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City of Pleasanton—Merritt Property Project <br />Consistency Checklist 15183 Consistency Checklist <br /> <br /> <br />36 <br />The City is surrounded by various scenic resources, including hillsides, ridge <br />views, vast open spaces, valleys, arroyos, and canals. Many of these <br />resources are visible from I-680 and I-580. For instance, views of the <br />Pleasanton Ridgelands are visible to travelers along I-680, as well as <br />westbound passengers along I-580. A significant impact would occur if future <br />development consistent with the Housing Element Update would impact or <br />obstruct views of the City’s scenic resources from the eligible or officially <br />designated State Scenic Highways. <br />The Housing Element Update FEIR indicated that, of the housing sites, Site 22 <br />(Merritt) is located directly adjacent to and west of I-680. There is an existing <br />10-foot-tall sound wall on the eastern property line of Site 22 (Merritt) abutting <br />I-680 that would partially obstruct development on Site 22 (Merritt); therefore, <br />development would only be partially visible. <br />The Housing Element Update FEIR concluded that development applications <br />for subsequent development consistent with the Housing Element Update <br />would be reviewed by the City for compliance with the goals, policies, and <br />programs of the General Plan, applicable specific plans, applicable zoning <br />requirements, Design Guidelines, and the Scenic Highway Plan, and <br />compliance with these standards would ensure development consistent with <br />the Housing Element Update would not substantially damage scenic <br />resources within view of a State Scenic Highway and impacts would be less <br />than significant. <br />Visual Character <br />Consistency with Scenic Quality Regulations <br />The sites for housing, including the proposed project, are generally located in <br />urbanized areas. The Housing Element Update FEIR indicated that the <br />housing sites are mostly vacant or underutilized parcels, currently developed <br />with a mix of uses including surface parking lots, restaurants, hotels, office <br />buildings, retail, industrial, and warehouse and distribution. The existing land <br />use designations for these sites include residential, commercial, industrial, <br />office, mixed use, community facilities, agriculture, public health and safety, <br />parks and recreation, and public and institutional. The existing zoning <br />designations include agriculture, residential, commercial, office, mixed use, <br />industrial, and public and institutional. <br />Several of the sites are within the PUD district or not otherwise zoned for <br />residential use. As part of the Housing Element Update, the applicable sites <br />were rezoned to allow for residential development. To the extent that any