x Site V-1 was located adjacent to the Lofts at Las Colinas along

Preliminary Engineering / Environmental Impact Statement
Northwest Corridor LRT Line to Irving and DFW Airport
x
Site V-1 was located adjacent to the Lofts at Las Colinas along Lake Carolyn Parkway. The
vibration measurements at this site are representative of the areas along the southeastern
portion of the alignment.
x
Site V-2 was located in the parking lot of the Cool River Café, at the northeast corner of
Hidden Ridge Road and MacArthur Boulevard. The vibration measurements at this site are
representative of the areas along the northwestern portion of the alignment.
x
Site V-3 was located at the Archstone at MacArthur Apartment Homes, adjacent to
MacArthur Boulevard. The vibration measurements at this site are representative of the
multi-family residences at the Archstone at MacArthur Apartment Homes and the singlefamily homes at Mandalay Place.
3.7 VISUAL AND AESTHETIC RESOURCES
3.7.1 Overview of the Corridor
The DART Northwest Corridor LRT line to Irving/DFW begins near the Bachman Station of the
Carrollton/Farmers Branch LRT Line in Dallas. The area is characterized by multi-family
residential, industrial, and commercial uses from Denton Drive west to the eastern levee of the
Trinity River. The alignment crosses over IH 35-E (Stemmons Freeway) and crosses the flood
plain of the Trinity River parallel to Spur 482. Entering Irving, the alignment passes by a truck
terminal facility and Texas Stadium, then over the Loop 12 freeway. The line is in the right-of-way
of SH 183 as it passes by the University of Dallas campus and the Cistercian monastery and
Preparatory School. The line passes through the Las Colinas Urban Center on the east side of
Lake Carolyn, through an area of high-rise and low-rise office buildings and newly-constructed
multi-family residences. As the line leaves the Urban Center, it passes vacant parcels of land and
rises to cross over SH 183. There is a mix of vacant land, low- and mid-rise offices, and multifamily residences west of SH 183. The alignment passes by the site of the original Carpenter
family homestead, “Rancho Las Colinas”, some mid-rise offices, North Lake Community College,
and a small light industrial area before entering Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport property.
The rail line is in an open area of the airfield on airport property and terminates southeast of the
intersection of Belt Line road and Valley View Lane.
Inventory of Visual Resources
A visual inventory of the corridor was undertaken to provide an overview of the various character
areas along the corridor. The purpose of this inventory is to document the visual and aesthetic
resources within the corridor that may be impacted by the proposed action. The analysis of
potential impacts will address how the proposed action will affect the views, vistas and areas of
special design character. This includes the character of both the built and the natural environment.
In addition to addressing affected views, the analysis will also address how the proposed project
may affect the visual privacy of adjacent uses. Therefore, the inventory addresses sensitive
adjacent land uses, such as single and multi-family residential development.
3.7.2 Corridor Assessment Unit Descriptions
For the purpose of documenting the visual inventory of the corridor, the study area was, based on
field observation, categorized into seven assessment units shown in Figures 3-22 and 3-23. Each
of these units was delineated based on its general visual character and the commonality of its land
uses. Table 3-27 provides a general rating of each unit’s visual quality, sensitivity to change,
primary viewers, and sensitive visual assets or receptors. Table 3-28 provides definitions of the
ratings used in evaluating each assessment unit. Each of the seven assessment units is described
below.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Chapter 3 Affected Environment
3 - 63
D
NNOR R
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5
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A
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V
U
(deferred)
183
V
U
Irving
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!
University of
Dallas
!
!
HW
Y
2
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Y
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LN
Dallas
NW Corridor LRT Line to Irving/DFW
Environmental Impact Statement
East Section
Figure 3-22
Loop 12
(deferred)
"
)
12
NO
RTH
WE
ST
35E
§
¦
¨
Visual Analysis Units
CALIFORNIA CROSSING RD
! South Las Colinas
!
