Agenda packet — Lake Forest City Council, May 6, 2025 (part 4 of 5)

“Industrial Property” means a parcel of real property which is developed and used in part or in whole for manufacturing, storage and distribution, research and development, office, or other noncommercial, non-residential uses. “Maintenance of Real Property” refers to the action of maintaining and the overall upkeep of a real property (i.e., fixed property, otherwise referred to as immovable property). “Maximum Sound Level (dBA Lmax)” means the highest RMS sound level measured during the measurement period.
“Mobile Noise Source” shall mean any transportation related noise source operating on public roadways.
“Mixed-Use” shall mean the definition of “Mixed-Use” in Section 9.04.030. “Noise Level” shall mean the “A” weighted Sound Pressure Level in Decibels obtained by using a Sound Level Meter at slow response with a reference pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter.

The unit of measurement shall be designated as dBA.
“Noise-Sensitive Land Use” includes uses listed in Table 1 below. “Person” shall mean a person, firm, association, co-partnership, joint venture, corporation, or any entity, public or private in nature.
“Residential Property” shall mean a parcel of real property that is developed and used either in part or in whole for residential purposes. This does not include hotels or motels but does include other transitory lodgings.
“Root-Mean-Square Sound Level (RMS)” means the square root of the average of the square of the sound pressure over the measurement period.
“Simple Tone Noise” shall mean a noise characterized by a predominant frequency or frequencies such that other frequencies cannot be readily distinguished. “Sound Amplifying Equipment” means any machine or device used for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, excluding standard automobile stereos when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle and as used in this chapter, warning devices on authorized Emergency Vehicles, or horns or other warning devices on any vehicle used for traffic safety purposes. “Sound Level Meter” shall mean an instrument meeting American National Standard Institute’s Standard S1.4-1971 for Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meters or an instrument and the associated recording and analyzing equipment which will provide equivalent data. “Sound Pressure Level” of a sound, in Decibels, shall mean 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound to a reference pressure, which reference pressure shall be explicitly stated.
“Stationary Noise Source” shall mean a stationary device which creates sounds while fixed in place or motionless, including but not limited to industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fans, compressors, generators, air conditioners, and refrigeration equipment. Also, vehicles on private property.
“Vibration-Sensitive Land Use” means residential, hotels, motels, schools, hospitals and medical offices with vibration-sensitive equipment, places of worship, cultural land uses, commercial, office and government uses. Outdoor areas with no buildings and industrial and manufacturing uses are not considered vibration sensitive. All structures should be considered for potential damage analysis related to construction activities.

11.16.030 Measurement of noise levels.

Any Noise Level measurements made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be performed using a Sound Level Meter as defined in Section 11.16.020. While the exterior noise standards in Section 11.16.040 are applied at the property line of the receiving use, the location for measuring Noise Levels may be at any publicly accessible point near the affected property line if it can Item: 3
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be determined that the measurement point is acoustically similar to the property line. The measurement shall be made at a point at least four feet from reflective surfaces and at least four feet away from reflective surfaces, and for a duration of at least 15 minutes. The measurement shall be made using the A-weighting network (dBA) with “slow” meter response. Impulsive or impact noises shall be measured using “fast” meter response. The purpose of the measurement is to determine if the alleged noise violation exceeds the standards established in Section 11.16.040. If, for any reason, the alleged offending noise cannot be turned off, shut down, or temporarily eliminated from the area, then the Ambient Noise Level shall be estimated by performing a representative measurement in the same general area of the noise source but at a sufficient distance such that the noise is inaudible.

11.16.040 Exterior noise standards.

A. The following exterior noise standards set limits for noise that land uses are allowed to generate as received by other land uses. These standards may be used during Code enforcement of potential noise violations. For purposes of determining potential project impacts during environmental impact review processes pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the average hourly level (Leq) standards shall be utilized unless all sources are impact in nature. The standards shall apply to the corresponding land use in Residential and Mixed-Use zones only. It is unlawful for any person to create any noise either within or outside the City due to a Stationary Noise Source (or any Mobile Noise Source not pre-empted by State or Federal laws), or to allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by such person, which causes the Noise Level when measured at the property line of any residential use in a residential or mixed use zone, to exceed the applicable noise standards listed in Table 1 – Exterior Noise Standards:

TABLE 1 – EXTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS
Land Use
Noise Level (dBA
Leq)
Noise Level (dBA
Lmax) Time Period
60 80 7:00 a.m.–10:00
Residential in Residential p.m.

Zones 50 70 10:00 p.m.–7:00
a.m.
65 85 7:00 a.m.–10:00
Residential Portion of Mixed- p.m.

Use in Mixed-Use Zones 50 70 10:00 p.m.–7:00
a.m.

Places of Worship, Hospitals,
and Schools in Residential
and Mixed-Use Zones
65 85 All Hours
Places of Worship, Hospitals,
and Schools in Commercial
and Industrial Zones
70 90 All Hours
B. In the event the alleged offensive noise consists entirely of Impulsive Noise, Simple Tone Noise, amplified speech, music, or any combination thereof, each of the above Noise Levels shall be reduced by five dBA. Such noises are generally considered to be particularly annoying and are a primary source of noise complaints.

C. If the alleged offense affects a property outside the City’s jurisdiction, the exterior noise standards shall be enforced at the City boundary.

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D. In the event the measured Ambient Noise Level exceeds any of the noise limit categories above, the noise limit as applied to the contribution of the source(s) in question shall be the Ambient Noise Level.

E. If the noise source and the affected property are within different land use categories, the noise standards of the affected property shall apply.

Private usable open space is defined as usable open space intended for use by occupants of one Dwelling Unit, normally including yards, decks, and balconies. Common usable open space is defined as open space intended for common use by any/all residents of a development, including swimming pools, recreation courts, patios, open landscaped areas, and greenbelts with pedestrian walkways and bicycle trails, but not including off-street parking and loading areas or driveways. If no balcony or private open space is provided for a residential unit, the noise limit shall be applicable at the exterior of accessible openings (doors and windows) to the unit.

11.16.050 Exemptions.

The following activities shall be exempt from the provisions of this chapter:

A. Activities, such as school bands, school athletics, and school entertainment events, not constituting “special events” (as defined in Section 5.05.020 of the Municipal Code) conducted on the grounds of any public or private nursery, elementary, intermediate, or secondary school or college.

B. “Special events” as defined in Section 5.05.020 provided said events are conducted pursuant to a special event permit issued as described in Chapter 5.05. However, this exemption shall not preclude use of the standards set forth in Section 11.16.040 (“Exterior noise standards”) as a guide for the application, review, or issuance of special event permits.

C. Any mechanical device, apparatus or equipment used, related to, or connected with Emergency Machinery, Vehicles, or Work.

D. Noise sources associated with Construction, repair, remodeling, or grading of any real property, provided that: (1) the City has issued a building permit, grading permit, or similar permit for such activities; (2) said activities do not take place between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday; and (3) the average Construction Noise Levels do not exceed 80 dBA Leq at the first floor of nearby NoiseSensitive Residential Uses.

E. Noise sources associated with the Maintenance of Real Property and use of Domestic Power Tools, provided said activities take place between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any day except Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday, or between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday.

F. Any activity to the extent regulation thereof has been preempted by State or Federal law.

G. Noise sources associated with solid waste collection and removal, provided such activities take place in accordance with LFMC Section 16.05.000(D).

11.16.060 Loud Noises
It is unlawful for any person to:

A. Use, operate, or permit to be operated any sound-amplifying equipment or speaker for producing or reproducing sound that exceeds the noise standards in section 11.16.040.

B. Maintain, manage, or control any business or Residential Property in violation of subsection A.

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C. Repair, rebuild, modify, or test any motor vehicle or motorcycle in such a manner as to exceed the noise standards in section 11.16.040.

D. Sound or permit the sounding of any amplified signal from a bell, chime, siren, whistle, vehicle horn or similar device, intended primarily for non-emergency purposes which exceeds the noise standards in section 11.16.040. Devices used in conjunction with schools and places of worship shall be exempt from this provision.

E. Operate or cause to be operated any motor vehicle or motorcycle not equipped with a legally compliant muffler or other sound dissipative device in good working order and in constant operation. No person shall remove or render inoperative, or cause to be removed or rendered inoperative, other than for purposes of maintenance, repair, or replacement, any muffler or sound dissipative device on a motor vehicle or motorcycle.

F. Own, maintain, control, or operate any premises or property where noise in violation of

11.16.040 and/or 11.16.060 continues after being informed, anytime within the preceding 30 days by the Police Department or Community Development Department that a violation of this chapter has been committed on said premises.

G. Violations of this section are hereby declared a nuisance per se.

11.16.070 Motor vehicle racing.

It is unlawful to conduct motor vehicle racing, testing, timing or similar noise-producing activities at raceways, speedways, off-road vehicle courses, drag strips or other similar places, including, but not limited to, the operation of midget race cars, drag cars, motorcycles, off-road vehicles, and specialty automobiles, between the hours of 11:30 p.m. and 8:00 a.m.

11.16.080 Construction.

The following regulations set hours, allowed noise levels, and best management practices for construction noise that occurs within the City of Lake Forest. These standards may be used during code enforcement of potential noise violations or used to determine potential project impacts during environmental review processes pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”). The following is required for construction:

A. Construction activities, including delivery of material or equipment, shall not take place between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a City holiday; and the average Construction Noise Levels shall not exceed 80 dBA Leq(1-hour) at the first floor of nearby Noise-Sensitive Land Uses.

B. If construction noise has the potential to exceed the standards in section 11.16.090.A., as determined by code enforcement of noise violations, analysis of potential construction noise impacts during a review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, or if construction using heavy equipment is proposed within 100 feet of Noise-Sensitive Land Uses, a Construction Noise Management Plan shall be prepared by a qualified acoustician and submitted by the applicant. The noise reduction measures shall be determined in the plan and shall be quantified to demonstrate that noise levels would not exceed the standards.

11.16.090 Vibration
A. Operating or permitting the operation of any device that creates vibration that exceeds current published Caltrans vibration criteria at a receiving Vibration-Sensitive Land Use is prohibited.

