| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 50 combination of natural elements like the river, trees, and mountains would be disrupted by partial views of the tallest radio antenna. Lighting In the evening, the two blinking, red hazard warning lights at the apex of the tallest antenna and the three smaller marker lights at the mid-point of the antenna would be visible in the middleground from Viewpoint 9. However, the vertical shielding of the red lights and the distance of 0.89 miles, would diminish the impacts of the lighting from this viewpoint. It is important to note that Bob Heirman Park is closed after dusk, which would make it unlikely for the proposed project lighting to impact park visitors. Furthermore, early morning visitors during winter months could experience obscured distance views due to prevailing weather patterns, i.e., fog or low cloud cover. Final Adjusted Visual Quality Rating: 4.4 (down from 6.6) Viewpoint 10 Under the Preferred Alternative, the Snohomish River, with a large gravel bar, and a dike lined with deciduous trees would be visible in the foreground (Figure A.11). The orange and white, 349-foot antenna and seven 199-foot antennas would be visible in the middleground from Viewpoint 10 at a distance of 0.73 miles. Because of the topography, only a thin sliver of the Snohomish foothills and the Cascade Mountains would be visible in the background. Views of the Snohomish River and partial views of the Cascade Mountains would remain memorable and create a high vividness level under the Preferred Alternative. The eight antennas would encroach on the view of natural elements seen from Viewpoint 10 and reduce the level of intactness. Although the antenna would repeat the existing vertical pattern created by the trees along the river, the orange and white markings would make the 349-foot antenna quite noticeable and decrease the unity level of the view. Lighting In the evening, the two blinking, red hazard warning lights at the apex of the tallest antenna and the three smaller marker lights at the mid-point of the antenna would be visible in the middleground from Viewpoint 10. However, the vertical shielding of the red lights would reduce visibility from the ground. It is important to note that Bob Heirman Park is closed after dusk, which would make it unlikely for the proposed project lighting to impact park visitors. Final Adjusted Visual Quality Rating: 3.4 (down from 6.3) Viewpoint 11 Under the Preferred Alternative, deciduous shrubs and trees, and the Snohomish River (with gravel bar) would be visible in the foreground (Figure A.12). The 349-foot antenna, painted in orange and white bands, and the seven 199-foot antennas, painted in neutral colors, would be visible on the existing agricultural field in the middleground at a distance of 0.68 miles. In the background, the populated Snohomish foothills and the Cascade Mountains would remain visible against the skyline. However, in the summer months, the shrubs and trees in the foreground |