General Plan Update - City of Inglewood

6.9 Noise
Aircraft Noise Levels
Figure 6.9-3 displays CNEL noise contours at LAX during the third quarter of 2005. As
shown, the 65 dBA CNEL noise contour for both the northern and southern runways
extend into the City of Inglewood. As such, aircraft noise levels may result in
incompatible noise levels at various residential uses located within the City. LAX records
noise-related aircraft complaints on a monthly basis. During 2005, an average of
approximately seven households per month filed an average of approximately 35 noise
complaints in the City. The City has implemented a voluntary Residential Sound
Insulation Program funded by grants from Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) and the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to lessen aircraft-related noise levels within
residential uses. This program is further discussed below under the “City of Inglewood
Regulations.”
Aircraft noise from Hawthorne Municipal Airport may also be audible at various land
uses within the City of Inglewood. CNEL contours have not been developed for the
Hawthorne Municipal Airport. However, given the arrival and departure flight patterns
along with the size of aircraft using the airport, it is unlikely that CNEL contours would
reach incompatible levels within the City of Inglewood.
Sensitive Land Uses
Sensitive land uses are those uses that have associated human activities that may be
subject to stress or significant interference from noise such as residences, schools, child
care centers, hospitals, long-term health care facilities, convalescent centers, and
retirement homes. Various standards have been developed to address the compatibility of
land uses with noise levels. The applicable standards are presented in the following
discussion. The standards place special emphasis on land uses that are considered to be
sensitive to high noise levels.
The City of Inglewood contains a number of each of these different land uses, including
hospitals, libraries, retirement homes, parks and recreational facilities, public and private
schools, religious institutions, and childcare facilities.
• Regulatory Setting
Federal Regulations
Federal noise regulations relevant to the City of Inglewood are transportation related.
Noncompliance with federal regulations may reduce federal funding within a city. FHWA
requires abatement of highway traffic noise for highway projects through rules in the
Code of Federal Regulations (23 CFR Part 772). The Federal Transit Administration and
the Federal Railroad Administration each require noise and vibration assessments for any
mass transit or high-speed railroad projects that would pass by residential areas. For
housing constructed with assistance from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban
City of Inglewood General Plan Update Technical Background Report
6.9-13