EP 1165-2-1
30 Jul 99
projects with the surrounding environment while avoiding excessive
expenditures. The following principles should be applied in defining
the appropriate measures for aesthetic quality at civil works projects
at all stages of project development.
a. Project Relationship. Any aesthetic project features must
be related to harmoniously blending the project into the project
setting and not aimed at "beautifying" the surrounding area. This is
not at issue with measures that are integral to project design but is
an important consideration for measures that are not integral. For
example, plant materials can be used to reduce visual contrast or
screen projects. Landscape plantings must be limited to the land
required for the project and plantings will not extend to adjacent
property even if the adjacent property is a public park or recreation
area.
b. Project Setting. The acceptability and compatibility of
aesthetic features of project design are affected by the project
setting and the expectation of the users and viewers of the project.
The land use in the area surrounding the project is an important
consideration in determining the appropriate measures for aesthetics.
For example, a concrete channel without aesthetic treatment may not be
visually objectionable in a heavy industrial area but a concrete
channel in a residential area may require texturing and screening with
trees and shrubs to be visually compatible with the residential land
use. Linear projects such as levees and channels may incorporate
different aesthetic features in different reaches of the same project,
depending on the visual qualities and land uses of the adjacent
property in that reach, with an appropriately designed transition
between different treatment reaches.
c. Partnership. Project aesthetic features will be closely
coordinated with the non-Federal project sponsor. The objectives,
goals, desires, and values of the non-Federal sponsor will be
carefully considered in formulating the aesthetic features of the
project within the limits of a uniform application of standard Corps
practices for aesthetic quality, as defined in the above mentioned ER,
EMs, and paragraph 3-17.a-f of this EP. This does not preclude the
incorporation of measures into a project that would exceed the
standard Corps practice if the non-Federal sponsor is willing to bear
all of the incremental costs of such measures as elements of a locally
preferred plan. Equity is also an important consideration in working
in partnership with local sponsors. The preservation and enhancement
of aesthetic quality must be an important goal in all projects,
regardless of the socioeconomic conditions of the project area.
d. Compatibility. All aesthetic measures must be designed so
that they are fully compatible with the project purpose and in no way
compromise the safety, integrity, or function of the project. For
example, it may be appropriate to screen a floodwall with vegetative
plantings but it would be inappropriate to plant trees directly on a
levee that might endanger its structural integrity or diminish its
hydraulic characteristics.
e. Cost Allocation. Costs for aesthetic measures that are in
accordance with standard Corps practices are shared as project costs.
Cost allocation would be an issue in multi-purpose projects where
aesthetic costs would be shared in accordance with the purpose to
which the costs are allocated. The addition of recreation as a
project purpose may introduce the need for an increased consideration
of aesthetics since it results in increased public visibility and use
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