RES 231363 - Laserfiche WebLink

AUGUSTIN BERNAL MOUNTAIN BIKE TRAIL PROJECT DRAFT INITIAL STUDY 12956 DUDEK 16 April 2022 designated scenic vistas occur in the vicinity of the project site, but the site is visible from Interstate 680, which is a designated state scenic highway . Impact Discussion a) Would the project have a substantial adverse effect on a scenic vista? No formally designated scenic vista is identified in the vicinity of the project site, and the project site is not a component of any formally designated scenic vista. There are several scenic vistas available from the Augustin Bernal Community Park (see Figure 7) and Pleasanton Ridge Regional Park, and views of the parklands from surrounding public and private viewpoints are highly scenic. The project would create a linear trail through the project site, replacing the existing unofficial trail. The project would also involve decommissioning of approximately 4,300 linear feet of other existing unofficial, user-created trails, thus reducing the total amount of trail length within the park. The project would not alter views of Augustin Bernal Community Park because the project is designed to largely retain the forested characteristics of the site and does not include any tree removal. The project would result in no change to any formally designated scenic vista, would largely retain woodland features, and would be visually consistent with the surrounding park setting. Therefore, the project would have no impacts to scenic vistas. b) Would the project substantially damage scenic resources including, but not limited to, trees, rock outcroppings, and historic buildings within a state scenic highway? Interstate 680, located east of the project site, is an officially designated state scenic highway (Caltrans 2021). The project would occur within the viewshed of Interstate 680, but the project would not require the removal of any trees. Vegetation removal and tree trimming would occur below the tree canopy and therefore would not be noticeable from Interstate 680. Because the trail would be substantially obscured by the existing oak woodland, construction of the mountain bike trail would not alter the overall view of the park from the designated scenic highway and the project would have no impact to scenic resources as viewed from a state scenic highway. c) In non-urbanized areas, would the project substantially degrade the existing visual character or quality of public views of the site and its surroundings? (Public views are those that are experienced from publicly accessible vantage point). If the project is in an urbanized area, would the project conflict with applicable zoning and other regulations governing scenic quality? The project site is within an existing park, and the proposed mountain bike trail would be consistent with existing zoning. The Augustin Bernal Community Park supports a network of almost 5 miles of trails. The project site contains unofficial user-created trails, thus users of the adjoining areas of the park and the staging area/parking lot currently have views of the trail surface and bicyclists moving through the site. Project construction could temporarily degrade the existing visual character of the site and immediate surroundings as a result of disturbance associated with grading and construction activities. Construction equipment and materials could also contribute to temporary impacts to the visual quality of the site during construction. After construction, the project would not alter the existing character of the site because it would continue the existing use of the site and would require minimal vegetation removal and tree trimming. The park and