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0.3 inches per second (in/sec) peak particle velocity (PPV), no further vibration assessment is necessary. However, if vibration levels would potentially exceed the City’s standard of 0.3 in/sec PPV, the Project Applicant shall develop a Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan for approval by the Director of Community Development, or designee, to ensure that vibration levels would not exceed the City’s accepted vibration damage criteria of 0.3 in/sec PPV. If a Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan is deemed necessary, monitoring of vibration during initial construction activities shall be required. Monitoring results may indicate the need for more or less intensive measurements. The Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan, at the discretion of the Director of Community Development or designee, shall include the following items as necessary:
 Identification of structures where monitoring would be conducted;  A vibration monitoring schedule;
 Defined structure-specific vibration limits;
 Photographic, elevation, and crack surveys to document before and after construction conditions; and
 Identification of construction contingencies for when vibration levels approach the limits.

When vibration levels approach the limits specified in this Chapter, construction shall be suspended and contingencies identified in the approved Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan shall be implemented as necessary to lower vibration levels. For some projects, the ability to shield or protect the affected building from potential vibration impacts may be possible as an alternative to changing construction methods.

TABLE 2: VIBRATION ASSESSMENT GUIDELINES
Phase of Construction Distance (ft)
Grading
-Large Equipment
*Example: D9 Dozer, Loaded Dump Truck 15
-Impact Hand tools
*Example: Jackhammer 10
Pile Driving
-Impact Pile Driver 300 or within 5 times the depth of the pile, whichever is less
-Vibratory Pile Driver 150 or within 5 times the depth of the pile, whichever is less

11.16.100 Enforcement.

A. The Director or Chief and their duly authorized representatives shall enforce the provisions of this chapter. The Chief and their duly authorized representatives are authorized pursuant to Penal Code Section 836.5 to arrest any person without a warrant when they have reasonable cause to believe that such person has violated a provision of this chapter in their presence. No person shall interfere Item: 3
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with, oppose, or resist any authorized person charged with the enforcement of this chapter while such person is engaged in the performance of his duty.

11.16.110 Permit to temporarily exceed noise limits
A. Applications. The owner or operator of a noise source may file an application for a permit to temporarily exceed the noise limits in this chapter. The application shall set forth: (1) all facts regarding the request, including a detailed description of the noise source and proposed dates and times the noise limits would be exceeded; (2) the reasons why compliance with the noise limits cannot be achieved and the basis for such a determination; (3) all actions the applicant has taken, intends to take, and any proposed methods to minimize noise during the temporary activity; and (4) any such additional information relevant to the request the Director may require.

B. Permit Fee. The application shall be accompanied by a fee in the current amount established by resolution of the City Council. A separate application shall be filed for each noise source; provided, however, that several Mobile Noise Sources under common ownership or several fixed sources on a single property may be combined into one application.

C. Permit Processing. Within five days of receipt of a complete application, the Director shall forward the application to the City Manager for a determination. An applicant shall remain subject to the terms of this chapter unless and until a permit to temporarily exceed noise limits is granted.

D. City Manager Review, Authority, and Decision. The City Manager shall consider the likely magnitude of nuisance caused by the proposed noise, the uses of property within the area of impingement by the noise, time of day factors related to potential impacts to surrounding property occupants, and any other relevant considerations including, but not limited to, the fact that a noise generator in question commenced operations prior to the existence of a noise-sensitive use affected by noise from such facility, and the general public interest and welfare.

The City Manager is authorized to grant a permit to temporarily exceed the noise limits of this chapter for a period not to exceed 30 days if the City Manager finds such temporary waiver:

1. would be in the public interest and there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the activity, or the method of conducting the activity, for which the temporary waiver is sought; and

2. that strict compliance with the requirements of this chapter will cause practical difficulties, unnecessary hardship, or unreasonable expense.

After reviewing the application and all relevant facts and information, the City Manager shall render a decision on the application. Such decision shall be transmitted to the applicant in written form within ten days of the application submittal. The City Manager’s decision shall be final.

E. Permit Requirements. A permit shall be for a limited period and may be subject to any terms, conditions, and requirements as the City Manager deems reasonable to achieve maximum compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Such terms, conditions and requirements may include, but shall not be limited to, limitations on Noise Levels and operating hours, and a requirement to implement noise attenuation measures.

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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report RESOLUTION NO. ______

A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF

LAKE FOREST, CALIFORNIA RECOMMENDING THAT THE CITY

COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF LAKE FOREST ADOPT A RESOLUTION
AMENDING THE CITY’S LOCAL THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE

GUIDE FOR IMPLEMENTING THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL

QUALITY ACT (CEQA) TO ESTABLISH REVISED NOISE

THRESHOLDS, AND DETERMINING THE RESOLUTION TO BE

EXEMPT FROM CEQA
WHEREAS, Public Resources Code, section 21082 requires all public agencies to adopt objectives, criteria and procedures for (1) the evaluation of public and private projects undertaken or approved by such public agencies, and (2) the preparation, if required, of environmental impact reports and negative declarations in connection with that evaluation; and
WHEREAS, State CEQA Guidelines, section 15064.7(a) defines a threshold of significance as “an identifiable quantitative, qualitative or performance level of a particular environmental effect, noncompliance with means the effect will normally be determined to be significant by the agency and compliance with means the effect normally will be determined to be less than significant”; and WHEREAS, State CEQA Guidelines, section 15064.7(b) requires that thresholds of significance must be adopted by ordinance, resolution, rule, or regulations, developed through a public review process, and supported by substantial evidence; and
WHEREAS, the Lake Forest City Council adopted the City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide in 2001, which has since been amended and which serves as an internal guidance document for City staff be used for the review of projects, and in the preparation of environmental documents pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA); and
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide contains thresholds of significance that are based on and reference standards in Chapter

11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the 2020 adoption of the Lake Forest General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element, the City Council adopted implementation action PS6a, which calls for the update of Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code to: (1) ensure that the noise standards are consistent with the General Plan; (2) require new residential, mixed-use with a residential component, and other noiseItem: 3 108
Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report sensitive development to be designed to minimize noise exposure to noise sensitive uses through incorporation of site planning and architectural techniques; and (3) include noise standards for residential uses within a mixed-use development; and
WHEREAS, in conjunction with the adoption of the Lake Forest General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element, the City Council adopted implementation action PS-6e, which calls for the update of Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code to require certain measures for construction, including: restricting construction activities to certain hours; requiring a construction management plan; requiring noise reduction measures related to equipment and trucks and impact tools; standards for stationary noise sources and delivery of materials; and minimization of vibration impacts; and
WHEREAS, the updates to the Lake Forest Municipal Code identified above, along with related updates to the Lake Forest General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element, adopted concurrently with this update of the CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide, change the City’s criteria for determining the significance of development-related noise impacts of projects; and
WHEREAS, the City of Lake Forest, following a public hearing process, wishes to adopt revised Noise Thresholds of Significance that are consistent with concurrently adopted revised criteria in the General Plan 2040 Public Safety Element and Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code, which would apply to projects in the City of Lake Forest that are subject to CEQA; and WHEREAS, to achieve this, the City must revise its local CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide to integrate the revised noise thresholds.

NOW, THEREFORE, the Planning Commission of the City of Lake Forest hereby resolves as follows:

SECTION 1. The recitals are each incorporated by reference and adopted as findings by the Planning Commission.

SECTION 2. In its advisory capacity to the City Council, the City of Lake Forest Planning Commission has evaluated the proposed revised noise thresholds of significance to determine whether the revisions are subject to environmental review under Public Resources Code, section 21000 et seq.: “CEQA”. The Planning Commission recommends that no further environmental review be required because the proposed revised noise thresholds of significance are within the scope of the 2040 Lake Forest General Plan EIR (State Clearinghouse No. 2019090102) that was certified by the City on June 2, 2020, and were contemplated as future actions in the EIR. Moreover, none of the conditions in Item: 3
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report Public Resources Code Section 21166 and/or State CEQA Guidelines Section 15162 are triggered by the proposed revised noise thresholds of significance. For these reasons, the revised noise standards are not subject to further environmental review under CEQA.

SECTION 3. Based upon substantial evidence set forth in the record of proceedings, including but not limited to the April 3, 2025, Planning Commission Staff Report on the revised noise thresholds of significance, the Planning Commission for the City of Lake Forest hereby recommends adoption of the revised noise thresholds set forth in Exhibit A, City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide, attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference.

SECTION 4. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the Planning Commission, and the Director of Community Development shall attest to and certify the vote adopting this Resolution.

SECTION 5. If any section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion of this Resolution for any reason is held to be invalid or unconstitutional by the decision of any court of competent jurisdiction, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this Resolution. The Planning Commission hereby declares that it would have adopted this Resolution, and each section, subsection, subdivision, sentence, clause, phrase, or portion thereof, irrespective of the fact that any one or more sections, subsections, subdivisions, sentences, clauses, phrases, or portions thereof be declared invalid or unconstitutional.

SECTION 6. Custodian of Records. The documents and materials that constitute the record of proceedings on which these findings are based are located at City Hall for the City of Lake Forest, located at 100 Civic Center Drive, Lake Forest, California. The City Clerk is the custodian of the record of proceedings.

SECTION 7. Notice of Determination. Staff is directed to file a Notice of Determination with the County of Orange within five (5) working days of approval of this Resolution.

PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED by the Planning Commission of the City of Lake Forest, California on April 3, 2025 by the following vote, to wit:

AYES:

NOES:

ABSENT:

ABSTAIN:

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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report ________________________________

THOMAS LUDDEN DATE
CHAIR

LAKE FOREST PLANNING COMMISSION
ATTEST:
__________________________________ ____________________

GAYLE ACKERMAN, AICP DATE

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
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EXHIBIT A
(on following page)
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report APPENDIX 1

CITY OF LAKE FOREST

CEQA SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS GUIDE
Published November 20, 2001
Revised _____________, 2025
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TABLE OF CONTENTS
Section Page
1 INTRODUCTION..........................................................................................................1

1.1 CEQA Significance Thresholds............................................................................1

1.2 City of Lake Forest ..............................................................................................2

1.3 Summary of Significance Thresholds ..................................................................2 2 CIRCULATION/TRANSPORTATION...........................................................................7

2.1 Background .........................................................................................................7

2.2 Thresholds of Significance...................................................................................8

2.3 Potential Mitigation ..............................................................................................8

2.4 References ..........................................................................................................9 3 NOISE ........................................................................................................................10

3.1 Background .......................................................................................................10

3.2 Noise Metrics.....................................................................................................10

3.3 Applicable Noise Standards...............................................................................11

3.4 Thresholds of Significance.................................................................................13

3.5 Potential Mitigation ............................................................................................13

3.6 References ........................................................................................................15 4 AIR QUALITY ............................................................................................................16

4.1 Background .......................................................................................................16

4.2 Regulatory and Planning Setting .......................................................................17

4.3 Established SCAQMD Air Pollution Thresholds.................................................20

4.4 Thresholds of Significance.................................................................................22

4.5 SCAQMD Additional Indicators for Air Quality Impacts......................................23

4.6 Potential Mitigation ............................................................................................23

4.7 References ........................................................................................................24 5 LAND USE .................................................................................................................25

5.1 Background .......................................................................................................25

5.2 Land Use Goals, Policies, and Regulations.......................................................25

5.3 Thresholds of Significance.................................................................................26

5.4 Potential Mitigation ............................................................................................26

5.5 References ........................................................................................................27 6 AESTHETICS.............................................................................................................28

6.1 Background .......................................................................................................28

6.2 Aesthetic/Design Guidelines and Standards......................................................28

6.3 Assessment of Visual Changes.........................................................................29

6.4 Thresholds of Significance.................................................................................30 Item: 3
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6.5 Potential Mitigation ............................................................................................30

6.6 References ........................................................................................................32 7 WATER RESOURCES...............................................................................................33

7.1 Background .......................................................................................................33

7.2 Water Quality Regulatory Setting ......................................................................34

7.3 Thresholds of Significance.................................................................................35

7.4 Potential Mitigation ............................................................................................36

7.5 References ........................................................................................................38 8 LIST OF PREPARERS ..............................................................................................39

8.1 City of Lake Forest ............................................................................................39

8.2 Consultant .........................................................................................................39 Item: 3
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SECTION 1 INTRODUCTION

6.7 CEQA SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS
The City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide has been prepared as an internal guidance document for City staff. The information presented herein shall be used by staff for the review of projects, and in the preparation of environmental documents pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). CEQA requires the analysis of discretionary projects to disclose their potential effects on the environment.

As stated in Section 15064(a) of the State CEQA Guidelines, “Determining whether a project may have a significant effect plays a critical role in the CEQA process.” The identification of significance of an impact determines the level of environmental review required and the need for mitigation measures to reduce or eliminate project impacts. The tools used by a lead agency to make significance determinations include but are not limited to: CEQA’s Mandatory Findings of Significance, Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines (the model Initial Study checklist), agency (e.g., South Coast Air Quality Management District, Governor's Office of Planning and Research) regulatory standards and guides, consultation with other agencies, and the lead agency’s specific thresholds of significance. As defined in the CEQA Guidelines (Section 15064.7) “a threshold of significance is an identifiable quantitative, qualitative or performance level of a particular environmental effect, non-compliance with which means the effect will normally be determined to be significant by the agency and compliance with which means the effect normally will be determined to be less than significant.”
Section 15064(b)(1) of the State CEQA Guidelines states: “The determination of whether a project may have a significant effect on the environment calls for careful judgment on the part of the public agency involved, based to the extent possible on scientific and factual data. An ironclad definition of significant effect is not always possible because the significance of an activity may vary with the setting.” The City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide is a tool that compiles information that is useful in the preparation of environmental documents. This information can be used to improve the level of consistency, predictability, and objectivity of the City’s environmental documents. The Guide provides assistance in evaluating the significance of project impacts for six key topical issues in the City of Lake Forest: circulation/transportation, noise, air quality, land use, aesthetics, and water resources. For each topical issue, the following information is provided:
background information; discussion of relevant standards, planning guidelines, policies etc.; thresholds of significance; and potential mitigation. It should be noted that the mitigation measures suggested in this document are examples of the types of mitigation that could be applied to a project to reduce identified environmental impacts. The actual mitigation recommended for a project will vary depending on the project itself, the specific impact, and other issues that may arise on a case-by- case basis. It is not intended that each mitigation measure identified in this document be applied to every project or that the mitigation be written exactly as presented herein. Similarly, there may be mitigation required of a project that is not identified in this document.

The City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide provides guidance and does not require mandatory application of all thresholds for every project. The guidance provided in this document does not substitute for the use of independent judgment to determine significance or the evaluation of the evidence in the record but is intended to provide sufficient flexibility to use the most appropriate criteria (i.e., on a case-by-case basis) for a particular project. (See Mejia v. City of Item: 3
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Los Angeles (2005) 130 Cal.App.4th 322; Protect the Historic Amador Waterways v. Amador Water Agency (2004) 116 Cal.App.4th 1099.) CEQA includes additional topics and requirements that are not addressed in this City of Lake Forest CEQA Significance Thresholds Guide. Section 15064(b)(2) of the State CEQA Guidelines states: “Thresholds of significance, as defined in Section 15064.7(a), may assist lead agencies in determining whether a project may cause a significant impact. When using a threshold, the lead agency should briefly explain how compliance with the threshold means that the project's impacts are less than significant. Compliance with the threshold does not relieve a lead agency of the obligation to consider substantial evidence indicating that the project’s environmental effects may still be significant." The lead agency is responsible for ensuring that all CEQA requirements are met.

6.8 CITY OF LAKE FOREST
The City of Lake Forest is located between the coastal floodplain and the Santa Ana Mountains.

The western portion of the City is near sea level while the northeastern portion of the City becomes progressively higher and steeper, reaching elevations of up to 1,500 feet. The Santa Ana Mountains can be seen from various points within the City (including major roadways) while the Saddleback Valley floor and the Pacific Ocean can be seen from the higher elevations. The Recreation and Resources Element of the City of Lake Forest General Plan states that, “Lake Forest’s recreational amenities and natural resources form an important part of its unique character and quality of life. In our community, these resources include the City’s parks and trails, natural open space areas, scenic vistas, and cultural, and biological, resources. It is important to understand, document, and appreciate these resources so that these valuable pieces of the community can be preserved and protected for future generations.” Notable natural features in the City include the foothills of the Santa Ana Mountains and natural water courses. The Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park is a prominent visual feature in the northern portion of the City located generally between the planned communities of Portola Hills and Foothill Ranch. There are five water courses that traverse the City: Aliso Creek, Serrano Creek, Borrego Canyon Wash, and two smaller creeks. While portions of these creeks are channelized for flood control purposes, significant portions of Aliso Creek and Serrano Creek include trails and open space and have a natural/undeveloped character. The City of Lake Forest also has four man-made lakes, three located within residential developments and one in Veterans Park.

The City developed as a series of primarily residential Planned Communities. Development within each Planned Community is designed to be compatible and form a consistent visual image. In older areas of the City, particularly near I-5, residential neighborhoods were not developed as part of Planned Communities and have less architectural and visual consistency.

Low-scale (one- to three-story) commercial development is concentrated near I-5 and along the primary arterials of El Toro Road, Lake Forest Drive, Bake Parkway and Portola Parkway. Existing sources of night lighting within the City include commercial districts, parking areas, outdoor sports facilities, and roadways.

6.9 SUMMARY OF SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS
The following provides a summary of the thresholds of significance presented in Sections 2 through 7 of this document.

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Circulation/Transportation
A proposed project would normally have a significant impact if it is determined to:
• Not meet any of the screening criteria described in Attachment 1 to this CEQA SignificanceThreshold Guide – City of Lake Forest Transportation Analysis Guidelines; and Exceed any of the vehicle miles traveled (VMT) thresholds described in Attachment 1 to this CEQA Significance Threshold Guide – City of Lake Forest Transportation Analysis Guidelines; and/or
Conflict with program plan, ordinance or policy addressing the circulation system, including transit, roadway, bicycle, and pedestrian facilities; and/or Includes design features or uses that may cause traffic hazards such as sharp curves, tight turning radii from streets, limited roadway visibility, short merging lanes, uneven road grades, or any other conditions determined by the City traffic engineer to be a hazard; and/or Results in inadequate emergency access.

NOISE
Traffic Noise
A proposed project would normally have a significant offsite traffic noise impact if one of the following criteria are met:
 When existing noise levels are between 60 dBA and 65 dBA CNEL, a 3 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered significant;
 When existing noise levels exceed 65 dBA CNEL, a 1.5 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered significant.

Stationary Noise
The project would normally have a significant stationary noise impact if it would:
 Exceed the stationary source noise criteria for the City of Lake Forest as specified by the exterior noise standards set forth in the Noise Control Chapter (11.16) of the Lake Forest Municipal Code.

Construction Noise
The project would normally have a significant construction noise impact if it would:
 Exceed 80 dBA Leq(1-hour) between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday.1
Vibration
The project would normally have a significant vibration impact if it would:
1 Construction is prohibited between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a City holiday.

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 Exceed the applicable standards from the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) or Caltrans vibration limits.

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SECTION 3 – NOISE

6.10 BACKGROUND
Potential noise and vibration impacts are commonly divided into two groups: short-term construction and long- term operational (stationary source and mobile vehicular noise). Shortterm impacts are usually associated with noise and vibration generated by construction activities.

Long-term impacts include effects on surrounding land uses generated by a project once it is operational, and those impacts which occur at a project site. Construction-related and operational noise and vibration impacts are addressed in this section.

Noise has been defined as unwanted sound, and it is known to have adverse effects on people.

Based on these effects, criteria have been established to help protect public health and safety and prevent disruption of certain human activities. These criteria are based on such known impacts of noise on people as hearing loss, speech interference, sleep interference, physiological responses, and annoyance.

Most noise metrics use the A-weighted noise level to quantify noise impacts on humans. Aweighting is a frequency weighting that accounts for human sensitivity to different frequencies.

