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TA. - Page 78
<br />City, at more than 110 decibels (dB) measured at any point within a residential district of the City and outside of the
<br />plane of the property.
<br />Therefore, construction noise is required to be less than 110 dB within residential districts or within 500 feet of a
<br />residential district in the City, and no construction noise is permitted between the hours of 8: 00 PM and 7: 00 AM
<br />the following day. The General Plan requires all exterior noise sources (e.g., construction operations, air
<br />compressors, pumps, fans, and leaf blowers) to use available noise suppression devices and techniques to bring
<br />exterior noise down to acceptable levels compatible with adjacent land uses.
<br />The primary sources of noise from the project would be temporary construction noise and ongoing operational
<br />noise. Construction noise is largely a function of the construction equipment used, the location and sensitivity of
<br />nearby land uses, and the timing and duration of the noise -generating activities. Construction noise levels would
<br />vary depending on construction phase, equipment type and duration of use, distance between the noise source and
<br />receptor; and presence or absence of barriers between the noise source and receptor. All noise -generating
<br />construction activities are anticipated to be conducted on weekdays between the hours of 7:00 AM and 8:00 PM, in
<br />accordance with City requirements.
<br />The DTPP program EIR (p. 11-20) concluded that new DTPP facilitated multifamily residential development could
<br />be exposed to noise levels exceeding City guidelines and State Title 24 standards, resulting in a potentially
<br />significant impact. Mitigation 11-1 states that a noise study consistent with the requirements of the California
<br />Building Code (CBC) shall be conducted for new multifamily residential projects, and noise reduction measures
<br />necessary to achieve compatibility with the City's Noise Element guidelines (55 dBA CNEL at sensitive exterior
<br />spaces) and Title 24 standards (45 dBA CNEL within residential units) shall be incorporated into the project.
<br />In 2015 (after adoption of the DTPP program EIR), the California Supreme Court ruled that CEQA does not
<br />require environmental review of the impacts of the environment on future users or residents of a project, except in
<br />certain situations provided for by statute (e.g., certain airport, school, or housing construction projects). In other
<br />words, the general purpose of CEQA is to require the study of potential impacts of the project on the environment,
<br />not the reverse. (See California Building Industry Association v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (2015)
<br />62 Cal.4th 369) As for situations in which a housing projects may require the study of impacts of the environment
<br />on the future residents or users of the project, see Public Resources Code Sections 21159.2 1, subdivs. ()9 and (h),
<br />21159.22(a), (b)(3), 21159.23, subdiv. (a)(2)(4), 21159.24(a)(1), (3), and 21155.1, subdivs. (a)(4), (6). The
<br />proposed project at 603 Jefferson Avenue does trigger mandatory CEQA review of noise impacts from the
<br />environment on the future users or residents of the project. Nonetheless, given that the DTPP requires mitigation to
<br />prevent impacts on future residents and users of implementation projects, and that the City has discretion in the
<br />exercise of its land use authority to so require, this Initial Study analyzes these issues.
<br />To help implement DTPP EIR Mitigation 11-1, a site-specific noise study was prepared for the 603 Jefferson
<br />Avenue project (603 Jefferson Avenue, Redwood City, California, Preliminary Environmental Noise Study; Charles
<br />M. Salter Associates, Inc.; Salter Project Number 15-0606; 2112116). The primary noise source at the project site is
<br />traffic on Veterans Boulevard and Jefferson Avenue. As part of the noise analysis, three long-term continuous noise
<br />measurements were taken at the project site, indicating existing noise levels of from 64 to 72 decibels DNL (which
<br />takes into account extra sensitivity to nighttime noise). In order to meet the residential indoor noise standard (45
<br />decibels), the noise report concludes:
<br />■ All building facades (exterior windows and doors) along Jefferson Avenue and Bradford Street would need to
<br />be sound -rated between 28 and 37 STC (Sound Transmission Class), as diagrammed in the noise report.
<br />■ All residences would need an alternative method of supplying fresh air (e.g., mechanical ventilation) so that
<br />closed windows could insulate outdoor noise.
<br />The noise study is subject to City review and approval. The site-specific noise measures, which shall be required as
<br />conditions of project approval, would reduce the potential noise impacts on the project to a less -than -significant
<br />level.
<br />The DTPP program EIR (p. 11-22) also identified potentially significant intermittent vibration impacts for
<br />residential projects located within 100 feet of the centerline of the Caltrann railroad tracks. The proposed project
<br />site is not located within this distance. Therefore, no railroad vibration impact would occur, and impact Mitigation
<br />11-2 would not be required.
<br />b. & d. The DTPP program EIR (pp. 11-23 through 11-29) concluded that potentially significant temporary noise and
<br />vibration impacts could be generated by demolition and construction activities in the DTPP area. Mitigations 11-3
<br />and 11-4 would reduce these impacts to less -than -significant levels through scheduling, monitoring, and other
<br />planning and engineering measures. In addition, construction of the proposed project would be required to comply
<br />with the City of Redwood City Noise Ordinance and all applicable City codes and regulations for noise control.
<br />Required implementation of a construction traffic plan (including the identification of truck haul routes) approved
<br />by the City would help minimize construction traffic -related impacts on adjacent land uses. These measures, which
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