Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESThe heavily trafficked state highways, SR 3 and SR 16, form the backbone of the UGA and dominate the visualcharacter of the area in the minds of area stakeholders. The aesthetic character of these highway corridors isheavily highway and automobile oriented, with a prevalence of impervious surfaces, overhead power lines,highway signage, highway scale lighting, pole mounted signage, and an overall lack of pedestrian facilities andpedestrian scale. Land uses are a mix of industrial and commercial and lack any cohesive design character.The area waterward of SR 3 and SR 16 consists of a combination of much the same type of highway stripdevelopment as is found elsewhere along the state highways, alternating with undeveloped shoreline andintertidal areas. As such, the character of this area is mixed. Areas that provide views to the water have apotentially high aesthetic quality; however, the larger area is still largely dominated by roadways with heavy trafficand uncoordinated development.The quarry site located north of West Sherman Heights Road encompasses an active quarry as well asundeveloped, forested land.The remainder of the UGA is characterized by a mix of low density, single-family residential development,undeveloped open space, and scattered industrial uses, such as along and north of West Belfair Valley Road. Theresidential development tends to have a rural feel, similar to the rural residential located in the Gorst Watershed.Density is low, housing types, ages, and conditions are mixed without consistent design elements, and roads tendto be low-volume roads without curbs or sidewalks.Gorst Creek traverses the UGA in the triangle north of SR 3 and south of W Belfair Valley Road. This area ischaracterized by a mix of undeveloped forested riparian land adjacent to Gorst Creek and some low-densityresidential uses.Figure 3.8-2Visual Character of Gorst UGA Highway CorridorSource: BERK July 2011BUILDING HEIGHTS, BULK, AND SCALEWatershedResidential buildings in the Gorst Watershed are predominately modestly scaled, one- and two-story, single-familyhomes and outbuildings, modular homes, and mobile homes. The bulk and scale of these homes is consistent witha low-density, rural residential area. Due to the limited height and low-density nature of the residential area,shading impacts of existing structures on adjacent properties are negligible.A variety of other building types exist in the watershed, particularly in the SKIA area, including industrial oragricultural pole buildings, warehouses, and other structures. While the height and bulk of some of theseDraft | June 2013 3-119