When the A-scale is used, the decibel levels are represented by dBA (A-weighted decibels). The City of Lake Forest’s noise standards are expressed in terms of dBA. On this scale, the range of human hearing extends from about 3 dBA to about 140 dBA. A 10 dBA increase is judged by most people as a doubling of the sound level. Generally, noise increases of less than three dB are not detectable by the human ear.

Everyday sounds normally range from 30 dBA (very quiet) to 100 dBA (very loud). Noise from transportation activities (transportation corridors, major arterials, collector roadways, railroad, etc.) is the primary component of the noise environment in the City of Lake Forest. Noise generated by construction equipment, including trucks, graders, bulldozers, concrete mixers, pile drivers, and portable generators, can reach high levels. Noise levels from construction equipment generally range from 76 to 91 dBA for equipment powered by internal combustion engines, saws, and vibrating equipment, and from the mid-80s to more than 100 dBA for impact equipment.

Excavation and grading activities typically represent the highest potential for noise impacts.

6.11 NOISE METRICS
To account for the fluctuation in noise levels over time, noise impacts are commonly evaluated using time-averaged noise levels. Two of the most used noise scales are the Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (LEQ) and the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL).

LEQ is 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 the "energy" average noise level during the time period of the sample. LEQ can be measured for any time period but is typically measured for one hour. It is the energy sum of all the events and background noise levels that occur during that time period.

LMAX means the highest sound level measured during the measurement period.

CNEL is the predominant rating scale used in California for land use compatibility assessment. The CNEL scale represents a time weighted 24-hour average noise level based on the A-weighted decibel. “Time-weighted” means that noise that occurs during certain sensitive time periods is Item: 3
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penalized in noise analyses. Noises occurring in the evening (7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.) are penalized by 5 dBA and nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) noises are penalized by 10 dBA. A CNEL noise level may be reported as a "CNEL of 60 dBA," "60 dBA CNEL," or simply "60 CNEL."

6.12 APPLICABLE NOISE STANDARDS
The City of Lake Forest General Plan (Public Safety Element) and the Municipal Code (Chapter

11.16 – Noise Control) establish noise standards for the City.

PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT OF THE GENERAL PLAN
Table PS-1 of the Public Safety Element summarizes land use compatibility noise standards for various types of land uses (Table 3-1 below). As a result of the Supreme Court decision regarding the assessment of the environment’s impacts on projects (California Building Industry Association (CBIA) v. Bay Area Air Quality Management District (BAAQMD), 62 Cal. 4th 369 (No. S 213478) issued December 17, 2015), it is generally no longer the purview of the CEQA process to evaluate the impact of existing environmental conditions on any given project. As a result, while noise from existing sources is taken into account as part of the baseline, the direct effects of noise from nearby noise sources relative to land use compatibility of a future project is typically no longer a required topic for impact evaluation under CEQA. Generally, no determination of significance is required with the exception of new school projects, projects significantly affected by airport noise, and project’s that would exacerbate existing conditions (i.e., projects that would have a significant operational impact that could expose on-site users to substantial noise). In the cases of these exceptions, the noise and land use compatibility standards from Table 3-1 should be used to evaluate the potential impact of surrounding noise sources on future sensitive project residents, workers, or users.

TABLE 3-1
LAND USE COMPATIBILITY FOR COMMUNITY NOISE ENVIRONMENT5, 6 Interior Spaces
Land Use
1 Outdoor
Activity Areas 2, 3
Ldn, dBA Ldn, dBA Leq, dBA 4
Residential 60 45 –
Motels/Hotels 65 45 –
Mixed-Use 65 45 –
Hospitals, Nursing Homes 60 45 –
Theaters, Auditoriums – – 35
Churches 60 – 40
Office Buildings 65 – 45
Schools, Libraries, Museums 70 – 45
Playgrounds, Neighborhood Parks 70 – -
Industrial 75 – 45
Golf Courses, Water Recreation 70 – –

1. Where a proposed use is not specifically listed, the use shall comply with the criteria for the most similar use as determined by the City.

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2. Outdoor activity areas for residential development are considered to be the private exterior living area of single-family homes and the main common areas where people generally congregate for multi-family and residential components of mixed-use developments.

Outdoor activity areas for non-residential developments are the common areas where people generally congregate, including community centers, pool areas, and outside lunch facilities. New multi-family developments and residential components of mixed-use developments with balconies or patios that are exposed to noise that exceeds the outdoor criteria in this table are required to provide occupancy disclosure notices to all future tenants regarding potential noise impacts.

3. In areas where it is not possible for a new project to reduce exterior noise levels to achieve the outdoor activity area criteria using a practical application of the best noise-reduction technology, as determined by a qualified acoustician, an increase of up to 5 dBA Ldn over the outdoor standard will be allowed provided that available exterior noise reduction measures have been implemented and interior noise levels are in compliance with this table

4. Determined for a typical operating hour during periods of use.

5. In accordance with Policy PS-6b, this table shall be used for land use compatibility noise criteria when making planning and development decisions. These criteria represent the acceptable noise level for new sensitive receptors. These criteria are not to be retroactively applied for existing uses. These criteria are also not generally intended for use as CEQA significance thresholds for noise generated by new projects to existing receptors; that purpose is achieved by compliance with Municipal Code standards.

6. Abbreviations: dB = decibel; Leq = equivalent noise level; Ldn = Day-Night Average Level NOISE ORDINANCE The Noise Control Chapter (11.16) of the Lake Forest Municipal Code (“Noise Ordinance”), is designed to protect people from non-transportation (stationary) noise sources such as music, construction activity, machinery, and equipment such as air conditioners. The Noise Ordinance sets limits for stationary noise sources, depending on the type of land use that is receiving the noise.

Table 3-2 lists the A-weighted noise level (dBA) limit for these sources. The ordinance applies different criteria during different time periods. The noise criteria are more stringent in late night and early morning hours and reflect a heightened sensitivity to noise during these time periods.

For purposes of determining potential project impacts during environmental impact review processes pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the average hourly level (Leq) standards shall be utilized unless all sources are impact in nature.

TABLE 3-2

CITY OF LAKE FOREST NOISE ORDINANCE EXTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS Land Use Noise Level (Leq,
dBA)
Noise Level
(Lmax, dBA) Time Period
60 80 7:00 a.m.–10:00
Residential in p.m.

Residential Zones 50 70 10:00 p.m.–7:00
a.m.
65 85 7:00 a.m.–10:00
p.m. Residential Portion of
Mixed-Use in MixedUse Zones 50 70 10:00 p.m.–7:00
a.m.

Churches, Hospitals,
and Schools in
Residential and MixedUse Zones
65 85 All Hours
Churches, Hospitals,
and Schools in
Commercial and
Industrial Zones
70 90 All Hours
Section 11.16.050 of the Noise Ordinance identifies specific activities that would be exempt from the provisions of the noise restrictions. Exempted activities include, but are not limited to, construction, repair, remodeling, and grading, provided that: (1) the City has issued a building Item: 3
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permit, grading permit, or similar permit for such activities; (2) said activities do not take place between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday; and (3) the average construction noise levels do not exceed 80 dBA Leq(1-hour) at nearby “noise-sensitive land uses,” as that term is defined in Section

11.16.020 of the Municipal Code.

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6.13 THRESHOLDS OF SIGNIFICANCE

TRAFFIC NOISE
Generally, a 3 dBA increase in noise levels is barely perceptible, and a 5 dBA increase in noise levels is clearly perceptible. In areas where the existing ambient noise level exceeds 65 dBA CNEL, the noise environment is considered degraded and less of an increase in ambient noise levels is allowed. Therefore, a proposed project would normally have a significant offsite traffic noise impact if one of the following criteria are met:
• When existing noise levels are between 60 dBA and 65 dBA CNEL, a 3 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered significant;
• When existing noise levels exceed 65 dBA CNEL, a 1.5 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered significant.

STATIONARY NOISE
The Noise Ordinance sets limits on the level and duration of time a stationary noise source (e.g., mechanical equipment) may impact a noise-sensitive area. Table 3-2 outlines these noise limits.

The determination that a project has the potential to exceed the City’s established noise limits is typically based on a noise technical report prepared by a qualified acoustical consultant. The project would normally have a significant stationary noise impact if it would exceed the stationary source noise criteria for the City of Lake Forest as specified in Table 3-2.

CONSTRUCTION NOISE
Per Section 11.16.050, a project would normally have a significant construction noise impact if construction noise exceeds 80 dBA Leq at nearby Noise-Sensitive Residential Land Uses, as that term is defined in the Municipal Code, between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m., Monday through Saturday, or exceeds Municipal Code standards at nearby Noise-Sensitive Residential Land Uses between 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., Monday through Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday.

VIBRATION
The Noise Control Chapter (11.16) of the Lake Forest Municipal Code states that operating or permitting the operation of any device that creates vibration that is distinctly perceptible to an individual at a receiving vibration-sensitive land use is prohibited. A project would normally have a significant vibration impact if it would exceed applicable criteria from the FTA or Caltrans regarding vibration damage and annoyance limits.

6.14 POTENTIAL MITIGATION
The mitigation measures listed in this section are examples of the types of mitigation that could be applied to a project to reduce identified noise impacts. The actual mitigation recommended for a project will vary depending on the project itself, the specific impact, and other issues that may arise on a case-by-case basis. It is not intended that each mitigation measure identified in this section be applied to every project or that the mitigation be written exactly as presented herein.

Similarly, mitigation may be required that is not identified in this document.

