Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURES3.9 AestheticsThis section discusses the existing aesthetic character of the study area and the aesthetic impacts associated withthe three alternatives. The aesthetic character of the study area is described in terms of the overall visualcharacter, building height, bulk, and scale, and views.Affected EnvironmentThe aesthetic character of the study area comprises a wide range visual characteristics and distinct physicalenvironments. The Gorst watershed is largely undeveloped and rural in character, while the Gorst UGA contains amix of more developed, urban, and highway oriented uses.The identity of the subject area is strongly influenced by its aesthetic qualities, both positive and negative.Comments received during the course of the public process, including those gathered during the SWOT analysis(see Section 2 Alternatives), indicate that strong opinions exist regarding the aesthetic quality of the study area.Impacts to aesthetics, whether maintaining positive attributes or remedying undesirable conditions, is a highpriority issue for area stakeholders.Positive aesthetic qualities noted during the public process include:• Waterfront aesthetic, which is attractive to development• Views of the water and Olympic mountains• Natural beauty of forested areas, streams, and wildlifeNegative aesthetic qualities noted, include:• Unattractive, poorly maintained buildings• “Seedy” highway commercial businesses• “Junky” properties• Haphazard development• No sense of place• Litter, especially on the beach• Traffic congestionSuch comments, in combination with observations of existing physical characteristics, provide a baseline forevaluating aesthetic impacts of the three alternatives.VISUAL CHARACTERThis section describes the existing visual character of the study area, including the defining characteristics andrelative quality of the natural and built environments; the design, character, and condition of buildings; and thedesign, character, and condition of public spaces, including streetscapes.WatershedThis section describes the visual character of the Gorst watershed, excluding that portion of the watershed withinthe Gorst UGA.The City of Bremerton owns approximately 3,000 acres in the upper Gorst watershed, commonly referred to as theCUL. The CUL are managed for low intensity forestry uses, limited commercial and recreational uses, and for theprotection of the watershed and wildlife habitat. The CUL are largely composed of native evergreen and mixedforest and previously cleared forested areas in various stages of regrowth. Users of the area may includeDraft | June 2013 3-117