ENVIRONMENTAL NOISE continued
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BLOCK
AT ORANGE EXPANSION:
The Block at Orange Expansion project
involved the addition of approximately 120,000 square feet of combined
new retail, residential, hotel, and restaurant uses to the existing 86
acre site. Parking facilities will also be constructed to support the
additional demand created from vehicles coming to the Block. These
additional uses will supplement the existing retail shops, restaurants,
movie theaters, and skate park. Under an extremely tight time
constraint, AAC’s staff prepared a noise assessment to determine the
effect on the noise environment attributable to the proposed project. An
ambient noise monitoring program determined the ambient noise levels in
the vicinity of the project site, while noise from construction
activities, operational noise, and project traffic was modeled and
assessed at nearby sensitive receptors. Project design features and
noise reduction measures were recommended to reduce the noise impacts to
a level of insignificance. AAC worked with planning professionals and
environmental attorneys to complete the resultant EIR noise section
within 10 business days, including screencheck responses to comments
from City Planners.
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INDUSTRY BUSINESS CENTER SPECIFIC PLAN EIR: The
City of Industry is in the process of finalizing the Specific Plan for
the Industry Business Center. In support of the CEQA process, AAC
prepared the EIR noise section to address the noise impact of the
Industry Business Center Program. The project consisted of 331 acres of
development including, corporate offices, commercial, auto services,
regional retail, general offices, business parks, and industrial parks.
The predominant noise sources associated with the Program were vehicular
traffic, construction noise, and daily operations. An ambient noise
monitoring program was undertaken to determine the ambient noise levels
in the vicinity of the project site. Noise produced from construction
activities as well as mechanical noise was assessed for potential noise
impacts to sensitive receptors. Noise levels from mobile sources such as
project traffic and train movements were modeled using the Federal
Highway Administration’s (FHWA) methodologies and FTA’s methodologies.
Recommendations were provided to minimize noise impacts. Working under a
7-day time window, AAC successfully prepared an EIR noise section that
evaluated 26-roadway segments, as well as construction, mechanical, and
operational noise sources. The final EIR noise section was delivered
prior to the client deadline and was an integral part of the project’s
success.
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STAPLES CENTER/LOS ANGELES SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT COMPLEX PROJECT,
PHASES I AND II:
AAC principals prepared noise studies for environmental
impact reports for the Staples Center, Phases I and II. The Staples
Center arena serves as the home of the Los Angeles Lakers and Los
Angeles Clippers basketball teams, as well as the Los Angeles Kings
hockey team. The projects included a multi-use development anchored by a
sports/entertainment arena with maximum capacity of up to 22,000 seats
and including approximately 200,000 square feet of ancillary retail,
restaurant, office, recreational uses, and related facilities (including
parking). Noise monitoring and modeling was performed to assess
potential noise impacts resulting from the project to the nearby
residential and school receptors. Noise produced from construction
activities was also projected to assess potential noise impacts to
sensitive receptors. Noise levels from mobile sources such as project
traffic were modeled using Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA)
methodologies.
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WARNER CENTER NOISE TECHNICAL STUDY:
As part of litigation support,
the City of Los Angeles requested that a Supplemental Air Quality and
Noise Impact Analyses be prepared for the Warner Center Specific Plan
EIR based on the direction of the Superior Court of California. AAC’s
staff participated in the scope of work proposed to “interpret the
determination of the court” and translate the court’s directive into a
quantitative analysis. The court ruled that the (original) EIR was
inadequate because it failed to consider the cumulative impact of
existing and projected traffic noise at two schools. The court rejected
the argument that the serious nature of existing traffic noise problems
already around the schools diminished the level of significance of
traffic noise to be associated with the project. In so doing, the court
directed the City to prepare “a meaningful and accurate report of the
impact of traffic noise on the schools as it did for the residences in
the area” including the extent of mitigation. AAC’s staff successfully
prepared the Noise Technical Study and SEIR to include revised vehicular
noise modeling, the monitoring of interior and exterior noise at
specific schools in the area, and the use of sophisticated mathematical
noise models for predicting stationary source noise contributions to
schools towards both interior and exterior noise.