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CONSTRUCTION NOISE
Potential mitigation measures for short-term construction-related noise impacts that exceed the significance thresholds may include:
• Use of noise control techniques (e.g., absorptive mufflers, use of intake silencers, engine enclosures and acoustically attenuating shields or shrouds) on equipment and trucks used for project construction.
• Use of temporary sound barriers/blankets between construction equipment and nearby sensitive receptors. Barriers must be constructed with solid material with a density of at least 1 pound per square foot with no gaps from the ground to the top of the barrier and must be lined on the construction side with acoustical blanket. • Use of hydraulically or electrically powered impact tools (e.g., jack hammers, pavement breakers, and rock drills) for project construction to avoid noise associated with compressed air exhaust from pneumatically powered tools. However, where use of pneumatic tools is unavoidable, an exhaust muffler and/or sound attenuation barriers/blankets on the compressed air exhaust may be used. Quieter procedures would include, for example, drills rather than impact equipment.
• Use of temporary power poles or the electrical grid instead of generators. • Locating stationary noise sources as far from adjacent properties as possible, and use of temporary sheds, insulation barriers, or other measures as determined by the City. • To the extent consistent with applicable safety regulations, use of trucks with SAE J994 Class "D" or equivalent reverse motion alarms (ambient-adjusting, or “smart alarms” that automatically adjust the alarm to 5 dBA above the ambient near the operating equipment) or switched off back-up alarms with human spotters in compliance with all safety requirements and laws. • Truck routes that avoid residential areas to the extent possible.

STATIONARY NOISE SOURCES
Potential mitigation measures for long-term stationary noise impacts that exceed the significance thresholds may include:
 Redesign the source to radiate less noise (e.g., substitute a quieter equipment type/process or enclose the source with sound absorbent material);
 Use insulation or construct solid barriers between noise sources and noise receivers;  Separate noise sources from noise receivers by distances sufficient to attenuate the noise to acceptable levels;
 Locate delivery, truck loading, or trash pickup areas as far from “noise-sensitive land uses” (as that term is defined in Section 11.16.020 of the Municipal Code) as possible;  Limit delivery and loading/unloading hours;
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• Limit the hours of use of noise-generating equipment; • Require a follow-up acoustical analysis once preliminary noise reduction considerations are presented;
• Inspect noise generating equipment prior to issuance of occupancy permits to verify onsite containment of noise.

TRAFFIC NOISE
Potential mitigation measures for long-term mobile noise impacts that exceed the significance thresholds may include:
• Attenuate noise by using barriers;
• Installation of “quiet pavement” (e.g., rubberized asphalt); • Redirect sound transmission paths;

VIBRATION
Potential mitigation measures for vibration impacts that exceed the significance thresholds may include:
• Use of equipment that generates lower vibration levels (e.g., static rollers instead of vibratory rollers, smaller earthmoving equipment when within close distances of receptors, alternatives to impact pile driving);
• Increase or establish minimum property line setbacks for vibration-generating equipment; • Require vibration monitoring during applicable phases of construction.

3.2 REFERENCES
 City of Lake Forest 2020 General Plan – Public Safety Element  City of Lake Forest Municipal Code, Chapter 11.16 – Noise Control.

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ATT
Introduction to Public Safety
The goal of Lake Forest’s Public Safety Element is to reduce the risk of death, injury, property damage, economic loss, and harm due to natural and manmade disasters. This element will view risks on both a short-term and long-term basis, and will place a special emphasis on local and regional risk factors.

The Public Safety Element closely relates to the Public Facilities Element and supports the City’s Emergency Management Plan. The long-term risks associated with Climate Change are also addressed in here.

Organization of Element
The Public Safety Element will address each of the topics below as they relate to Lake Forest. The goals and policies of this element are organized around the following topics:
 Seismic and Geologic Hazards
 Fire Safety
 Flooding
 Hazardous Waste and Materials
 Emergency Operations
 Noise
 Climate Change and Resiliency Planning
Contents:
 Seismic and
Geologic
Hazards
 Fire Safety
 Flooding
 Hazardous
Waste and
Materials
 Emergency
Operations
 Noise
 Climate Change
and Resiliency
Planning
ATT

PUBLIC SAFETY ELEMENT REDLINE
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GOAL PS-6 NOISE
A comfortable community environment that is free from excessive noise pollution.

PS-6 Policies
Land Use Planning. Require development and infrastructure projects to be consistent with the maximum allowable noise exposure standardscriteria identified in PS-6.1 Table PS-1 to ensure acceptable noise levels for existing and future development.

PS-6.2 Noise-Sensitive FacilitiesLand Uses. Ensure appropriate mitigation isfeatures are incorporated into the design of noise-sensitive facilitiesland uses to minimize noise impactsprevent unacceptable noise exposure.

PS-6.3 Site Design. Require site planning and project design techniques to minimize noise impacts adjacent to sensitive uses in order to comply with City standards.

PS-6.4 Noise Control. Ensure that noise levels do not exceed the limits established in the Municipal CodeTable PS-2 by incorporating sound-reduction design in new construction or revitalizationand retrofit projects impacted by non-transportation-related noise sources.

PS-6.5 Roadway Noise. Encourage nonmotorized transportation alternatives for local trips and the implementation of noise sensitivity measures in the public realm, including traffic-calming road design, lateral separation, natural buffers, and setbacks to decrease excessive motor vehicle noise.

PS-6.6 Highway Noise. Continue to coordinate with the California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) and the Transportation Corridor Agency Agencies (TCA) to achieve maximum noise abatement in the design of new highway projects or improvements along I-5 and CA-241.

PS-6.7 Vehicles and Trucks. Monitor and enforce existing speed limits and motor vehicle codes requiring adequate mufflers on all types of vehicles traveling through the cCity.

PS-6.8 Commercial Noise. Require the use of noise attenuation measures, including screening and buffering techniques, for all new commercial development expected to produce excessive noise; in existing cases where the City’s noise standards are exceeded, work with Code Enforcement to require compliance.

PS-6.9 Interjurisdictional Coordination. Coordinate with neighboring cities to prevent and minimize exceedance of noise conflicts standards between land uses along the City's boundaries.

PS-6.10 Airplane Noise. Maintain communication with John Wayne Airport and other relevant air transportation agencies to ensure that all future plans have limitedminimize the noise-related impacts of air travel onto the community of Lake ForestCity.

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PS-6 Actions
PS-6a (reserved)Update Chapter 11.16 of the Lake Forest Municipal Code to ensure that the noise standards are consistent with this General Plan, including Tables PS-1 and PS-2, and to require new residential, mixed-use with a residential component, and other noise-sensitive development to be designed to minimize noise exposure to noise sensitive uses through incorporation of site planning and architectural techniques. The update shall also include noise standards for residential uses within a mixed-use development, which may differ from other adopted residential noise standards.

PS-6b To ensure that noise does not adversely affect new sensitive receptors, the City will use land use compatibility noise criteria for various land use types in Table PS-1 when making planning and development decisions. The criteria in Table PS-1 represent the acceptable noise level for new sensitive receptors.Review new development projects for compliance with the noise requirements established in this General Plan, including the standards established in Tables PS1 and PS-2.

Existing and future noise contours from transportation noise in the City are provided in Figure 1 and Figure 2. The future noise contours in Figure 2 will be used as a guide for land use and development decisions. If the noise level at a project does not exceed the outdoor activity area allowable noise level in Table PS-1, the project is considered compatible with the noise environment.

If the project will exceed the allowable outdoor activity area and interior space noise levels in Table PS-1, the project proponent shall be required to demonstrate (with an acoustical analysis) that the project is designed to attenuate noise to meet the criteria in Table PS-1, and California Building Standards Code, and California Green Building Standards Code (Title 24) interior noise standards. If the project is not designed to meet the noise criteria, noise reduction measures may be recommended in the analysis. If the analysis demonstrates that the noise criteria can be met with implementation of the noise reduction measures, the project may be approved with the noise reduction measures required as conditions of project approval. Where necessary, require new development to mitigated excessive noise through best practices, which may include, but are not limited to,including building relocation orientation, building design features, placement of noisegenerating equipment away from sensitive receptors, shielding of noise-generating equipment, placement of noise-tolerant features between noise sources and sensitive receptors, and use of noise-minimizing materials such as rubberized asphalt.

PS-6c To ensure that noise from new development does not adversely affect existing sensitive receptors, the City will rRequire acoustical studies for all new discretionary projects, including those related to development and transportation, which have the potential to generate stationary noise impacts which exceed the criteriastandards identified in Table PS-2 this General Plan. The studies shall include representative existing ambient noise measurements, estimates of existing and projected noise levels, and mitigationnoise reduction measures necessary to ensure compliance with this element.

PS-6d In making a determination of traffic noise impacts under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), a substantial increasesignificant impact will occur if ambient noise levels have a substantial increase and the resultant noise levels are in excess of the City’s critera. Generally, a 3 A-weighted decibel (dBA) increase in noise levels is barely perceptible, and a 5 dB increase in noise levels is clearly perceptible. Therefore, increases in noise levels shall be considered to be substantialsignificant when the following occurs:
 When existing noise levels are less than 60 dB, a 5 dB increase in noise will be considered substantial;
 When existing noise levels are between 60 dBA and 65 dBA CNEL, a 3 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered substantialsignfiicant;
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 When existing noise levels exceed 65 dBA CNEL, a 1.5 dBA CNEL increase in noise will be considered substantialsignfiicant.

PS-6e (reserved)Update the City’s Noise Ordinance (Chapter 11.16) to reflect the noise standards established in this General Plan and proactively enforce the City’s Noise Ordinance, including requiring the following measures for construction:
 Restrict construction activities to the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Monday through Friday, and 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays. No construction shall be permitted outside of these hours or on Sundays or federal holidays, without a specific exemption issued by the City.
 A Construction Noise Management Plan shall be submitted by the applicant for construction projects, when determined necessary by the City. The Construction Noise Management Plan shall include proper posting of construction schedules, appointment of a noise disturbance coordinator, and methods for assisting in noise reduction measures.  Noise reduction measures may include, but are not limited to, the following:
o Equipment and trucks used for project construction shall utilize the best available noise control techniques (e.g., improved mufflers, equipment redesign, use of intake silencers, ducts, engine enclosures and acoustically attenuating shields or shrouds) wherever feasible.
o Except as provided herein, impact tools (e.g., jack hammers, pavement breakers, and rock drills) used for project construction shall be hydraulically or electrically powered to avoid noise associated with compressed air exhaust from pneumatically powered tools. However, where use of pneumatic tools is unavoidable, an exhaust muffler on the compressed air exhaust shall be used. This muffler can lower noise levels from the exhaust by up to about 10 dBA. External jackets on the tools themselves shall be used, if such jackets are commercially available. this could achieve a reduction of 5 dBA. Quieter procedures shall be used, such as drills rather than impact equipment, whenever such procedures are available and consistent with construction procedures. o Temporary power poles shall be used instead of generators where feasible. o Stationary noise sources shall be located as far from adjacent properties as possible, and they shall be muffled and enclosed within temporary sheds, incorporate insulation barriers, or use other measures as determined by the City of provide equivalent noise reduction.
o The noisiest phases of construction shall be limited to less than 10 days at a time.

