HomeMy WebLinkAbout; Emerald Heights-West - Noise Assessment; Emerald Heights-West - Noise Assessment; 1995-05-24Pacific Noise Control
May 24, 1995
Mr. Marcus Palkowitsh
MSP California LLC
650 Cherry Street, Suite 435
Denver, Colorado 80222
PROJECT: Emerald Heights-West Project
RE: Noise Assessment
Dear Mr. Palkowitsh:
This report contains our assessment of the noise environment at the proposed Emerald Heights-
West project located in the City of Carlsbad. In summary, the future noise level at the proposed
lots would meet the City's exterior noise criteria. Therefore, exterior noise mitigation measures
are not required. To comply with City's interior noise standards, an interior noise study will
be required for Lots 14-35 prior to issuance of building permits.
1.0 BACKGROUND
Project Setting
The Emerald Heights-West project site is located approximately 850 feet south of Palomar
Airport Road and approximately 1,500 feet west of College Boulevard. The project would
develop the site with 61 single family homes. The City of Carlsbad has requested that a noise
study be prepared evaluating the exterior noise impacts at the site. The analysis is based on the
tentative map dated 5/18/95.
The primary noise sources at the site are vehicular traffic along Palomar Airport Road and
aircraft operations associated with McClellan-Palomar Airport. Palomar Airport Road is
currently constructed as a six-lane road adjacent to the site. The existing traffic volume is
approximately 37,880 average daily traffic (ADT) (City of Carlsbad, 1995a).
City Noise Criteria
The City of Carlsbad has established noise guidelines in the City's adopted General Plan Noise
Element. These guidelines identify compatible exterior noise levels for various land use types.
The maximum acceptable exterior noise level resulting from traffic noise sources for single
family residences is a Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL) of 60 dB. Aircraft noise
from McClellan-Palomar Airport should not exceed a CNEL of 65 dB at the residences. Interior
noise levels are not to exceed a CNEL of 45 dB. Attachment 1 contains definitions of acoustical
terms used in this report. All sound levels discussed in this report are A-weighted.
605 Third Street • Encinitas, CA 92024 • (619) 436-9877
Mr. Marcus Palkowitsh
May 24, 1995
Page 2
Methodology
The noise analysis methodology is based on the City's noise assessment methodology
documented in the City's Draft Noise Guidelines Manual (City of Carlsbad, 1993). The future
noise level along the Palomar Airport Road was determined based on ambient noise
measurements and using Caltrans' SOUND32 Highway Traffic Noise Prediction Model
(Caltrans, 1983) with California noise emission factors (Caltrans, 1987). The noise model is
based on the Federal Highway Administration's traffic noise prediction model (FHWA, 1978).
Input used in the noise model included the buildout traffic volume with vehicle speeds of 55 mph
along Palomar Airport Road. The truck mix used was 3.52 percent medium trucks and 1.24
percent heavy trucks. The traffic mix is based on vehicle mix surveys conducted by the City.
The proposed lots would be located above Palomar Airport Road, therefore, a hard site noise
propagation factor was used. The buildout traffic volumes were provided by the City's traffic
engineering department.
2.0 EXISTING CONDITIONS
Ambient Noise Monitoring
Noise measurements were conducted at the site to determine the existing noise levels. The
measurements were made using a calibrated Larson-Davis Laboratories Model 700 (S.N. 2132)
integrating sound level meter equipped with a Bruel & Kjaer Type 4176 1/2-inch pre-polarized
condenser microphone with pre-amplifier. When equipped with this microphone, the sound level
meter meets the current American National Standards Institute standard for a Type 1 precision
sound level meter. The sound level meter was positioned at a height of approximately five feet
above the ground.
Two noise measurement locations were selected at the project site and are depicted as Site 1 and
Site 2 on Figure 1. These sites were selected because they represent proposed lots which would
have the greatest traffic noise exposure. Site 1 is approximately 820 feet from the center line
of Palomar Airport Road. Site 2 is approximately 900 feet from the center line of Palomar
Airport Road. Both of the noise measurement locations were approximately 20-feet from the
existing edge of slope above Palomar Airport Road. Concurrent traffic counts were conducted
during the noise measurements. Both Sites 1 and 2 have limited views of Palomar Airport Road
due to intervening topography.
