75D - PH ZONING ORD AND CUP CALIFORNIA PALMS

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discrepancy at about 2-3 dBA.) As such, the mitigation would need to achieve a composite laboratory STC mting of approximately 32 (i.e., 27 + 5) to ensure that interior levels aze adequately mitigated to less than 45 dBA. According to HUD, a common stud wall has an STC of approximately 35 dBA and this value is used in the analysis. This analysis assumes retention of these walls and concentrates on improvements to fire windows and doors. The wall in Room 462 that faces omo Harbor Boulevazd was measured to include approximately 30 percem window and door. area. HUD provides a nomograph that can be used to determine the composite STC for walls that include windows and doors. Based on the noted values, the nomograph estimates that for the composite wall, window, and door to achieve an STC rating of 32, the windows and doors would have to have an STC rating of 29. {Common '/." glass windows have an STC of about 20 while a typical solid wood door has an STC of about 27J Sealing any ducts or exposed fittings would result in further reductions and interior noise is projected to be reduced to less than 45 dBA CNEL; even at build out. Interior noise levels would be reduced to under the State standard and the impact is reduced to less than significant. b) Exposure of persons to or generation of excessiveground borne vibration orgroundborne noise levels? Less than Significant Impact. The proposed project would involve the renovation and operation of an existing motel. Construction would be limited primarily to hand tool and no lazge-scale use of heavy equipment would be required. Additionally, no excessive groundbome vibrations or groundbome noise would be created by the operation of the proposed project. No significant impacts would result from project development and no mitigation measures are necessary. c) A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? Less than Significant Impact. The CEQA Guidelines require that projects be evaluated with respect to their contribution to the existing ambient noise levels. Aa increase in ambiern noise could occur if the project were to generate a substantial volume of traffic that would be added to the local roadways. The impact would be potemially significant if the project were to increase the ambient noise levels by 3 dBA CNEL. This level of change has been found to be barely discernable in an exterior environment under normal conditions and is typically used in environmental impact analyses. The project includes the conversion of an existing motel to a transiem/residential hotel. RK Engineering Group (California Palms Transient/Residetttial Hotel -City of Santa flea Trip Generation Study, January 31, 2005) provided trip generation rates for the existing use as well as the project after the conversion. The trip analysis finds that the project could raise the daily traffic from 1,165 to 1,391 ADT represeming an increase of 226 ADT. This volume was added to the existing volume of traffic along Harbor Boulevard (i.e., 42,000 ADT) and the resuhant value was modeled using the Cahrans Sound32 Noise Model. The model predicts a CNEL of 72.4 dBA as measured at a distance of 50 feet from the centerline of the road. Note that this same value was projected for Harbor Boulevard in the analysis of the existing setting. As such, the increase in noise is so small as to be immeasurable (i.e., less than 0.1 dBA CNEL) and is less than significant. d) A substantAl temporary or periodic increase in ambient noise levels i» the project vide' above levels existing wkhout the project? Less than Significant Impact. Short~erm noise impacts aze impacts typically associated with site preparation, excavation, grading, and construction of structures. However, the project includes renovation to existing structures and heavy equipment use would be limited. Most renovation would consist of remodeling and would occur within the rooms. Renovation could make use of common hand tools as well as small-scale pneumatic tools (e.g., nail guns). Local sensitive land uses include the residential units that aze located to east side of the facHity. The most proximate of these units could be on the order of 50 feet from the nearest renovation activities. 14 75D-134