Source: S.R. Beard & Associates, 2005
E AIRPORT FWY
DR
4
! Lake Carolyn
!
348
&
482
&
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1,000 2,000
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Carrollton-Farmers Branch LRT Line
Proposed LRT Line to Irving/DFW
Proposed Station
Visual Analysis Unit
§
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!
Bachman
!
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Legend
RD
! North Las Colinas
!
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NO
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MACARTHUR BLVD
N. MacArthur Blvd
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! North Las Colinas
!
Lake Carolyn !
5
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HURD DR
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NW Corridor LRT Line to Irving/DFW
Environmental Impact Statement
N
R
NO
RD
Hackb
348
&
Dallas
4,000
Feet
VD
BL
West Section
Visual Analysis Units
Figure 3-23
Irving
od
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LW
VD
BL
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Source: S.R. Beard & Associates, 2005
L LN
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!
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Proposed LRT Line to Irving/DFW
Proposed Station
CH
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!
!
North Lake
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WALNUT HILL LN
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!
!
Visual Analysis Unit
RO
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7
114
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U
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Road
!
!
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LUNA RD
d
Luna R
Preliminary Engineering / Environmental Impact Statement
Northwest Corridor LRT Line to Irving and DFW Airport
Unit
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
TABLE 3-27
GENERAL RATING OF CORRIDOR VISUAL ASSESSMENT UNITS
Name
City
Primary
Visual
Visual
Sensitive Receptors/Assets
Viewers
Quality
Sensitivity
Bachman/
Dallas/
Trinity River
Irving
Central
Freight/
Irving
Texas
Stadium
University of
Dallas/
Irving
Cistercian
A, D, E, F
Moderate
Moderate
A, F
Low
Low
A, C, H
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
Moderate
A, C, E
Moderate
Low
A, B, C, E,
HighModerate
HighModerate
A, E, F
Moderate
Low
Las Colinas
Irving A, C, D, E, G
Urban Center
North Irving/
Northwest Irving
Highway
Carpenter
Ranch/
Irving
North Lake
College
DFW Airport/
Irving
Belt Line
Storey Rd office and industrial
tenants, L.B. Houston Park
(undeveloped) users
Central Freight, FedEx
U. of Dallas,
Abbey residences,
Cistercian school
MF residences, commercial/office
tenants,
Campion Park users
MF residences, hotels,
commercial/office tenants,
SF & MF residences, hotels,
commercial/office tenants
Industrial, office/commercial tenants
Source: HDR | .R.Beard, 2006
Primary Viewers
TABLE 3-28
EVALUATION RATINGS
Visual Quality
High = Assessment unit or
portions thereof is of significant
B = Single Family Residents visual or aesthetic quality to the
primary viewers.
C = Multi-Family Residents
Moderate = Assessment unit or
D = Recreational Users
portions thereof is of average
visual or aesthetic quality to the
E = Commercial/Office
primary viewers.
Tenants
Low = Assessment unit is of little
F = Industrial Tenants
or no visual or aesthetic quality to
the primary viewers.
G = Downtown Pedestrians
A = Arterial Motorists
Visual Sensitivity
High = Introduction of new elements into the
assessment unit could significantly impact the
quality of the visual/aesthetic resource as
observed by the primary viewers.
Moderate = Introduction of new elements into
the assessment unit may have an impact the
quality of the visual/aesthetic resource unit or a
portion thereof as observed by the primary
viewers.
Low = Introduction of new elements into the
assessment unit is not likely to have an impact
on any visual/aesthetic resource as observed
by the primary viewers.
H = Others
Source: HDR | S.R.Beard, 2006
Unit 1 – Bachman/Trinity River
This Unit begins North of and is adjacent to the Bachman Station of the Carrollton/Farmers Branch
LRT Line. The unit is comprised of a mixed multi-family, commercial and light industrial area,
much of which is in reclaimed floodplain adjacent to the Trinity River. It is characterized visually by
the large trees and vegetation in the river floodplain between the levees, and by the concrete and
masonry buildings, and the concrete and steel highway and power transmission structures that
predominate in the rest of the area.