Base Map Source: Land Space Engineering (5/18/95)
NOISE MEASUREMENT LOCATIONS
Pacific Noise Control:
FIGURE
1
Mr. Marcus Palkowitsh
May 24, 1995
Page 4
The measured average noise level was 58 dB at both Sites 1 and 2. The measured noise levels
included aircraft noise associated with McClellan-Palomar Airport. To distinguish between the
traffic noise level and aircraft noise level, the sound level meter was set to record the sound
exposure level (SEL) of the aircraft fly-overs. Two fly-overs occurred during the noise
measurement at Site 1 and six fly-overs occurred during the noise measurement at Site 2. When
the aircraft noise is subtracted from the overall measured noise level, the average noise level
associated with only traffic from Palomar Airport Road is 57 dB at Site 1 and 55 dB at Site 2.
Table 1 shows the measured noise levels and the concurrent traffic volumes.
TABLE 1
MEASURED NOISE LEVELS AND TRAFFIC VOLUMES
Site
1
2
Description
Proposed Lot 23
Proposed Lot 21
Date
Time
5/19/95
10:00 to 10:20 am
5/19/95
9:25 to 9:45 am
W
584/575 dB
58V555 dB
Cars
578
568
MT2
22
18
HT3
12
8
Notes:1 Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (Average Sound Level)
: Medium Trucks
3 Heavy Trucks
4 Includes aircraft noise associated with McClellan-Palomar Airport.
5 Without aircraft noise from McClellan-Palomar Airport (calculated from noise measurements).
General Notes: Two fly-overs occurred during noise measurement at Site 1; Six fly-overs occurred during measurement
at site 2. Temperature 60-65 degrees, light wind from west, sunny/hazy.
Mr. Marcus Palkowitsh
May 24, 1995
Page 5
Noise Modeling
The existing CNEL was calculated for the noise measurement locations based on the current
traffic volume along Palomar Airport Road using Caltrans' SOUND32 noise model. To verify
the input used in the noise model, the same traffic volume and vehicle composition ratios
counted during the noise measurements were used. The modeled values were within one dB of
the measured noise levels which confirms the assumptions used in the noise model.
The CNEL at the measurement sites were calculated by adjusting the traffic volume and truck
percentage to a set of normalized conditions (i.e., the City traffic mix and existing ADT). The
existing traffic generated CNEL at Sites 1 and 2 are calculated to be 59 and 58 dB, respectively.
3.0 FUTURE CONDITIONS
Traffic Noise
Palomar Airport Road would be the primary traffic noise source in the future. To determine the
maximum noise levels that could be experienced on-site, buildout traffic volumes were used.
The buildout traffic volume along Palomar Airport Road adjacent to the project site would be
approximately 40,200 ADT (City of Carlsbad, 1995b).
All the proposed lots would be exposed to future traffic noise levels of 60 dB or less. At the
closest lots to Palomar Airport Road the CNEL would be approximately 54 to 55 dB at Lots 19
and 20; 59 dB at Lot 21; 57 dB at Lot 22; and 60 dB at Lot 23. These noise levels would meet
the City's noise guidelines. The noise levels are based on a receiver position located 20 feet
from the backyard property line. The SOUND32 noise modeling input/output is included as
Attachment 2.
McClellan-Palomar Airport
McClellan-Palomar Airport is located approximately 1.25-miles east of the site. Noise levels
associated with McClellan-Palomar Airport are based on the 1995 noise contour information
published in the airport's comprehensive land use plan (SANDAG, 1994). Approximately one-
half of the site is located between the 60 and 65 dB CNEL noise contours. Figure 2 depicts the
approximate location of the site relative to the 60 and 65 dB CNEL aircraft noise contours. The
aircraft CNEL at the proposed lots would be less than the City's noise criteria limit of 65 dB.
1" = 1000'
Base Map Source: SANDAG April, 1994
FIGURE
1995 MCCLELLAN-PALOMAR AIRPORT NOISE CONTOURS
Pacific Noise Control:
Mr. Marcus Palkowitsh
May 24, 1995
Page 7
Cumulative Noise
The cumulative traffic and aircraft noise at the backyards of Lots 21, 22 and 23 would be
approximately 64 to 65 dB CNEL. These lots would have the greatest cumulative noise
exposure of any of the proposed lots.
Interior Noise Levels
The City requires that interior noise levels not exceed a CNEL of 45 dB. Typically, with the
windows open, and using standard California construction materials and methods, the building
shells provide approximately 15 dB of noise reduction. Therefore, homes exposed to an exterior
CNEL greater than 60 dB could result in an interior CNEL greater than 45 dB. Lots 14 to 35
would exceed an exterior noise level of 60 dB.
4.0 MITIGATION
Based on a review of the tentative map, future traffic volume and aircraft information, the future
noise level at the proposed lots would not exceed the City's exterior noise criteria, therefore,
mitigation measures have not been evaluated.
