Old Poway Specific Plan Amendment
Music Overlay District
Environmental Assessment - Negative Declaration (EA25-0001) Specific Plan Amendment for Music Overlay District (SPA24-0002) First Reading Project Development
• Businesses within the Old Poway Specific Plan area expressed a desire to offer indoor and outdoor music entertainment to their patrons.
• Staff prepared a proposed amendment to the OPSP to allow live entertainment within a commercially-designated area.
• City hired Dudek to analyze proposed Music Overlay District • Businesses polled in September 2024 about locations, hours and types of entertainment desired.
Specific Plan Map/Location Map
N
Zoning Maps
A Noise Assessment was prepared to evaluate noise exposure levels caused by the proposed limited music performances (either non-amplified live acoustic music, amplified live music, or prerecorded amplified music).
Project Design Features (PDFs) include:
1. Musical events can be held between 7 a.m to 10 p.m.
2. Attendance within spectator areas of outdoor venues shall not exceed 60 persons.
3. Aggregate sound levels shall not exceed levels allowed to comply with the Municipal Code.
Noise Assessment
The Noise Assessment determined the level of noise that could be generated from musical performances at the businesses which would ensure compliance with the Poway Municipal Code for the nearest sensitive receptors shown above.
Noise Assessment
Recommended Noise Source Limits
Caps on MOD Hosted Event Sound Sources (SPL at 1 meter):
Event Sound
Source Location
without external
Acoustical
Screening/Barrier
with external
Acoustical
Screening/Barrier
Outdoors 84 dBA 89 dBA
Indoors, with doors
and windows partially
open (+10 dB)
94 dBA 99 dBA
Indoors, with doors
and windows fully
closed (+25 dB)
109 dBA 114 dBA
Source: Draft IS/ND for Old Poway Specific Plan Amendment for a Music Overlay District, 2025 Notes: dBA = A-weighted decibel (dB); SPL = sound pressure level Administrative Use Permit (AUP) Application:
• Single or multiple events can be within one AUP
• Applicants would provide location of the performance, proposed noise level(s) and any proposed screening.
• Self-monitoring for events, yearly reporting for AUP
• Applications are required to be submitted a minimum of 45 days prior to the event
Administrative Use Permit
• October 29, 2024
• More than 30 residents attended
• Introduce the concept of the MOD and the processes under consideration for implementation. • The majority of attendees and email respondents expressed support for the proposed MOD.
Community Meeting
Negative Declaration
The City is the Lead Agency for the CEQA Review.
All environmental categories as contained in the CEQA guidelines were analyzed in the Negative Declaration (ND).
The ND and SPA contain Project Design Features (PDFs) as performance standards resulting in no significant impacts. Public Review for the Negative Declaration: May 8, 2025 – June 7, 2025. Two comments were received. The Final ND contains responses to those comments.
Conclusion: No impacts were identified.
1. Approve the Resolution and certify the Negative
Declaration, containing California Environmental
Quality Act (CEQA) Findings of Fact.
2. Approve the Ordinance for the First Reading,
with the Second Reading and adoption at the
Public Hearing on August 5, 2025.
Staff Recommendation
Questions and Comments