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HOLLYWOOD & HIGHLAND:
The Hollywood & Highland project developed an
array of uses within the Hollywood Boulevard corridor designed to create
a critical mass at a new center of entertainment industry activity at
the intersection of Hollywood & Highland. The project included the
permanent home of the Oscars®, as well as multiple levels of
entertainment and retail uses, integrated with restaurants, a multiplex
theater, live performance venues, and a live broadcast studio. The
project also included renovation and expansion of the adjacent 474-room
Holiday Inn, resulting in the addition of 171 rooms and a new exterior
appearance for the existing hotel building. An additional one-of-a-kind
live broadcast theater, wholly separate from the multiplex theater
facility and designed specifically to accommodate broadcasts of
productions such as major awards programs, is also an important
component of the project. AAC’s staff prepared a noise assessment to
determine the effect on the noise environment attributable to the
proposed project. An ambient noise monitoring program determined the
ambient noise levels in the vicinity of the project site, while noise
from construction activities and project traffic was modeled and
assessed at nearby sensitive receptors (including Hollywood High School,
using the LAUSD noise assessment guidelines).
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NORTH HOLLYWOOD METROLINK STATION:
AAC staff prepared noise and
vibration monitoring plans and studies for the construction of the North
Hollywood Metrolink Station. Metrorail construction created high
vibration and noise levels that were intrusive upon the sensitive
residential uses that bordered the project site. A vibration and noise
monitoring program was created to measure and report vibration and noise
levels at the nearest residential receptors to the project site. Weekly
monitoring was performed to evaluate the measured vibration and noise.
When needed, mitigation measures were recommended to reduce the amount
of noise and vibration. A weekly report was prepared and submitted to
the MTA for review. The development and execution of the monitoring and
reporting program allowed construction to be completed on time and the
interference onto the community to be minimized.
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WDI GC3:
WDI is in the process of constructing the new Grand Central
Creative Campus (GC3) studios in the Glendale Redevelopment District.
The studio would be a center for WDI operations including new film
studios, offices, sets, support operations, and key infrastructure.
AAC’s staff prepared a noise assessment study to determine the effect on
the noise environment attributable to the proposed project. An ambient
noise monitoring program was undertaken to determine the ambient noise
levels in the vicinity of the project site. Noise produced from
construction activities was assessed for potential noise impacts to
sensitive receptors. Noise levels from mobile sources such as project
traffic, train movements, and helicopter operations were modeled using
the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) methodologies, FTA’s
methodologies, CalTrans’ SOUND32 traffic noise model, and the FAA’s HNM
model. Recommendations were provided to minimize noise and vibration
impacts. A detailed noise study was prepared and used to generate the
EIR noise section for the project.
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LA BREA SHAFT METROLINK ACCESS SITE:
A noise and vibration monitoring
and reporting plan was prepared by AAC staff for the reconstruction of
the La Brea Metrolink Access Site. Metrorail construction created high
noise and vibration levels that were intrusive upon the sensitive
residential and church uses that bordered the access site. The vibration
and noise monitoring program specified daily measurements at the nearest
residential receptors to the project site. Whenever exceedances were
observed, the resident engineer was notified, and mitigation measures
were applied to reduce the noise and vibration. If the exceedances were
not reduced, then the project halted until more effective measures could
be enacted to minimize the noise and vibration. A weekly report was
prepared to summarize the results of the monitoring and mitigation
actions taken. Each report was submitted to the MTA for review and
ultimate approval. The development and execution of the monitoring and
reporting program allowed construction to be completed on time and the
interference onto the community to be minimized.
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GRAND HOTEL:
The property consists of 11.3 acres of land (492,370
square feet) that contained the Grand Hotel structure and related
vehicle parking areas. The Grand Hotel was a ten-story structure with
197,260 square feet of developed space. The project involved the
creation of additional parking facilities for Disneyland patrons via the
implosion of the hotel structure. An ambient noise and vibration
monitoring program was conducted to assess the existing noise and
vibration environment. Noise and vibration levels were modeled for both
a mechanical demolition and an implosion scenario for potential effects
on nearby sensitive receptors, which include a vibration-sensitive
circuit board manufacturing facility. The predictive analyses showed
that an implosion demolition could be performed, with proper mitigation
precautions. This was successfully accomplished with insignificant noise
and vibration impacts to adjacent uses.