To comply with the City's interior noise standard, an interior noise analysis will be required for
the project. The interior acoustical analysis would be required for Lots 14 through 35 prior to
issuance of building permits to ensure that the interior noise levels would not exceed a CNEL
of 45 dB. The homes on these lots would require air-conditioning or mechanical ventilation and
could require sound-rated windows or additional sound insulation.
Also, the McClellan-Palomar Airport comprehensive land use plan states that for residential uses
located within the 60-65 dB CNEL noise contours, appropriate legal notice shall be given to all
purchasers, lessees and renters of property which describes the potential for impacts form
airplane noise associated with airport operations.
Mr. Marcus Palkowitsh
May 24, 1995
Page 8
This concludes our noise assessment. If you have any questions, please call me.
Sincerely,
Mike Komula
Principal
cc: Bob Ladwig, Ladwig Design Group
David Bentley
REFERENCES
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), June 1983, User's Instructions for
SOUND32 (FHWA/CA-83/06).
California Department of Transportation (Caltrans), 1987, California Vehicle Noise Emission
Levels, (FHWA/CA/TL-87/03).
Carlsbad, City of, September, 1993, City of Carlsbad Draft Noise Guidelines Manual.
Carlsbad, City of, May, 1995a, Telephone conversation with Mr. Jim Gales, Traffic Engineering
Department.
Carlsbad, City of, May, 1995b, Fax ofBuildout Traffic Volume Projections, Traffic Engineering
Department.
Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), 1978. FHWA Highway Traffic Noise Prediction
Model (FHWA-RD-77-108).
San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), April 1994. Comprehensive Land Use Plan
McClellan-Palomar Airport Carlsbad, California.
ATTACHMENT 1
DEFINITIONS
Term Definition
Ambient Noise Level
A-Weighted Sound Level, dBA
Community Noise Equivalent Level,
CNEL
Decibel, dB
Equivalent Sound Level, Leq
(Average Sound Level)
Sound Exposure Level, SEL
The composite of noise from all sources near
and far. The normal or existing level of
environmental noise at a given location.
The sound pressure level in decibels as
measured on a sound level meter using the A-
weighted filter network. The A-weighting filter
de-emphasizes the very low and very high
frequency components of the sound in a manner
similar to the frequency response of the human
ear and correlates well with subjective reactions
to noise.
CNEL is the A-weighted equivalent continuous
sound exposure level for a 24-hour period with
a ten dB adjustment added to sound levels
occurring during nighttime hours (10 pm to 7
am) and a five dB adjustment added to the
sound levels occurring during the evening hours
(7 pm to 10 pm).
A unit for measuring sound pressure level and
is equal to 10 times the logarithm to the base
10 of the ratio of the measured sound pressure
squared to a reference pressure, which is 20
micropascals.
The sound level corresponding to a steady state
sound level containing the same total energy as a time
varying signal over a given sample period. Leq is
designed to average all of the loud and quiet sound
levels occurring over a time period.
The continuous sound level which, when maintained
for 1 second, contains the same quantity of sound
energy as the actual time varying level of one noise
event.
Z
* * SOUND32 (CALTRANS VERSION OF STAMINA2/OPTIMA) * *
INPUT DATA FILE : ERWEST.FUT
BARRIER COST FILE : CALIF$.DTA
DATE : 05-22-1995
EMERALD RIDGE WEST
TRAFFIC DATA
LANE
NO.
1
2
3
4
LANE
LANE
NO.
1
2
3
DATA
SEG.
NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
1
2
3
4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
AUTO
VPH MPH
1914 55
1914 55
1914 55
1914 55
GRADE
COR.
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
MEDIUM TRKS HEAVY TRKS
VPH
71
71
71
71
X
3330.0
3857.0
4013 .0
4232.0
4423 .0
4607.0
5045.0
5311.0
5578.0
6005.0
6195.0
6398.0
6584.0
6795.0
6938.0
6938.0
7122 .0
7340.0
7584.0
7735.0
3330.0
3853.0
4004.0
4228.0
4417.0
4594.0
5029.0
5290.0
5560.0
5988.0
MPH
55
55
55
55
Y
7755.0
7757.0
7767.0
7810.0
7846.0
7907.0
8081.0
8182.0
8277.0
8435.0
8497.0
8537.0
8562.0
8570.0
8562.0
8562.0
8541.0
8502.0
8463.0
8432.0
7809.0
7812.0
7823.0
7860.0
7902.0
7960.0
8132.0
8230.0
8329.0
8487.0
VPH MPH
25 55
25 55
25 55
25 55
Z
100.0
98.0
95.0
90.0
85.0
80.0
77.0
80.0
82.0
81.0
82.0
84.0
86.0
88.0
90.0
90.0
92.0
96.0
102.0
106.0
100.0
98.0
95.0
90.0
85.0
80.0
77.0
80.0
82.0
81.0
DESCRIPTION
Palomar Airport
Palomar Airport
Palomar Airport
Palomar Airport
SEGMENT
DESCRIPTION
EB14
EB15
EB16
EB17
EB18
EB19
EB20
EB21
EB22
EB23
EB24
EB25
EB26
EB26
EB28
EB28
EB29
EB30
EB31
EB32
WB14
WB15
WB16
WB17
WB18
WB19
WB20
WB21
WB22
WB23
Road
Road
Road
Road
11
12
13
14
4 1
2
3
4
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
NO
6177
6389
6583
6797
6934
6934
7134
7349
7585
7755
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
8546.
