Item 26 - Public Hearing Vista Heritage Charter School (601 North Fairview Street)

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Vista Charter Public Schools District Office and Outdoor Space Project CEQA Exemption 15183 project site are single-family residences and the Romero -Cruz Academy School located approximately 100 feet to the north and west of the project site, respectively. As shown in Table 8, construction noise levels could range between 71 dBA and 78 dBA at 100 feet. Although sensitive receptors may be exposed to increased noise levels during project construction, construction noise levels would not exceed the FTA threshold of 80 dBA. In addition, construction activities are exempt from the City's thresholds as it is a normal part in the urban life. Furthermore, compliance with RR NOI-2 would ensure that the project construction activities would comply with the City's Noise Ordinance detailed in Municipal Code Section 18-314(e) and occur only Monday through Saturday between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. As such, project construction noise would be exempt from the City's noise standards and compliance with hours of construction activities would reduce impacts to less than significant in this regard. Long-term Operational Impacts Mobile Noise Implementation of the project would result in vehicle use on adjacent roadways, thereby increasing vehicular noise in the site vicinity. As determined by the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) in the Technical Noise Supplement to the Traffic Noise Analysis Protocol (September 2013), a doubling in roadway traffic volumes is required to generate any noticeable increase in roadway noise levels.22 According to the Vista Heritage Global Academy Expansion Trip Generation Assessment prepared by Urban Crossroads and dated July 24, 2023, the proposed project would generate 84 average daily trips without taking trip reductions from the existing uses as they are currently vacant. The nearest major roadway segment to the project vicinity is Fairview Street which currently experiences approximately 40,000 average daily trips.23 As such, the project's minimal trip generation (approximately 84 average daily trips) would not double existing traffic volumes along nearby roadways and an increase in traffic noise along local roadways would be imperceptible. Project -related traffic noise impacts would be less than significant. Stationary Noise Impacts Stationary noise sources associated with the proposed project would include mechanical equipment, parking activities, and outdoor play field areas. These noise sources are typically intermittent and short in duration. Noise has a decay rate due to distance attenuation, which is calculated based on the Inverse Square Law. Based upon the Inverse Square Law, sound levels decrease by 6 dBA for each doubling of distance from the source.24 All stationary noise activities would be required to comply with RR NOI-3 in accordance with the City's noise standards. Mechanical Equipment Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) units typically generate noise levels of approximately 66 dBA Leq at three feet from the source.25 HVAC units are expected to be located 22 California Department of Transportation, Technical Noise Supplement to the Traffic Noise Analysis Protocol, September 2013. 21 City of Santa Ana, City of Santa Ana General Plan Circulation Element, https://storage.googleapis.com/proudcity/santaanaca/uploads/2022/04/Circulation-Element.pdf, accessed on July 28, 2023. 21 Cyril M. Harris, Noise Control in Buildings, 1994. 25 Berger, Elliott H., et al., Noise Navigator Sound Level Database with Over 1700 Measurement Values, June 26, 2015. Dec I y ouncil 26 — 106 1/16/20'2 e46