Exceptions may be allowed if the City determines an extension is necessary and all available noise reduction controls are implemented.
o Delivery of materials shall observe the hours of operation described above. Truck traffic should avoid residential areas to the extent possible.
 Require new development to minimize vibration impacts to adjacent uses during demolition and construction. For sensitive historic structures, a vibration limit of 0.08 in/sec PPV (peak particle velocity) will be used to minimize the potential for cosmetic damage to the building.

A vibration limit of 0.30 in/sec PPV will be used to minimize the potential for cosmetic damage at buildings of normal conventional construction.

PS-6f The City shallshould require new residential projects located adjacent to major freeways, hard rail lines, or light rail lines to follow applicable Caltrans-adopted vibration criteria the FTA vibration Item: 3
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screening distance criteria to ensure that residential uses are not exposed to vibrations exceeding annoyance thresholds72 VdB for frequent events (more than 70 events per day), 75 VdB for occasional events (30-70 events per day), or 80 VdB for infrequent events (less than 30 events per day). When required, this shall be accomplished through a vibration study estimating vibration levels at the habitable buildings of the vibration-sensitive use and providing reduction measures necessary to ensure compliance with applicable criteria.

Table PS-1: Land Use Compatibility for Community Noise Environment5,6 Interior Spaces
Land Use
1 Outdoor
Activity Areas 2, 3
Ldn, dBA Ldn/ CNEL, dBA Leq, dBA 4
Residential 60 45 –
Motels/Hotels 65 45 –
Mixed-Use 65 45 –
Hospitals, Nursing Homes 60 45 –
Theaters, Auditoriums – – 35
ChurchesPlaces of Worship 60 – 40
Office Buildings 65 – 45
Schools, Libraries, Museums 70 – 45
Playgrounds, Neighborhood Parks 70 – -
Industrial 75 – 45
Golf Courses, Water Recreation 70 – –

1. Where a proposed use is not specifically listed, the use shall comply with the criteriastandards for the most similar use as determined by the City.

2. Outdoor activity areas for residential development are considered to be the private exterior living area of single-family homesbackyard patios or decks of single-family units and the common areas where people generally congregate for multi-family and residential components of mixed-use developments. Where common outdoor activity areas for multi-family developments comply with the outdoor noise level standard, the standard will not be applied at private patios or decks of individual units provided noise-reducing measures are incorporated (e.g., orientation of patio/deck, screening of patio with masonry or other noise-attenuating material).

Outdoor activity areas for non-residential developments are the common areas where people generally congregate, including pedestrian plazas, seating areascommunity centers, pool areas, and outside lunch facilities. not all residential developments include outdoor activity areas. New multi-family developments and residential components of mixed-use developments with balconies or patios that are exposed to noise that exceeds the outdoor criteria in this table are required to provide occupancy disclosure notices to all future tenants regarding potential noise impacts.

3. In areas where it is not possible for a new project to reduce exterior noise levels to achieve the outdoor activity area criteriastandard w using a practical application of the best noise-reduction technology, as determined by a qualified acoustician, an increase of up to 5 dBA Ldn over the outdoor standard will be allowed provided that available exterior noise reduction measures have been implemented and interior noise levels are in compliance with this table

4. Determined for a typical operating hour during periods of use.

6. Abbreviations: dB = decibel; Leq = equivalent noise level; Ldn = Day-Night Average Level Item: 3
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report LAKE FOREST 2040 | PS-8
Table PS-2: Performance Standards for Stationary Noise Sources, Including Affected Projects1,2,3,4
7 am to 10 pm 10 pm to 7 am
Hourly Leq, dBA 55 50

1. Each of the noise levels specified above should be lowered by 5 dB for simple noise tones, noises consisting primarily of speech or music, or recurring impulsive noises. Such noises are generally considered to be particularly annoying and are a primary source of noise complaints.

2. No standards have been included for interior noise levels. Standard construction practices should, with the exterior noise levels identified, result in acceptable interior noise levels.

3. Stationary noise sources which are typically of concern include, but are not limited to, the following:

HVAC Systems Cooling Towers/Evaporative Condensers
Pump Stations Lift Stations
Emergency Generators Boilers
Steam Valves Steam Turbines
Generators Fans
Air Compressors Heavy Equipment
Conveyor Systems Transformers
Pile Drivers Grinders
Drill Rigs Gas or Diesel Motors
Welders Cutting Equipment
Outdoor Speakers Blowers

4. The types of uses which may typically produce the noise sources described above include but are not limited to: industrial facilities, pump stations, trucking operations, tire shops, auto maintenance shops, metal fabricating shops, shopping centers, drive-up windows, car washes, loading docks, public works projects, batch plants, bottling and canning plants, recycling centers, electric generating stations, race tracks, landfills, sand and gravel operations, and athletic fields.

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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report LAKE FOREST 2040 | PS-9
GOAL PS-5 EMERGENCY OPERATIONS
A community that is highly prepared and equipped to handle emergency situations, in order to minimize loss of life, injury, property damage, and disruption of vital services.

PS-5 Policies
PS-5.1 Critical Facilities. Coordinate with service providers to ensure the resilience of critical facilities, lifeline services, and infrastructure, and plan for the use of critical facilities during post-disaster response and recovery.

PS-5.2 Emergency Preparedness Plans. Maintain an updated Emergency Operations Plan specific to Lake Forest.1
PS-5.3 Local Coordination. Coordinate with local key stakeholders (officials, schools, businesses, and organizations) within the community to make them aware of their role in the emergency plan and the necessary requirements in case of emergency.

PS-5.4 Automatic and Mutual Aid. Continue to participate in automatic and mutual aid agreements with adjacent service providers to ensure efficient and adequate resources, facilities, and support services during and after emergencies.

PS-5.5 Communications. Evaluate the potential to utilize a comprehensive emergency communication system that allows for efficient connection in case of emergency.

PS-5.6 Emergency Evacuation Routes and Access. Work with the Orange County Fire Authority and the Orange County Sherriff’s Department to maintain, update, and regularly exercise emergency access, protocols, and evacuation routes to assess their effectiveness.

PS-5.7 Emergency Shelters. Periodically coordinate with emergency shelter providers to ensure that necessary equipment supplies are available in case of emergency.

PS-5.8 Community Training Programs. Continue to support community-based emergency training programs as a valuable asset to the community.

PS-5.9 Public Awareness. Prepare residents for emergency situations by making emergency strategies, including evacuation routes, publicly-known and easily accessible.

PS-5.10 School Safety. Coordinate with local schools related to their programs and practices regarding emergency preparedness.

PS-5 Actions
PS-5a Explore grant funding for the preparation of a Local Hazard Mitigation Plan for the City of Lake Forest.

PS-5b Regularly practice implementation of the City’s Emergency Operations Plan and update it regularly.

PS-5c Regularly review County and State emergency response procedures that must be coordinated with City procedures.
1 The Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (LHMP) for the City of Lake Forest was developed in accordance with the Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA 2000) and followed FEMA’s Local Hazard Mitigation Plan guidance. The LHMP incorporates a process where hazards are identified and profiled, the people and facilities at risk are analyzed, and mitigation actions are developed to reduce or eliminate hazard risk. The LHMP is a separate document adopted into the Safety Element of the General Plan by Resolution No. 2024-36, in compliance with AB 2140. It is available electronically at https:lakeforestca.gov/en/LHMP.” Item: 3
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report ATTACHMENT 5
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report LFMC Chapter 11.16 Redline
Chapter 11.16

NOISE CONTROL
Sections:

11.16.010 Declaration of policy.

11.16.020 Definitions.

11.16.02530 Measurement of noise levels.

11.16.040 Exterior noise standards.

11.16.050 Interior Noise StandardsExemptions.

11.16.060 ExemptionsLoud noises.

11.16.070 Schools, hospitals and churches–Special provisionsMotor vehicle racing.

11.16.080 Motor vehicle racing.Construction

11.16.090 ConstructionVibration.

11.16.100 Variance ProcedureEnforcement.

11.16.110 Noise Variance BoardPermit to temporarily exceed noise limits.

11.16.010 Declaration of policy.

In order to control unnecessary, excessive and annoying sounds, it is hereby declared to be the policy of the City to prohibit such sounds generated from all sources as specified in this chapter.

It is determined that certain sound levels are detrimental to the public health, welfare, and safety, and contrary to public interest. (Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.020 Definitions.

The following words, phrases and terms as used in this chapter shall have the meaning as indicated below:
“Ambient nNoise lLevel” shall mean the all-encompassing noise level associated with a given environment, being a composite of sounds from all sources, excluding thean alleged offensive noise, at thea location and approximate time at which a comparison with thean alleged offensive noise is to be made. “A-weighted Decibel (dBA)” means the overall frequency-weighted sound level in Decibels that approximates the frequency response of the human ear as represented by the A-weighted network. The reference pressure is 20 micropascals.
“Chief” shall mean Chief of Police Services.
“Construction” shall mean any demolition or building construction requiring a building pemit, and any excavating or filling of earth material requiring a grading permit, or any combination thereof conducted at a site to prepare said site for construction or other improvements thereon. “Cumulative period” shall mean an additive period of time composed of individual time segments which may be continuous or interrupted. “Decibel (dB)” shall mean a unit which denotes the ratio between two quantities which are proportional to power: the number of decibels corresponding to the ratio of two amounts of power is ten times the logarithm to the base ten of this ratio.
“Director” shall mean the Director of Community Development. “Domestic Power Tool” means a mechanically powered saw, sander, drill, grinder, lawn or garden tool, snow blower, or similar device that is used in residential areas for work that is typically done by or for residential occupants. “Dwelling uUnit” shall have the same meaning as in Section 9.04.030(D). “Emergency mMachinery, vVehicle or wWork” shall mean any machinery, vehicle or work used, employed or performed in an effort to protect, provide or restore safe conditions in the community or for the citizenry, or work by private or public utilities when restoring utility service. “Equivalent Continuous Sound Level (Leq)” means the value of an equivalent, steady sound level which, in a stated period, has the same sound energy as the time-varying sound. Thus, the Leq metric is a single numerical value that represents the equivalent amount of variable sound energy received at a location over the specified duration. "Emergency machinery, vehicle or work" shall mean any machinery, vehicle or work used, employed or performed in an effort to protect, provide or restore safe conditions in the community or for the citizenry, or work by private or public utilities when restoring utility service.

