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<br />Draft Environmental Impact Report
<br />Bernal Property Phase II Specific Plan
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<br />3. Key Project Characteristics, Impacts, and Mitigation Measures
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<br />a. Key Project Characteristics
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<br />The Specific Plan area consists of 318 acres between Downtown Pleasanton and the Arroyo
<br />de la Laguna divided into Western, Central, Eastern Areas by 1-680 and the UPRR railroad
<br />tracks, The acreage is divided not only into these three spatial units but also, within them,
<br />into 16 sub-areas that will be separated from one another by existing development in all
<br />three areas and existing and new roads, As a consequence, the focus of planning for visual
<br />resources in the Phase II Specific Plan is to establish a framework within which the Plan
<br />elements can relate to one another and to adjacent uses, This framework is described in the
<br />Plan as an "open space/park-like setting," Within that setting, potentially permitted public
<br />facilities will be located in ways that will ensure visual compatibility within the Bernal
<br />Property and with bordering land uses,
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<br />As noted in Section 2, Setting, the open character ofthe site at present is distinguished from
<br />the mostly built-out urban development around it. Preservation of this open character is one
<br />of the principal objectives of the Phase II Plan for the site: the Plan is intended to "preserve
<br />as open space the key visual resources and natural habitat areas of the site" (Land Use
<br />Element, p, 20), Open space policies established by the Plan address:
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<br />. Views, Preserve key views and vistas across the site from adjacent thoroughfares and
<br />1-680 (Land Use Element, Open Space Policy 1, p, 20). Maintain key view sheds into
<br />and across the site (Conservation and Environmental Mitigation Element, Visual
<br />Resources Policy 2, p, 52),
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<br />. Natural Vegetation Corridors, Provide sufficient setbacks along the Arroyo de la
<br />Laguna to maintain its riparian corridor open space and wildlife habitat values (Land
<br />Use Element, Open Space Policy 2, p, 20), Riparian vegetation along the Arroyo de la
<br />Laguna should be protected to the extent consistent with regional flood control
<br />objectives (Conservation and Environmental Mitigation Element, Visual Resources
<br />Policy 1.1, p. 52),
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<br />. Knoll, Utilize the Knoll as an integrated open space and neighborhood special use
<br />park and minimize grading (Land Use Element, Open Space Policy 3, p, 20), The
<br />Knoll, along with its existing valley oak trees, should be retained (Conservation and
<br />Environmental Mitigation Element, Visual Resources Policy 2, p, 52),
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<br />. Buffers, Create landscaped greenways and buffer areas along major roadways and
<br />the Alameda County Transportation Corridor (Land Use Element, Open Space Policy
<br />4, p, 20), Berm construction should be enhanced to appear as a natural land form;
<br />landscaped berms should not be designed, planted, or maintained in a way that
<br />would block views of Pleasanton Ridge (Conservation and Environmental Mitigation
<br />Element, Visual Resources Policy 2, p, 52),
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<br />Implementation of these policies would be accomplished, in part, through the Specific Plan's
<br />Grand Park Design Element. (Specific Plan, p. 23) The defining characteristics of a "Grand
<br />Park" setting are a "stately, commanding presence, substantially forested, and recognizable
<br />form," The Grand Park design rests on its natural setting; over time, tall tree canopies,
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