8593.
8620.
8622.
8617.
8617.
8598.
8561.
8524.
8484.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
82
83
86
88
90
90
92
96
102
106
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
WB24
WB25
WB26
WB27
WB28
WB28
WB29
WB30
WB31
WB32
BARRIER DATA
Barrier No. 1
Type - (l)BERM
Height Increment (DELZ)= 0.0
Description: Topography (East Side Slope)
No. Height Changes (P)=0
SEG.
1
2
3
4
5
6
6276
6290
6298
6315
6327
6343
6354
X
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
7699
7617
7560
7422
7383
7285
7213
Y
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
GROUND
(ZO)
110
130
140
150
160
180
190
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
TOP
(Z)
110
130
140
150
160
180
190
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
*S1
*S2
*S3
*S4
*S5
*S6
*S7
BARRIER
HEIGHTS AT ENDS
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Barrier No. 2
Type - (l)BERM
Height Increment (DELZ)= 0.0
Description: Topography (West Side Slope)
No. Height Changes (P)=0
SEG.
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
4934
5029
5115
5198
5218
5237
5263
5275
5296
5322
X
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
7165
7279
7283
7262
7265
7279
7311
7318
7321
7316
Y
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
GROUND
(ZO)
170
178
177
177
177
177
177
177
177
177
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
TOP
(Z)
170.
178.
177.
177.
177.
177.
177.
177.
177.
177.
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
*T1
*T2
*T3
*T4
*T5
*T6
*T7
*T8
*T9
*T10
BARRIER
HEIGHTS AT ENDS
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
Barrier No. 3
Type - (l)BERM
Height Increment (DELZ)= 0.0
Description: Topography (West Side)
No. Height Changes (P)=0
SEG.
1
2
X
5322.0
5350.0
Y
7316.0
7300.0
GROUND
(ZO)
177.0
177.0
TOP
(Z)
177.0 *T10
177.0 *T11
BARRIER
HEIGHTS AT ENDS
* 0
* 0
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
5375
5398
5412
5442
5453
5483
5508
5528
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
7270
7230
7194
7113
7078
7026
6971
6913
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
177
177
177
176
176
175
174
174
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
177
177
177
176
176
175
174
174
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
*T12
*T13
*T14
*T15
*T16
*T17
*T18
*T19
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
*
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
0
RECEIVER DATA
REC.
NO.
1
2
3
4
5
6
5434
5422
5340
5218
5115
5115
X
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
Y
7069.
7104.
7283 .
7245.
7263.
7258.
0
0
0
0
0
0
181
181
182
182
182
182
Z
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
.0
DNL
60
60
60
60
60
60
PEOPLE
1
1
1
1
1
1
ID
Lot
Lot
Lot
Lot
Lot
Lot
19
20
21
22
23
23
DROP-OFF RATES
ALL LANE/RECEIVER PAIRS = 3.0 DBA
K - CONSTANTS
ALL LANE RECEIVER/PAIRS = 0.0 DBA
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
0
1
REG REC ID
1 Lot 19
2 Lot 20
3 Lot 21
4 Lot 22
5 Lot 23
6 Lot 23
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
0.*
123456
DNL PEOPLE LEQ(CAL)
60. 1. 54.5
60. 1. 54.4
60. 1. 58.6
60. 1. 57.1
60. 1. 59.5
60. 1. 57.2
T7
T8
T9
T10
Til
T12
T13
T14
T15
T16
T17
T18
7
13
21
26
32
39
46
38
86
36
60
60
61
.9
.2
.5
.2
.1
.1
.6
.4
.7
.0
.4
.4
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BERM
BARRIER TYPE COST
BERM
MASONRY
0.
0.
MASONRY/ JERSEY 0 .
CONCRETE 0.
TOTAL COST = $0.
BARRIER HEIGHT INDEX FOR EACH BARRIER SECTION
111111111111111111111111
CORRESPONDING BARRIER HEIGHTS FOR EACH SECTION
0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0. 0.