2024-11-21 Moku Loa Hawaii Island Sierra Club Testimony (2)

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Hawaii County Scenic Resources Inventory and Mapping Project Village Specific Plan, Visual Impact Assessment The City of Del Mar, California, Planning and Community Development Department, commissioned a study that was completed in July 2012 to assess the visual impacts of the City's "Del Mar Village Specific Plan". The Visual Impact Assessment thoroughly documents the existing visual resources within the study area and assesses the visual response of the different viewer groups. The study then conducts an assessment of the Plan's visual impacts, proposes mitigation options and assesses the impacts following mitigation (See: Appendix G, Village Specific Plan, Visual Impact Assessment). The Del Mar study utilizes several of the visual impact assessment techniques identified in this report, including: GIS based line-of-site/viewshed analysis, photomontage and computer simulation. GIS based line-of-site/viewshed analysis using a digital elevation model (DEM) was effectively deployed to assess the Plan's overall impact by documenting the following: • The scope of existing and future ocean viewsheds from residences located to the east (mauka) of the planning area. • The visibility of existing and future buildings from residences located east (mauka) of the planning area based on existing and planned conditions. • The degree of visual impact upon residences located east (mauka) of the planning area. The presence and types of view corridors through the planning area from residences located to the east (mauka) (See: Appendix G, pages 23 to 33). Computer simulations documenting pre- and post-project conditions were are also used extensively in the Del Mar Study. The study documents existing views from locations where the Plan is proposing changes to building massing and height. Using computer software, such as SketchUp, scale models depicting future building conditions were inserted into existing condition photographs. e T Utility clutter is a significant threat to Hawaii County's scenic resources. Scenic Resource Protection Programs and Strategies Page 26