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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report "Fixed noise source" shall mean a stationary device which creates sounds while fixed or motionless, including but not limited to industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fans, compressors, generators, air conditioners and refrigeration equipment.
"Grading" shall mean any excavating or filling of earth material, or any combination thereof, conducted at a site to prepare said site for construction or other improvements thereon. "Impact noise" shall mean the noise produced by the collision of one mass in motion with a second mass which may be either in motion or at rest.
“Impulsive Noise” shall mean noise of short duration, usually less than one second, with an abrupt onset and rapid decay, such as a sudden bang.
“Industrial Property” means a parcel of real property which is developed and used in part or in whole for manufacturing, storage and distribution, research and development, office, or other non-commercial, non-residential uses.
“Maintenance of Real Property” refers to the action of maintaining and the overall upkeep of a real property (i.e., fixed property, otherwise referred to as immovable property). “Maximum Sound Level (dBA Lmax)” means the highest RMS sound level measured during the measurement period.
“Mobile nNoise sSource” shall mean any transportation related noise source other than a fixed noise sourceoperating on public roadways.
“Mixed-Use” shall mean the definition of “Mixed-Use” in Section 9.04.030. “Noise lLevel” shall mean the “A” weighted sSound pPressure lLevel in dDecibels obtained by using a sSound lLevel mMeter at slow response with a reference pressure of 20 micronewtons per square meter. The unit of measurement shall be designated as dBA.
“Noise-Sensitive Land Use” includes uses listed in Table 1 below. “Person” shall mean a person, firm, association, co-partnership, joint venture, corporation, or any entity, public or private in nature.
“Residential pProperty” shall mean a parcel of real property that is developed and used either in part or in whole for residential purposes. This does not include hotels or motels, but it does include other transitory lodgings. “Root-Mean-Square Sound Level (RMS)” means the square root of the average of the square of the sound pressure over the measurement period.
“Simple tTone nNoise” shall mean a noise characterized by a predominant frequency or frequencies such that other frequencies cannot be readily distinguished.
“Sound Amplifying Equipment” means any machine or device used for the amplification of the human voice, music, or any other sound, excluding standard automobile stereos when used and heard only by the occupants of the vehicle and as used in this chapter, warning devices on authorized Emergency Vehicles, or horns or other warning devices on any vehicle used for traffic safety purposes. “Sound lLevel mMeter” shall mean an instrument meeting American National Standard Institute’s Standard S1.4- 1971 for Type 1 or Type 2 sound level meters or an instrument and the associated recording and analyzing equipment which will provide equivalent data.
“Sound pPressure lLevel” of a sound, in dDecibels, shall mean 20 times the logarithm to the base 10 of the ratio of the pressure of the sound to a reference pressure, which reference pressure shall be explicitly stated. (Ord. 335 § 13, 2020, Ord. 297 § 14, 2017; Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
“Stationary Noise Source” shall mean a stationary device which creates sounds while fixed in place or motionless, including but not limited to industrial and commercial machinery and equipment, pumps, fans, compressors, generators, air conditioners, and refrigeration equipment. Also, includes vehicles on private property. “Vibration-Sensitive Land Use” for annoyance purposes, means residential, hotels, motels, schools, hospitals and medical offices with vibration-sensitive equipment, places of worship, cultural land uses, commercial, office and government uses. Outdoor areas with no buildings and industrial and manufacturing uses are not considered vibration sensitive All structures should be considered for potential damage analysis related to construction activities.

11.16.02530 Measurement of noise levels.

Any nNoise lLevel measurements made pursuant to the provisions of this chapter shall be performed using a sSound lLevel mMeter as defined in Section 11.16.020. While the exterior noise standards in Section 11.16.040 are applied at the property line of the receiving use, tThe location for measuring nNoise lLevels mayshall be at any publicly accessible point on near the affected property line if it can be determined that the measurement point is Item: 3
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report acoustically similar to the property line. The measurement shall be made at a point at least four feet from reflective surfaces and at least four feet away from reflective surfaces, and for a duration of at least 15 minutes. The measurement shall be made using the A-weighting network (dBA) with “slow” meter response. Impulsive or impact noises shall be measured using “fast” meter response. The purpose of the measurement is to determine if the alleged noise violation exceeds the standards established in Section 11.16.040. If, for any reason, the alleged offending noise cannot be turned off, shut down, or temporarily eliminated from the area, then the Ambient Noise Level shall be estimated by performing a representative measurement in the same general area of the noise source but at a sufficient distance such that the noise is inaudible.Interior noise measurements shall be made within the affected dwelling unit. The measurement shall be made at a point at least four feet from the wall, ceiling, or floor nearest the alleged offensive noise source and may be made with the windows of the affected unit open. (Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.030 Designated noise zone.

The entire territory of the City of Lake Forest is hereby designated as "Noise Zone 1." (Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.040 Exterior noise standards.

A. The following exterior noise standards, unless otherwise specifically indicated, shall apply to all residential property within a designated noise zone set limits for noise that land uses are allowed to generate as received by other land uses. These standards may be used during Code enforcement of potential noise violations. For purposes of determining potential project impacts during environmental impact review processes pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (“CEQA”), the average hourly level (Leq) standards shall be utilized unless all sources are impact in nature. The standards shall apply to the corresponding land use in Residential and Mixed-Use zones only. It is unlawful for any person to create any noise either within or outside the City due to a Stationary Noise Source (or any Mobile Noise Source not pre-empted by State or Federal laws), or to allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by such person, which causes the Noise Level when measured at the property line of any residential use in a residential or mixed use zone, to exceed the applicable noise standards listed in Table 1 – Exterior Noise Standards:

NOISE STANDARDS
Noise Zone Noise Level Time Period
1 55 dBa 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
1 50 dBa 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.

TABLE 1 – EXTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS
Land Use Noise Level (dBA Leq)
Noise Level (dBA
Lmax) Time Period
60 80 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. Residential in Residential Zones 50 70 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.

Residential Portion of Mixed-Use 65 85 7:00 a.m.–10:00 p.m. in Mixed-Use Zones 50 70 10:00 p.m.–7:00 a.m.

Places of Worship, Hospitals, and
Schools in Residential and MixedUse Zones65 85 All Hours Places of Worship, Hospitals, and
Schools in Commercial and
Industrial Zones
70 90 All Hours
In the event the alleged offensive noise consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, or any combination thereof, each of the above noise levels shall be reduced by five dba.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person at any location to create any noise, or to allow the creation of any noise on property owned, leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by such person, when the foregoing causes the noise level, when measured on any other residential property, to exceed:

1. The noise standard for a cumulative period of more than 30 minutes in any hour; or

2. The noise standard plus five dba for a cumulative period of more than 15 minutes in any hour; or Item: 3
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report

3. The noise standard plus 10 dba for a cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour; or

4. The noise standard plus 15 dba for a cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour; or

5. The noise standard plus 20 dba for any period of time.

C. In the event the ambient noise level exceeds any of the first four noise limit categories above, the cumulative period applicable to said category shall be increased to reflect said ambient noise level. in the event the ambient noise level exceeds the fifth (5th) noise limit category, the maximum allowable noise level under said category shall be increased to reflect the maximum ambient noise level. (Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)
B. In the event the alleged offensive noise consists entirely of Impulsive Noise, Simple Tone Noise, amplified speech, music, or any combination thereof, each of the above Noise Levels shall be reduced by five dBA. Such noises are generally considered to be particularly annoying and are a primary source of noise complaints.

C. If the alleged offense affects a property outside the City’s jurisdiction, the exterior noise standards shall be enforced at the City boundary.

E. If the noise source and the affected property are within different land use categories, the noise standards of the affected property shall apply.

F. For Mixed-Use residential land uses affected by noise on the same property (e.g., commercial sources affecting the residential portion of the same property), the exterior noise standard shall be applicable at exterior areas provided for private or common usable open space purposes. Private usable open space is defined as usable open space intended for use by occupants of one Dwelling Unit, normally including yards, decks, and balconies. Common usable open space is defined as open space intended for common use by any/all residents of a development, including swimming pools, recreation courts, patios, open landscaped areas, and greenbelts with pedestrian walkways and bicycle trails, but not including off-street parking and loading areas or driveways. If no balcony or private open space is provided for a residential unit, the noise limit shall be applicable at the exterior of accessible openings (doors and windows) to the unit.

11.16.050 Interior noise standards.

A. The following interior noise standards, unless otherwise specifically indicated, shall apply to all residential property within a designated noise zone:

INTERIOR NOISE STANDARDS
Noise Zone Noise Level Time Period
1 55 dBa 7:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m.
1 45 dBa 10:00 p.m. – 7:00 a.m.

In the event the alleged offensive noise consists entirely of impact noise, simple tone noise, speech, music, or any combination thereof, each of the above noise levels shall be reduced by five dBa.

B. It shall be unlawful for any person at any location to create any noise, or to allow the creation of any noise, on property owned, leased, occupied, or otherwise controlled by such person, when the foregoing causes the noise level, when measured within any other dwelling unit on any residential property, to exceed:

1. The interior noise standard for a cumulative period of more than five minutes in any hour; or

2. The interior noise standard plus five dBa for a cumulative period of more than one minute in any hour; or

3. The interior noise standard plus 10 dBa for any period of time.

C. In the event the ambient noise level exceeds either of the first two noise limit categories above, the cumulative period applicable to said category shall be increased to reflect said ambient noise level. In the event the Item: 3
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report ambient noise level exceeds the third (3rd) noise limit category the maximum allowable noise level under said category shall be increased to reflect the maximum ambient noise level. (Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.0650 Exemptions.

