| Draft Environmental Impact Statement Shorts School Road Am Antenna Structures 51 would partially screen middleground views of the antenna and the valley and background views of the mountains. Views of the Snohomish Valley, the Snohomish River, and the Cascade Mountains would remain memorable under the Preferred Alternative. The eight antennas would encroach on views of natural elements (such as the river, valley, and mountains) seen from Viewpoint 11 and reduce the level of intactness. Although the antenna would repeat the existing vertical pattern created by the deciduous 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 11. 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: 4.6 (down from 6.8) Viewpoint 12 Under the Preferred Alternative, neighborhood houses, landscaping, and driveways would remain visible in the foreground from Viewpoint 12 (Figure A.12) at a distance of 0.66 miles. The Snohomish River Valley would be partially visible in the middleground, with the painted, 349-foot antenna projecting up into the sky. Although not visible from the street, the seven additional antennas would be visible in the middleground from the houses at this location. In the background, the Snohomish foothills and the Cascade Mountains would be visible against the skyline. Please note that houses at this location would likely have wider views of the valley and mountains than shown in the simulation. The panoramic view of the valley and the mountains, would remain under the Preferred Alternative. The eight antennas would encroach on views of the valley and mountains. The scale and orange and white markings of the 349-foot antenna would make it a dominant element in the view and reduce the level of intactness. The neutral colors and smaller scale of the seven 199-foot antennas would make them appear less dominant, because they could meld into the background landscape more easily. Likewise, although the antennas would repeat existing vertical elements in the foreground, such as trees and lamp posts, the scale and markings of the tallest antenna would disrupt the coherent visual pattern and diminish the level of unity seen from Viewpoint 12. |