Unit 2 – Central Freight/Texas Stadium
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Chapter 3 Affected Environment
3 - 66
Preliminary Engineering / Environmental Impact Statement
Northwest Corridor LRT Line to Irving and DFW Airport
The visual landscape of this area is dominated by the highways and their interchange structures,
one-story warehouse and distribution buildings, and the approximately 100-foot high dome of
Texas Stadium on the southeast. Large power transmission lines parallel the highways.
Unit 3 – University of Dallas/Cistercian
The University of Dallas/Cistercian unit is characterized by low hills, the open green areas of the
University of Dallas campus, and mesquite trees and other vegetation of the Cistercian monastery
and school site to the northwest. There are also vacant hills on the northwest side of SH 114,
adjacent to the University of Dallas station site.
Unit 4 – Las Colinas Urban Center
The Las Colinas Urban Center unit is a mixture of 15-, 20-, and 30-story high-rise office buildings
along with low-rise residential, hotel and retail on the southwest side of Lake Carolyn. Low-rise
four-story apartment, condominium and retail development (some recently built, others still under
construction) predominates along the east side of the lake, adjacent to the South Las Colinas and
Lake Carolyn station sites. The grassy medians and newly-planted landscaping of Lake Carolyn
Boulevard are the main visual features along the LRT project alignment. The views throughout the
Urban Center include the lake and the variety of building heights, as well as large undeveloped
tracts of land to the north and heavy trees and vegetation along the Trinity River to the northeast of
the lake.
Unit 5 – North Irving/Northwest Highway
The North Irving/Northwest Highway unit is dominated by views of vacant land and low-rise
residential buildings under construction along Lake Carolyn Boulevard north of O’Connor
Boulevard. Views to the northeast are of the heavy trees and vegetation along the Trinity River
floodplain. The concrete and steel bridge and overpass structures of the Northwest Highway/SH
114 interchange are dominant at the north end of the area. One six-story hotel stands among the
vacant land on the east side of SH 114 just south of the interchange.
Unit 6 – Carpenter Ranch/North Lake College
The Carpenter Ranch/North Lake College Unit is best characterized as hilly and landscaped, with a
mixture of low-rise commercial and residential buildings; a small lake, a golf course and other open
areas; mid-rise office buildings; and some vacant land. The highest point along the alignment,
southeast of the intersection of Hidden Ridge and MacArthur Boulevard, offers some of the best
views in northwest Dallas County. Nearby are the Tournament Players Club golf course, North
Lake College, and surrounding residential areas; more distant views are of the high-rise buildings
of Las Colinas Urban Center, downtown Dallas and the IH 35E Stemmons corridor to the southeast
and south. The alignment crosses MacArthur to run along the north side of the North Lake
Community College campus, adjacent to low-rise multi-family residential buildings on a slight hill to
the north. The views from where the alignment crosses Brangus are of the campus to the south,
Las Colinas Urban Center to the east-southeast, and single-family residential areas and hills to the
north and northwest. The western end of this visual unit has one-story light industrial buildings
from Walnut Hill Lane to the Dallas/Fort Worth Airport property fence.
Unit 7 – DFW Airport/Belt Line
The DFW Airport/Belt Line Unit is slightly hilly, and covered with brush and trees. The LRT
alignment is on the airport property, and includes the runway approach clear zone. There are
views to the surrounding light industrial buildings southeast of SH 161 (George Bush Turnpike),
and a small bank and City of Irving maintenance facility on the northwest side of SH 161. The
other features are the toll gate structures at the entrance and exit ramps on the highway, and the
dominant toll plaza structure that spans the width of the highway just southwest of where the
alignment crosses the highway.
Draft Environmental Impact Statement
Chapter 3 Affected Environment
3 - 67