The following activities shall be exempted from the provisions of this chapter:

B. “Special events” as defined in Section 5.05.020 provided said events are conducted pursuant to a special event permit issued as described in Chapter 5.05. However, this exemption shall not preclude use of the standards set forth in Section 11.16.040 (“Exterior noise standards”)or Section 11.16.050 (“Interior noise standards”) as a guide for the application, review, or issuance of a special event permits.

C. Any mechanical device, apparatus or equipment used, related to, or connected with eEmergency mMachinery, vVehicles, or wWork.

D. Noise sources associated with cConstruction, repair, remodeling, or grading of any real property, provided that: (1) the City has issued a building permit, grading permit, or similar permit for such activities; (2) said activities do not take place between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, Monday throughincluding Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday; and (3) the average Construction Noise Levels do not exceed 80 dBA Leq at the first floor of nearby Noise-Sensitive Residential Uses.

E. All mechanical devices, apparatus or equipment which are utilized for the protection or salvage of agricultural crops during periods of potential or actual frost damage or other adverse weather conditions.

F. Mobile noise sources associated with agricultural operations, provided such operations do not take place between the hours of 8:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. on weekdays, including Saturday, or at any time on Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday.

G. Mobile noise sources associated with agricultural pest control through pesticide application, provided that the application is made in accordance with restricted material permits issued by or regulations enforced by the Agricultural Commissioner.

HE. Noise sources associated with the mMaintenance of rReal pProperty and use of Domestic Power Tools, provided said activities take place between 7:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on any day except Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday, or between the hours of 9:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m. on Sunday or a legal City of Lake Forest holiday.

IF. Any activity to the extent regulation thereof has been preempted by State or Federal law.

JG. Noise sources associated with solid waste collection and removal, provided such activities take place between 6:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. Monday through Friday where audible in residential areas; or between 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on Saturdays where audible in residential areas; or between 5:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. any day where such activity is not audible in residential areas; or as otherwise provided in an approved franchise agreement between a waste hauler and the City in accordance with LFMC Section 16.05.000(D). (Ord. 315 § 4, 2019; Ord. 300 § 7, 2017; Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.070 Schools, hospitals and churches—Special provisions.

It is unlawful for any person to create any noise which causes the noise level at any school, hospital or church while the same is in use to exceed the noise limits as specified in Section 11.16.040 prescribed for the assigned noise zone in which the school, hospital or church is located, or which noise level unreasonably interferes with the use of such institutions or which unreasonably disturbs or annoys patients in the hospital, provided conspicuous signs are displayed in three separate locations within 1/10 of a mile of the institution indicating the presence of a school, church or hospital.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.060 Loud Noises
It is unlawful for any person to:

A. Use, operate, or permit to be operated any sound-amplifying equipment or speaker for producing or reproducing sound that exceeds the noise standards in section 11.16.040.

B. Maintain, manage, or control any business or Residential Property in violation of subsection A of this section.

C. Repair, rebuild, modify, or test any motor vehicle or motorcycle in such a manner as to exceed the noise standards in section 11.16.040.

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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report D. Sound or permit the sounding of any amplified signal from a bell, chime, siren, whistle, vehicle horn or similar device, intended primarily for non-emergency purposes which exceeds the noise standards in section 11.16.040.

Devices used in conjunction with schools and places of worship shall be exempt from this provision.

F. Own, maintain, control, or operate any premises or property where noise in violation of 11.16.040 and/or

11.16.060 continues after being informed, anytime within the preceding 30 days by the Chief or Director that a violation of this chapter has been committed on said premises.

G. Violations of this section are hereby declared a nuisance per se.

11.16.0780 Motor vehicle racing.

11.16.080 Construction.

B. If construction noise has the potential to exceed the standards in section 11.16.090.A, as determined by code enforcement of noise violations, analysis of potential construction noise impacts during a review pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act, or if construction using heavy equipment is proposed within 100 feet of NoiseSensitive Land Uses, a Construction Noise Management Plan shall be prepared by a qualified acoustician and submitted by the applicant. The noise reduction measures shall be determined in the plan and shall be quantified to demonstrate that noise levels will not exceed the standards.

B. For projects implementing a phase or phases of construction that incorporate equipment as presented in Table 2 below: during the pre-building permit issuance phase and after a specific equipment list has been determined:
1) A qualified structural engineer, as approved by the Director of Community Development, or designee shall identify all structures that are located within the distances established in Table 2 and that have the potential to be affected by ground-borne vibration originating from the construction; and 2) A qualified acoustical engineer shall compile a list of proposed construction equipment and compare to the City’s accepted vibration criteria. If it is determined that the proposed equipment would generate vibration levels below the City’s standard of 0.3 inches per second (in/sec) peak particle velocity (PPV), no further vibration assessment is necessary. However, if vibration levels would potentially exceed the City’s standard of 0.3 in/sec PPV, the Project Applicant shall develop a Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan for approval by the Director of Community Development, or designee, to ensure that vibration levels would not exceed the City’s accepted vibration damage criteria of 0.3 in/sec PPV. If a Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan is deemed necessary, monitoring of vibration during initial construction activities shall be required. Monitoring results may indicate the need for more or less intensive measurements. The Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan, at the discretion of the Director of Community Development or designee, shall include the following items as necessary:
 Identification of structures where monitoring would be conducted;  A vibration monitoring schedule;
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report  Defined structure-specific vibration limits;
 Photographic, elevation, and crack surveys to document before and after construction conditions; and  Identification of construction contingencies for when vibration levels approach the limits.

11.16.090100 Enforcement.

A. The Director or Chief and their duly authorized representatives shall enforce the provisions of this chapter.

The Chief and their duly authorized representatives are authorized pursuant to Penal Code Section 836.5 to arrest any person without a warrant when they have reasonable cause to believe that such person has violated a provision of this chapter in their presence. No person shall interfere with, oppose, or resist any authorized person charged with the enforcement of this chapter while such person is engaged in the performance of his duty.The City’s law enforcement personnel, the County Health Officer, and their duly authorized representatives are authorized, pursuant to Penal Code Section 836.5, to arrest any person without a warrant when they have reasonable cause to believe that such person has committed a misdemeanor in their presence.

B. If the Director or Chief and their duly authorized representatives conduct noise monitoring tests or other noise measurement readings for purposes of enforcement, and the Noise Level is found to exceed the limits specified in this chapter, the property owner or responsible party shall be required to pay the City’s cost of the noise monitoring tests or readings. No person shall interfere with, oppose, or resist any authorized person charged with the enforcement of this chapter while such person is engaged in the performance of his duty. (Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.100 Variance procedure.

The owner or operator of a noise source which violates any of the provisions of this chapter may file an application with the Health Officer for a variance from the provisions thereof wherein said owner or operator shall set forth all actions taken to comply with said provisions, the reasons why immediate compliance cannot be achieved, a proposed method of achieving compliance, and a proposed time schedule for its accomplishment. Said application shall be accompanied by a fee in the amount of $75. A separate application shall be filed for each noise source; provided, however, that several mobile sources under common ownership, or several fixed sources on a single property may be combined into one application. Upon receipt of said application and fee, the Health Officer shall refer it with his recommendation thereon within 30 days to the Noise Variance Board for action thereon in accordance with the provisions of this chapter.

An applicant for a variance shall remain subject to prosecution under the terms of this chapter until a variance is granted.
(Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

11.16.110 Noise Variance Board.

The City Council shall, by resolution, appoint the Noise Variance Board, which may be composed of the City Council, Planning Commission, or any other members the City Council may select. The City Council may adopt Item: 3
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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report reasonable rules and regulations for procedures to be used by the Board in carrying out its functions under the provisions of this chapter, or may allow the Board to establish such rules and regulations.

The Noise Variance Board shall evaluate all applications for variance from the requirements of this chapter and may grant said variances with respect to time for compliance, subject to such terms, conditions and requirements as it may deem reasonable to achieve maximum compliance with the provisions of this chapter. Said terms, conditions, and requirements may include but shall not be limited to limitations on noise levels and operating hours. Each such variance shall set forth in detail the approved method of achieving maximum compliance and a time schedule for its accomplishment. In its determinations said Board shall consider the magnitude of nuisance caused by the offensive noise; the uses of property within the area of impingement by the noise; the time factors related to study, design, financing and construction of remedial work; the economic factors related to age and useful life of equipment; and the general public interest and welfare. Any variance granted by said Board shall be by resolution and shall be transmitted to the Community Development Department and the Health Officer for enforcement. Any violation of the terms of said variance shall be unlawful.

Meetings of the Noise Variance Board shall be held at such times and locations as said Board shall determine. All such meetings shall be open to the public.

Traveling and other expenses incurred by each Board member in the performance of his or her official duties shall be reimbursed at a rate determined by resolution of the City Council. (Ord. 171 § 1, 2007)

D. City Manager Review, Authority, and Decision. The City Manager shall consider the likely magnitude of nuisance caused by the proposed noise, the uses of property within the area of impingement by the noise, time of day factors related to potential impacts to surrounding property occupants, and any other relevant considerations including, but not limited to, the fact that a noise generator in question commenced operations prior to the existence of a noisesensitive use affected by noise from such facility, and the general public interest and welfare.

The City Manager is authorized to grant a permit to temporarily exceed the noise limits of this chapter for a period not to exceed 30 days if the City Manager finds such temporary waiver:

1. would be in the public interest and there is no feasible and prudent alternative to the activity, or the method of conducting the activity, for which the temporary waiver is sought; and

2. that strict compliance with the requirements of this chapter will cause practical difficulties, unnecessary hardship, or unreasonable expense.

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Attachment 1 - April 3, 2025 Planning Commission Staff Report APPENDIX 1

CITY OF LAKE FOREST

CEQA SIGNIFICANCE THRESHOLDS GUIDE
Published November 20, 2001
Revised ____________July 21, 20250
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