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WDI THIRD GATE:
WDI has proposed to construct a new theme park and
resort destination complex in Anaheim. The assessment project consisted
of two phases with an interim use and an ultimate use. Key components of
the project included several potential configurations of attractions,
hotels, parking, entertainment venues, outdoor facilities, and
mechanical support equipment. AAC staff prepared a constraints analysis
study and environmental noise and vibration study to address the
potential impact with such a large-scale project under different
build-out scenarios. Where impacts were identified, mitigation measures
were recommended to reduce and minimize impacts.
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CITY OF LAGUNA NIGUEL COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT, ON-CALL
ACOUSTICAL CONSULTING SUPPORT:
AAC staff prepared technical noise
studies and noise sections for the preparation of CEQA documents for key
projects within the City. Special noise studies have been prepared for
the Crown Valley School Lighting Project, La Paz Park Development, Bear
Brand Park Recreation Uses, Moulton Elementary School Lighting Project,
Niguel Hills Lighting Project, and Rancho Niguel Lighting Project. Each
of these projects involved noise monitoring to establish baseline
conditions, field observations to identify noise source characteristics,
computer modeling to predict future noise levels, criteria assessment to
quantify potential impacts, and noise mitigation development (such as
sound walls, enclosures, and administrative measures) to reduce noise
impacts. Technical studies were prepared for each project which
summarized the results of the consulting work. Support was provided to
City planning staff in public hearings.
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HOME DEPOT:
Noise studies were prepared for the Home Depot facilities
in the Cities of San Pedro and Huntington Park. Ambient noise surveys
were conducted and analyses were performed to evaluate the impact of
traffic noise, facility operations, nighttime deliveries, mechanical
equipment, and parking lot operations. In each case, a report was
prepared which summarized the results of the measurements and analysis,
and provided recommendations to minimize the impact onto the nearby
community. For the Huntington Park facility, a special analysis was
conducted to address the impact of noise at Huntington Park High School.
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LOWE’S HOME IMPROVEMENT WAREHOUSE:
AAC’s staff provided technical
oversight and performed a third party review on the proposed Lowe’s Home
Improvement Warehouse in the City of Huntington Beach. The project was a
high-profile project that was initially opposed by nearby residents.
Measurements were reviewed, and analyses were performed to validate the
original noise study done for the project. As a result of the review,
recommendations were submitted and changes were implemented to the
project (which was subsequently built and operated).
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GREGORY CANYON LANDFILL:
AAC’s staff members prepared the revised
draft Environmental Impact Report Noise Study for the Gregory Canyon
Landfill in San Diego County. The revised draft study involved extensive
noise monitoring, and computer modeling to evaluate future traffic,
construction, and operations noise impacts on sensitive species and the
nearby residences. Noise control measures were recommended to minimize
impacts on sensitive species such as the Gnatcatcher and the Least
Bell’s vireo, as well as the nearby residences. Recommendations were
also provided in the study to reduce and mitigate noise impacts during
the life of the construction process. In addition, a construction
monitoring program was recommended to monitor construction activity
noise and to provide an avenue for receiving community noise complaints
as well as for resolving noise issues.
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LOPEZ CANYON LANDFILL:
AAC’s staff prepared a detailed noise study of
the Lopez Canyon Landfill in Los Angeles County. Noise measurements were
conducted to quantify existing noise levels from truck operations and
landfill operations. Analysis was performed to evaluate existing
operating conditions and future operating conditions. The results of the
analysis were assessed with respect to the County Noise Standards and
noise control measures were recommended to minimize noise impacts on the
community. A long term follow-up noise monitoring program was created to
measure noise levels within the community, monitor existing operations,
and provide recommendations for minimizing daily operations noise within
the community. The program was successful in reducing landfill
operations noise impacts onto the residential neighborhoods surrounding
the landfill.
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CRESTVIEW WAL-MART:
A technical study and the noise section for an
EIR were prepared for the City of Huntington Beach. The project involved
the rehabilitation of an abandoned school facility into a shopping and
commercial development. The adjacent residential area expressed
considerable concern over the potential late-night delivery truck
operations, even with some existing boundary walls. There was also
uneasiness with regard to maintaining the reverential environment at the
memorial park across a busy arterial. After detailed noise impact
assessments, a combination of judicious and prudent barrier wall
design/restoration, mechanical equipment placement, support facilities
orientation, and operational restrictions yielded a project plan which
would be both compliant and a good neighbor. The Wal-Mart was
successfully built and operated.
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