RES 06035 - Laserfiche WebLink

Draft Environmental Impact Report Bernal Property Phase II Specific Plan 1 . Framework for Analysis Development on the Bernal Property would generate noise and would result in land uses that are affected by environmental noise: sounds in the environment that are considered to be objectionable by the listener (e.g., traffic noise, mechanical equipment, railroads, etc.). The major issues evaluated in the noise assessment are: . The compatibility of the proposed development with the project site's noise environ- ment (the complete makeup of noise sounds in the area) and . The potential for long-term or short-term noise impacts at existing sensitive develop- ment near the site as a result of project operations, construction noise, and increased traffic noise along local roadways. Appendix E presents background information relevant to the evaluation of noise impacts, including a brief review of the fundamentals of environmental acoustics, definition of terms,J2 and a description of noise evaluation criteria. 2. Setting Major existing noise sources in the Specific Plan area are the Union Pacific Railroad and 1- 680. Berms along the western side of 1-680 result in considerably lower noise levels at locations west of the freeway than at similar setbacks to the east. Noise is also generated along Bernal Avenue and on local streets. The site is bordered by noise sensitive uses including residences and schools and less noise sensitive uses such as commercial and open space areas. Single-family residences on the Phase 1 site lie in the Eastern Area near the Knoll, throughout the central portion of the Western Area (construction of some of these homes is not yet complete), and in the Central Area east of Valley Avenue. Pleasanton Middle School and Hearst Elementary School are located east of the project area, south of Bernal Avenue. Many of these noise sensitive uses are currently exposed to noise levels generated by U PRR operations and/or traffic on 1-680. The Plan area was analyzed by Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc. in 1996-7 for the Bernal Property Phase I Specific Plan EIR. This work resulted in the formulation of mitigation measures for the Phase I Specific Plan, which provided the starting point for the Phase II noise analysis. The Phase 1 and Phase 11 noise mitigation measures are both shown in Figure 16, which is the noise mitigation diagram from the Phase II Specific Plan. Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc. undertook a noise monitoring survey of the Specific Plan area from October 6, 2005 to October 10, 2005 to update the Phase 1 noise measurement data. This update included noise measurements at two long-term ("LT") and two short-term ("ST") monitoring locations. Tables 7 and 8 depict the daily trend in noise levels at the long term monitoring locations. 32 Definitions of all technical terms appear in Appendix E. 98