Initial Study MND - Sonoma County Agricultural Preservation and ...

Taylor MountainINITIAL STUDY/MITIGATED NEGATIVE DECLARATIONneeded for the proposed development of the staging areas, trails or picnic areas. Therefore,impacts from groundborne vibration and noise would be less than significant.c. Would the project result in a substantial permanent increase in ambient noise levels in theproject vicinity above levels existing without the project?LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT. Operation of the Taylor Mountain Park and Open Space Preserve wouldintroduce a permanent noise source to the area in the vicinity of the new staging areas and othernew visitor facilities; however, the overall increase in noise levels would not be substantial, giventhe low intensity recreational uses allowed in the Master Plan, the restrictions on nighttime useand the distance to sensitive receptors. As described in Item (a) above, noise would attenuateto less than significant levels for neighboring sensitive receptors.In the future, with implementation of the Farmers Lane Extension, ambient noise levels willincrease in the vicinity of the Kawana Knoll and in nearby residential areas to the north ofKawana Terrace. The Taylor Mountain Preserve’s contribution to overall future cumulativenoise levels in these areas would not be substantial because only low-density day-timerecreational uses are planned and these uses are not adjacent to residences.d. Would the project result in a substantial temporary or periodic increase in ambient noiselevels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project?LESS THAN SIGNIFICANT WITH MITIGATION INCORPORATED. Item (a) provides details regardingconstruction noise levels, which are determined to be less than significant with mitigationincorporated. As described in Item (a), construction activities would produce a temporaryphase of intermittent noise over the duration of construction, varying with the time of day andstage of construction. Developing the staging areas would result in some temporary noise thatcould be audible from nearby residences. Contractors would be required to comply withapplicable local sound control and noise level rules, regulations and ordinances.Implementation of Mitigation Measure 10-1 would ensure that any periodic increases inambient noise levels are not substantial:10-1 Construction noise limits (see Item (a) above for full text.)Use of Taylor Mountain by individuals and small groups could result in temporary and sporadicincreases in ambient noise levels. Residences are the most noise-sensitive receptors in theproject area. Operational noise would be limited, as described in Item (a). Noise-sensitive landuses are not adjacent to the primary staging areas. In the case of the Kawana Springs Resortstaging area, intervening topography and vegetation separates it from the Sonoma Academy,which is at least 500 feet away. At the proposed Petaluma Hill Road entrance, ambient noiselevels are higher than at other staging areas because of the major arterial roadway traffic.Noise generated by park users at this location would not be discernible over ambient roadwaynoise levels. The future Farmers Lane Extension access would not be located near any noisesensitive land uses. At the proposed Bath-Watt staging area off of Panorama Drive, very limitedparking would be provided for ADA vehicles and for special groups. This parking area would bewithin the Preserve and not adjacent to the neighborhood. The limitations on access wouldfurther minimize noise-generating activities at this location. The Linwood Avenue access wouldSeptember 2012 B-93 Final