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City of Pleasanton—Hidden Canyon Residences and Preserve Aesthetics, Light, and Glare Draft EIR 3.1-2 FirstCarbon Solutions https://adecinnovations.sharepoint.com/sites/PublicationsSite/Shared Documents/Publications/Client (PN-JN)/2148/21480016/EIR/3 - Draft EIR/21480016 Sec03-01 Aesthetics.docx Project Site The project site is located just outside the northwest city limits of the City of Pleasanton, within an area characterized by residential and open space/agricultural land uses and sloping hills and creeks. The overall project site is approximately 130.98 acres of undeveloped land and is surrounded by agricultural open space, Dublin Canyon Road, and a Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses (north), open space and residential uses (east), rural residential and an East Bay Regional Park District (EBRPD) land bank (south), and agricultural open space (west). The project site contains Devany Creek and Canyon. Visual Distance Zones The following distance zones (foreground, middle ground, and background) characterize the dominant visual character from each vantage point and describe views in terms that can be analyzed and compared. The sensitivity of views, which may be modified by the proposed project, are defined in order to establish thresholds for the analysis of potential visual impacts resulting from the implementation of the proposed project. Foreground Views These views include elements that can be seen at a close distance and dominate the entire view. Viewer groups affected by changes in views, such as surrounding residents, pedestrians, or regular motorists are most impacted by modified views at this distance. Middle Ground Views These views include elements that can be seen at a middle distance and that partially dominate the view. A sensitive viewer group would consider these impacted views potentially adverse. Background Views Although background views are part of the overall visual composition of the view, these views include elements that are seen at a long distance and typically do not dominate the view. A sensitive viewer group would consider these impacted views potentially adverse. Scenic Resources The City of Pleasanton is located mostly within the Amador Valley, one of the three valleys constituting the Tri-Valley. The Tri-Valley, outlined by the Diablo Range of hills, is a sheltered inland valley. Hills ranging from 1,000 to 1,500 feet in elevation (including the Pleasanton and Main Ridges) border the valley floor to the west and east. The Las Trampas Ridge is also visible to the northwest. To the north lies the Black Hills, including Mount Diablo (elevation 3,948 feet), and to the south the valley rises up to 3,500 feet. These surrounding scenic resources define the high points of the Tri- Valley area and provide a scenic backdrop for all development in the valley floor portions of the Planning Area. Agricultural land uses that primarily consist of grazing lands along with some vineyards are located in the western and southern hills next to the City. The General Plan identifies scenic highways in lieu of identifying scenic vistas, as they also afford publicly available views. A scenic highway protects scenic value and provides passive recreation in observing scenic vistas. The nearest scenic highway to the project site is Interstate 680 (I-680),