| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 41 Viewpoint 15 Viewpoint 15 looks east from the Kenwanda neighborhood, at 133rd Place SE (Figure A.15). This view is superior to the proposed project site. Two large homes, with mature landscaping, are visible in the foreground of this view. In this area of Kenwanda, the topography of Fiddler�s Bluff is such that houses are oriented more or less due east towards the proposed project site. Internal views from house windows may frame the proposed site in the middleground from this location. The Snohomish River and agricultural fields, with Lord Hill beyond, are visible in the middleground. In the background, the Cascade Mountains are visible against the skyline. The view is much more open in the winter as the tall cottonwoods lining the banks of the river have dropped their leaves. Views of the Snohomish Valley, including the river, and the Cascade Mountains are memorable and create a high level of vividness. This view is relatively free from visual encroachment and has a high level of intactness. There is a harmonious visual pattern created by the natural elements in the middleground and background like the river, the fields, Lord Hill, and the mountains. As a result, this view has a high level of unity. The existing visual quality seen from Viewpoint 15 is high with a rating of 5.6. Viewpoint 16 Looking east from the Kenwanda neighborhood, at 13521 106th Place SE, Viewpoint 16 is superior to the proposed project site (Figure A.16). A large home with mature landscaping and a street light are visible in the foreground of this view. In this area of Kenwanda, the topography of Fiddler�s Bluff is such that houses are oriented more or less due east towards the proposed project site. Internal views from house windows may frame the proposed site in the middleground from this location, although it is difficult to be sure as the house is well below the camera view and the screening effect of vegetation is difficult to predict. In the middleground there are partial views, through a stand of large evergreen trees, of the Snohomish River Valley with Lord Hill beyond. The Cascade Mountains are visible against the skyline in the background. Partial views of the valley and mountains are striking and create a high level of vividness. This view is free from visual encroachment and has a high level of intactness. The strong horizontal elements such as the roof of the house in the foreground, the fields and Lord Hill in the middleground, and the mountains in the background, create a coherent, harmonious visual pattern and an high level of unity in this view. The existing visual quality seen from Viewpoint 16 is high with a rating of 5.6. Viewpoint 17 Viewpoint 17 looks southwest from the intersection of Shorts School Road and the proposed project site access road. The location represents the close views of motorists or agricultural workers and is relatively level with the proposed project site (Figure A.17). In the foreground, there are existing views of the field on the project site. In the middleground, the deciduous trees that line the river dike and Fiddler�s Bluff (with houses) are visible. Fiddler�s Bluff screens all background views. |