Volume 2: Draft Gorst Planned Action Environmental Impact Statement

GORST PLANNED ACTION EIS | AFFECTED ENVIRONMENT, SIGNIFICANT IMPACTS, AND MITIGATION MEASURESThe overall impact of Alternative 2 on the visual character of the UGA is likely to be positive, however, as newGorst Subarea Plan policies and urban design concepts would result in new design guidelines that mitigate many ofthe negative aesthetic qualities frequently associated with the Gorst UGA. Streetscapes would be improved asstreet trees, planter boxes, planter strips, and sidewalks are introduced. Buildings would be brought closer to thestreet with entrances oriented to the street and connected to sidewalks, with street-facing windows and weatherprotection, creating a more welcoming, pedestrian friendly environment. Impervious surfaces would be reducedand parking would be placed to the sides or rear of buildings, reducing the desert-like quality of large expanses ofpavement.BUILDING HEIGHT, BULK, AND SCALEWatershedThe impacts associated with building height, bulk, and scale under Alternative 2 would be the same as thosedescribed for Impacts Common to All Alternatives.Gorst UGASimilar to Alternative 1, some conflicts of scale may occur as areas currently occupied by low-density residentialuses transition to more intensely developed commercial uses. Subarea Plan policies and design concepts shouldmitigate much of this conflict by encouraging a more consistent building-street relationship and avoiding the oftenhaphazard nature of development that currently characterizes much of the UGA.New development along the highway corridors would likely be within the existing range of building heights, bulk,and scale, but would have a more consistent and attractive design and streetscape.VIEWSWatershedThe impacts associated with views under Alternative 2 would be the same as those described for Impacts Commonto All Alternatives.Gorst UGASimilar to Alternative 1 some localized view impacts may occur as sites develop; however, these impacts are notexpected to be significant. Development of the quarry site as a residential neighborhood would have positive andnegative view impacts. Positive impacts would result from new views of Sinclair Inlet being opened up from thenew neighborhood. Views of the new neighborhood from elsewhere in the UGA may be considered negative ascurrently forested areas are cleared and replaced by development.Alternative 3VISUAL CHARACTERWatershedThe impacts associated with visual character under Alternative 3 are the same as those described for Alternative 2.Gorst UGAAlternative 3 would support greater population growth, at 1,082 persons, and less employment growth, at 333jobs, than the other two alternatives. The types of development envisioned in this alternative differ from otheralternatives as well. Alternative 3 places a greater emphasis on mixed use development as well as more aggressiveLID measures in sensitive areas of the UGA, such as adjacent to Gorst Creek and waterward of SR 3 and SR 16.The impacts of Alternative 3 are similar to those of Alternative 2 in terms of the extent of overall change in visualcharacter from the present condition to a more compactly developed urban center, the potential for conflictsDraft | June 2013 3-125