Fountaingrove Environmental Impact Report - City of Santa Rosa ...

2.0 LIST OF COMMENTERS AND RESPONSE TO COMMENTS
raptor and migratory bird nesting habitat and impacts to nesting non-special-status birds);
Impact 3.4-4 (impacts to roosting and maternity colonies of special-status bat species); and
Impact 3.4-7 (disturbance to existing wildlife corridors). All impacts will be mitigated to a
less than significant level.
As described in Impact 3.4-1, the loss of protected and heritage valley oaks and other native
trees is a potentially significant impact, and by implication, the City agrees that loss of oak
woodland is also a potentially significant impact. Mitigation Measures 3.4-1a, 3.4-1b, and
3.4-1c would mitigate impacts to oak woodland as well as to individual trees. Under
Mitigation Measure 3.4-1a, replanting of native tree species typical of mixed oak woodland
will be done on an area of up to 5.3 acres in size.
2.2.4 Noise
Several comments received by the City state that the analysis of noise impacts in Section 3.10
of the Draft EIR does not accurately address the impacts that would occur. In addition,
several commenters questioned the feasibility of Mitigation Measure 3.10-2 to implement
noise-reducing measures for rooftop mechanical equipment, given the proposed design of
the roof.
Descriptions of Project operations that could generate noise are included in several parts of
the Draft EIR, including Section 2, Project Description; Section 3.3, Air Quality; and
Section 3.13, Traffic, and include vehicle traffic and mechanical equipment noise. Predicted
noise levels from the Project were compared to existing noise levels, which were determined
by taking 24-hour continuous noise measurements in two locations in the neighborhood (see
Appendix O Noise Study in the Draft EIR). As described in the Noise Study (Appendix O to
the Draft EIR) and Impact 3.10.1, traffic from the Project would increase noise levels by less
than 1 decibels A scale (dBA) over current levels, and impacts would be less than
significant.
Commenters requested additional clarification of noise impacts from delivery trucks and
“24/7 operations.” An estimated four delivery truck trips per day would occur as part of
Project operations, as described in Section 3.3.3 of the Draft EIR. Delivery trucks would
operate during daytime hours. Although a brief increase in noise may occur from individual
delivery trucks, the noise would be similar to Federal Express, UPS, and other delivery
trucks that already operate in the neighborhood. The only nighttime operation will be shift
changes of a small number of employees (5 employees on-shift at 10:00 p.m. and 30
employees off-shift at 10:30 p.m.; see page 5 of the traffic study in Draft EIR Appendix P).
Nighttime operations will otherwise be typical of residential areas. Common areas that
could be used for entertainment are in the center of the parcel, oriented toward the golf
course; noise from activity in these areas would not significantly affect neighboring areas.
As described in Impact 3.10-2, mechanical equipment may be located on the Care Center
rooftop. Mechanical equipment will be typical of residential buildings and include
ventilation and air conditioning equipment. The location of equipment on the rooftop, while
unlikely to increase noise levels above the existing noise levels in the neighborhood north of
the Project site, could be noticeable to the adjacent neighborhood, depending on the
placement and type of equipment used, and could result in a significant noise impact.
Mitigation Measure 3.10-2 describes noise insulation features that will be incorporated into
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