Chapter
Noise
This element of the General Plan describes noise conditions in the City and provides goals and policies for addressing noise issues. Topics covered in this element include noise standards, current and projected noise levels, key issues and opportunities, and goals and policies.
Goals and Policies
Goal N-1: Promote a pattern of land uses that is compatible with current and future noise levels.
N-1.1 Acoustical studies.
Require an acoustical study and, as necessary, noise attenuation for proposed developments that may be exposed to noise exceeding the normally acceptable range identified Table 11.2 or where a project has the potential to result in a significant increase in noise, as defined in Table 11.3.
N-1.2 Noise-reducing design features.
Incorporate design features into land use projects that can be used to shield residents from noise exceeding the normally acceptable ranges included in Table 11.2. Design features may include, but are not limited to berms, walls, and sound attenuating building configuration, architectural design, and construction method and materials.
N-1.3 Mixed-use developments.
Require design and construction of mixed-use developments to achieve noise levels in the conditionally acceptable range or lower per Table 11.2 for outdoor recreation areas associated with residential components and to achieve interior noise levels in residences of 45 CNEL or lower, consistent with Title 24 interior noise standards.
N-1.4 Sensitive noise receptors.
Maintain acceptable noise levels near sensitive receptors such as residences, hospitals, schools, and places of worship through review of new development in accordance with Policy N-1.1 and enforcement of the Municipal Code.
N-1.5 Noise studies.
Require noise studies for new development located in areas where the contour maps on figures Figure 11.2 and Figure 11.3 indicate the potential for exposure to noise exceeding the normally acceptable range for the proposed use and/or where the proposed use would have the potential to expose existing uses to significant operational noise impacts per the thresholds included in policies N-1.1 and N-3.2. If the proposed project would or could be exposed to noise exceeding the normally acceptable range, require appropriate noise reduction techniques to minimize noise exposure. Depending on the noise source, such techniques may include but are not limited to building construction standards to reduce interior noise, building orientation that blocks noise, increased setbacks from noise source(s), and use of sound barriers. If the project would or could generate significant operational noise impacts to existing uses, require mitigation to minimize impacts.
Goal N-2: Minimize adverse noise impacts associated with transportation.
N-2.1 Freeway noise reduction.
Work with Caltrans and VCTC to construct soundwalls and implement other measures to achieve locally acceptable levels from Highway 101 and State Route 23 whenever there are major freeway projects.
N-2.2 Noise sensitive receptors and roadway noise.
Protect sensitive receptors from freeway and roadway noise through minimization techniques, including building configuration and design, sound walls, traffic calming, traffic diversion, or rubberized asphalt.
Goal N-3: Minimize excessive intermittent noise.
N-3.1 Construction noise.
Use the noise levels shown in Table 11.4, adopted from Federal Transit Administration (FTA) standards, as thresholds of significance for construction noise and, as necessary, require mitigation for construction activities that would result in significant noise impacts.
N-3.2 Noise reduction for construction.
Require the following noise reduction techniques for all construction activity in the City:
- Require power construction equipment with noise shielding and silencing devices consistent with manufacturer’s standards or the Best Available Control Technology;
- Prohibit use of driven (impact), sonic, or vibratory pile drivers, except in locations where the underlying geology renders alternative methods infeasible, as determined by a soils or geotechnical engineer and documented in a soils report;
- Utilize noise attenuating measures or screening for all outdoor mechanical equipment from off-site noise-sensitive uses;
- Locate construction staging areas as far from noise-sensitive uses as reasonably possible and feasible in consideration of site boundaries, topography, intervening roads and uses, and operational constraints;
- For construction activity that even with the above requirements would or may still generate noise exceeding the significance thresholds in Policy N-3.2, investigate the use of additional feasible noise reduction techniques, including but not limited to the use of temporary sound barriers between the noise-generating activity and affected sensitive uses
N-3.3 Noise complaint response.
Track and respond to noise complaints and, as necessary, take action to address violations of noise restrictions. For repeat violators, investigate the potential to require systemic changes to the activity generating the Municipal Code violation.
Maps
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