Champlain Hudson Power Express Project

Champlain Hudson Power Express Project

Amendment to

Visual Assessment Report:

Projected Converter Station in Astoria, NY

Prepared for

Champlain Hudson Power Express

Prepared by

TRC

Wannalancit Mills

650 Suffolk Street

Lowell, Massachusetts 01854

June 2011

TABLE OF CONTENTS

1.0 INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Astoria Converter Station................................................................................................................. 1 1.1.1 Visual Setting ........................................................................................................................ 1 1.1.2 Visual Resources Inventory .................................................................................................. 2 1.1.3 Astoria Converter Station: Photosimulation Viewpoint Location Determination ................ 2 1.1.4 Character of the Area ............................................................................................................ 3 1.1.5 Astoria Converter Station: Potential Visual Impacts and Mitigation .................................. 10

FIGURES

Figure 1 Overview of CHPE Proposed Converter Station Site in Astoria, NY

Figure 2 Photo Locations

Figure 3 Proposed Astoria Converter Station Existing Conditions

Figure 4 Proposed Astoria Converter Station With Project

Converter Station 1 Visual and Aesthetic Resources Assessment

July 2011 Amendment

1.0 INTRODUCTION

In July 2010 Champlain Hudson Power Express, Inc. (CHPE) submitted an assessment of visual and

aesthetic resources within a 0.25 mile study area of a proposed aboveground HVDC converter station

located in Yonkers, New York and the Sherman Creek step-down 345/138 kV transformer substation in

the Borough of Manhattan which was being considered as an alternative substation connection. Since that

time, the Sherman Creek substation has been abandoned in favor of the Astoria substation. This

amendment to the Visual Assessment Report addresses an alternative aboveground HVDC converter

station for the CHPE Project proposed in Astoria in the borough of Queens in New York City, New York.

Similar to the original report, a 0.25-mile radius was used to evaluate the presence of sensitive receptors

near the site.

1.1 Astoria Converter Station

1.1.1 Visual Setting

The land use in the vicinity of the proposed converter station in Astoria, NY is largely transportation and

utilities in a highly urban industrial zoned area owned mainly by Consolidated Edison Company of New

York, Inc. (Con Edison). The proposed site for the Astoria converter station is within the larger Con

Edison complex, adjacent to and northwest of Luyster Creek. The East River lies to the east and north of

the Con Edison property. The nearest main public thoroughfare is 20th Avenue which runs northwest-

southeast and forms the southwestern boundary of Con Edison property. Residential areas lie outward

from 20th Avenue towards the southwest perimeter of the study area. The viewscape in the immediate

vicinity of the converter station site is comprised of industrial complexes that include generating facilities

such as Astoria I and II power plants, NRG/Calpine peaking turbines, oil storage tanks, large parking lots,

and electric switchyards. A soccer field and baseball diamond located within Con Edison property lies

just southwest of the proposed site location. Below is a bird’s eye view of the proposed CHPE converter

station site and surrounding development (Figure 1).


July 2011 Amendment

Figure 1. Overview of CHPE proposed converter station site in Astoria, NY

1.1.2 Visual Resources Inventory

As with the June 2010 visual assessment, this site location was evaluated for resources as listed in New

York Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYSDEC ) Assessing and Mitigating Visual

Impacts, 2000. There are no resources within 0.25 miles of the site.

1.1.3 Astoria Converter Station: Photosimulation Viewpoint Location Determination

On May 19, 2011, a site visit was made to understand the visual layout of the site and to obtain

photographs for visual simulations. Access to vantage points within Con Edison property was restricted,

including the soccer and baseball fields, an area where people are intermittently likely to congregate for

some period of time. At the time of the site visit, the fields were behind locked gates with no entry point.

As a result, the locations remaining for suitable photosimulations that could possibly show the size and

scale of the Project within the surroundings were essentially limited to 20th Avenue and at the end of 19

th

Avenue looking across Luyster Creek. The stretch adjacent to Con Edison property along 20th Avenue

provides the nearest vantage points where the general public would potentially have views of the Project.

The vantage points and respective photographs obtained along 20th Avenue were entered into the 3-

dimensional software and the model results indicated that there would be no or minimal views of the

Project due to several groups of trees located west and south of the proposed site. Although not an area

that would have significant public access, one photograph at the end of 19th Avenue had the best open

view of the site and was subsequently utilized for the simulation presented in this document.

East River

Luyster Creek

Proposed

CHPE Converter

Station Site

Astoria Energy I & II

Poletti Power Plant

(retired) &

Astoria Generating Co.

NYPA 500 MW

NRG/Calpine

Con Edison Property


July 2011 Amendment

1.1.4 Character of the Area

A photo log was collected during a site visit on May 19, 2011 showing views towards the site from

various locations along the periphery of the proposed facility. Most of these locations will not have

views, or have limited views due to the obstruction of buildings and groups of trees located on Con

Edison property but are presented here to illustrate the visual character of the area. Since access to Con

Edison property was restricted, only streets southeast of Luyster Creek and along 20th Avenue are shown.

