due to its height, and it will be painted in a very visible orange and white color scheme due to FAA regulations. The short antennas will be screened by intervening vegetation from many viewpoints, and they will be painted a neutral gray color allowing them to blend into the background except from close distances. These include views such as those simulated by Viewpoints 1, 4, and 17. Although no findings of significant visual impacts were found for viewpoints along the valley floor, the presence of the four additional shorter antennas in the Preferred Alternative will result in a more cluttered visual environment for viewers on the valley floor near the project site than would be present with the implementation of Alternative II. In the second case, the viewing of the antenna or antennas from multiple viewpoints as the viewer moves through the landscape could result in cumulative impacts. For instance, a motorist driving along Shorts School Road would have the antennas continuously in view for several minutes of their drive, not just in the view depicted in the simulation of Viewpoint 1. Likewise, a visitor hiking the paths of Bob Heirman Park might have the tall antenna continuously in view as they hike. However, in this case, the impacts are no greater than would be measured at the individual viewpoint. The impact is measured as a degree of visual change from the existing condition. Whether that change is viewed in multiple spots or one spot, the degree of change remains the same. The simulation viewpoints were carefully chosen to represent the greatest degree of change. Due to the nature of the landscape, individuals will typically only be able to view the antennas from only a discreet limited set of viewpoints at any one time. The presence of the steep forested topography and limitations to the local road network due to the absence of bridges across the Snohomish River in the vicinity of the antenna insures that viewing condition. |