| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 18 3 AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT 3.1 Aesthetics, Light and Glare The quality of the visual environment is recognized as an important public resource. In recognition of this resource, EDAW, Inc. was retained to conduct an independent visual study to evaluate the impact of the Proposal on the existing visual environment as seen from identified key viewpoints. The following section begins with a discussion of the methodology used for this visual analysis. Next, it describes the existing visual environment in the proposed project area and assesses the existing visual resources seen from identified key viewpoints. The section also includes a brief description of the proposed alternatives. 3.1.1 Visual Assessment Methodology A visual quality assessment is a structured analysis of the scenic resources within a project area. The methodology used to inventory existing visual conditions and evaluate visual changes resulting from the proposed alternatives is modeled after the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Visual Impact Assessment process (USDOT 1980). This process was chosen for its ability to consistently and specifically describe and evaluate visual resources in rural, urban, semiurban and natural settings. Also incorporated in the methodology are the Washington Department of Transportation�s (WSDOTs) standardized visual character classifications and modified rating sheets (WSDOT 1996). There are other accepted methodologies for visual assessment available, such as the U.S Forest Service�s Scenery management System, and the U.S. Bureau of Land management�s Visual resource management System. However, these systems are oriented more towards managing wildland scenic areas for natural resource use, such as grazing, recreation, or timber harvest. They are judged to be less well suited to evaluating the impacts of changes within more urbanized or built environments, and for that reason, the FHWA process was chosen as the preferred model. 3.1.1.1 Overview A visual quality assessment was conducted for the proposed alternatives. Existing visual conditions were described using data collected during field studies and from topographic maps, land use maps, documented project information, and photographs. Key viewpoints representing sensitive viewer groups in the proposed project area were identified. Existing visual resources seen from each key viewpoint were described and evaluated. Visual simulations were developed to illustrate the level of change between existing and proposed visual conditions. Finally, the visual resources under the proposed alternatives were described and evaluated; and mitigation measures were discussed. This visual analysis included the steps listed and described below. Describing the general visual environment Identifying the viewshed boundaries of the Project area Describing the existing visual resources within the viewshed |