Figure 2 shows the photo locations.

Photo 1. This location, south of the Astoria Energy power plants on Steinway Place, shows the view

towards the Project looking northwest down an alleyway. Access within the property is restricted. Views

will be blocked by the intervening buildings.

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Proposed Astoria HVDC ConverterStation - Photo Locations

Figure 2

Prepared by:

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July 2011 Amendment

Photo 2. The end of 19th Avenue was the closest point where even a relatively unobstructed view could

be obtained during the field effort. Although it is not a location where the general public would

congregate, it does offer a view of the Project and was selected for a photosimulation.


July 2011 Amendment

Photo 3. Photo 3 is a picture looking towards the site along 37th street near the corner of 20

th Avenue.

The view shows a tree row at the end of a large parking lot, obstructing most views of the Project.


July 2011 Amendment

Photo 4. This view is located on 20th Avenue looking through the fence across the playing fields. The

Project would be located behind the trees in the background.


July 2011 Amendment

Photo 5. This is a view looking down 20th Avenue to the north illustrating street character and some of

the trees that might block views further to the west.


July 2011 Amendment

Photo 6. A view of 20th Avenue to the south.


July 2011 Amendment

Photo 7. Photo 7 is a view towards the site at the entrance to the Con Edison property. The Project would

be located behind the trees seen along and at the end of the entry drive.

1.1.5 Astoria Converter Station: Potential Visual Impacts and Mitigation

During the field portion of the photosimulation effort, the area was evaluated by TRC staff for potential

viewpoint locations. As discussed, there are no sensitive receptors as listed in the NYSDEC Visual

Resources Policy within 0.25 miles of the site. Because of the highly urban nature of the project area and

restricted access on Con Edison property, there were few locations that could be photographed so as to

show the representative size and scale of the facility in the context of the surroundings. The photograph

which provided the best opportunity for representation was taken from the end of 19th Street where it

meets Luyster Creek.

The near view of the existing conditions simulation photo (Figure 3) shows riparian vegetation lining the

shore of the creek. On the left side of the photo, the viewer sees a large grouping of trees that lie to the

southwestern side of the proposed site. From this vantage point, the trees and distance prevent the viewer

from seeing many of the other industrial and energy facilities that exist beyond, as shown in Figure 1.

However, a high voltage transmission line and industrial building are currently visible around the

proposed site.

The photosimulation with the Project (Figure 4) shows that the facility will partially be obscured by the

trees to the left, while the eastern third of the enclosed building housing DC and valve areas will be

VIEWPOINT 19th STREET

VIEWPOINT LOCATION MAP

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Viewpoint Coordinates 657666.9 E

In NYSP East 709686.7 N

Viewpoint Location 19th Street

Viewer Elevation 6 ft msl

Distance to Closest Element 785 feet

Distance to Furthest Element 0.25 miles

Camera Model Canon Rebel T 1i

Lens Setting 50 mm

Date/Time 11.11.09/8:56 am

Champlain Hudson Power Express Project Champlain Hudson Power Express Inc.

Proposed Astoria Converter Station

Existing Conditions

Figure 3

6/2/2011 Prepared by:

VIEWPOINT 19th STREET

VIEWPOINT LOCATION MAP

TECHNICAL INFORMATION

Viewpoint Coordinates 657666.9 E

In NYSP East 709686.7 N

Viewpoint Location 19th Street

Viewer Elevation 6 ft msl

Distance to Closest Element 785 feet

Distance to Furthest Element 0.25 miles

Camera Model Canon Rebel T 1i

Lens Setting 50 mm

Date/Time 11.11.09/8:56 am

Champlain Hudson Power Express Project Champlain Hudson Power Express Inc.

Proposed Astoria Converter Station

With Project

Figure 4

6/2/2011 Prepared by:


July 2011 Amendment

visible. A small portion of the transformers and cooling valves will be visible as well as three of four

lightning masts. The facility from this location is approximately 800 feet from the viewer.

Much of the station elements will be enclosed within buildings, reducing some of the scattered vertical

and horizontal components to a more visually stable solid shape of a building profile. Neutral colors for

the proposed above ground building structures would assist in mitigating contrast. Since the immediate

environment is that of a heavy industrial nature, the proposed facility will not be out of character with

existing land use and will not redefine the nature of the view in context. No new types of visual elements

will be introduced into the landscape beyond what already exists in the area.

In terms of public view of the property, access to the Con Ed property is restricted. Although some of the

trees will be removed on the northern side of the copse, the remaining trees will still mitigate the majority

of views to the facility from outside of the property line. There are other tree rows elsewhere on Con

Edison property, such as at the edges of the existing playing fields to the southwest and near the entrance

drive, that offer additional mitigation for views from the south and southwest. The peripheral streets

within 0.25 miles of the site such as 19th Avenue are not residential or destinations sought out by the

public and so will generally only be accessed by those who work in the area.

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