75D - PH ZONING ORD AND CUP CALIFORNIA PALMS

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3.0 STANDARDS OF SIGNIFICANCE The applicable noise standards governing the project site aze the City of Santa. Auer Noise Standards. The City of Santa Ana Land Use Guidelines, included in Table 2, are to be used in siting new land uses. The project includes the conversion of a motel to a transiem/residervial hotel land use.' The City's Noise Eh:ment of the General Pfau sets a "desirable maximtnn" noise level of 65 dBA for high density residervial and a "maximum acceptable" exterior noise level of 70 dBA CNEL. These levels are to be used to assess impacts to habitable exterior spaces. These exterior levels may be exceeded for non-habitable exterior areas so long as the iuterior noise levels do nm exceed the State's 45 dBA CNEL irverior standard. Additionally, the project would generate vehicle trips that are added to the local roadway network and the inclusion of these vehicles could raise traffic noise levels through the adjoining area Mobile-source noise (i.e., vehicle noise) is preempted from local reguhttion but is still subject to CEQA, With respect to noise increase, these noise impacts can be broken down into three categories. The fast is "audrble" impacts, which refers to increases in noise level that are perceptible to humans. Audible increases in noise levels generally refer to a change of 3 dBA or more since this level has bcen found to be bazely perceptible in exterior environments. The second category, "potentially audible," refers to a change in noise level between 1 and 3 dBA: This range of noise levels was found to be noticeable to sensitive people in laboratory enviromnervs. The lost category includes changes in noise level of less than 1 d$A that are typically "inaudible" to the human ear except under quiet conditions in controlled environments. Only "audible" changes in noise level aze considered potentially significant. Finally, the City has no published standards for vibration. As such, this analysis defers to the vibration standards published by Cahrans. Cahrans sets their minimum criterion for significant vibration impact at 0.2 inches per second. ('Ile maximum oriterion is set at 2 inches per second.) 4.0 IMPACT ANALYSIS For ease of the reader, the preserved impact analysis follows the format included in the Initial Study Checklist for Mitigated Negative Declarations for the preparation of noise impacts as specified under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). The Checklist asks if the project would resuh in the: a) Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels in excexs of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinance, or applicable standards oj'otlrer'agencresY The City of Santa Ana Noise Elemerv sets the maximum acceptable high density residential outdoor living area noise standard at 70 dBA CNEL and recognizes the State's interior standard of 45 dBA CNEL. These values are to be used in the siting of new land uses. Habitable Exterior Areas Less than Sign cant Impact. An impact would be significant if the project were to site a sensitive use in an area that is already exposed to excessive noise. As noted, the City of Santa Ana band Use Guidelines, included in Table 2, aze to be used in siting new land uses. The project includes the conversion of a motel to a transierv/tesidervial hotel. The use would be considered as a high density residential use and the City sets a maximum limitation of 70 dBA CNF,L for habitable exterior spaces. As noted in the field study, the most prevalerv source of noise at the project site is from traffic traveling along Harbor Boulevard. Noise reading obtained in fire California Palms habitable exterior azeas, (i.e., the two pool areas) showed noise levels of 56.5 and 56.0 dBA, both obtained during the 11:00 a.m. hour. The EMFAC2002 model estimates that traffic during the 1 I:00 a.m. hour comprises approximately 5.92 percerv of the ADT. The CNEL is then calculated to be approximately 2.1 dBA louder than noise generated during the 11:00 a,m. hour. This would then infer a CNEL of about 58 to 59 dBA (i.e., 56.5 dBA + 2.1 dBA) in these habitable areas. 12 75D-132