16 c) Written Narrative History and Description – Provides the essential historical context, significance, and construction details of a structure and explains why a building is historically or architecturally important, detailing its role in local, State, or national history.
Following review and approval by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee in coordination with the City’s Historic Preservation Officer, the documentation shall be submitted to the San José Library’s California Room, History San José, the Northwest Information Center at Sonoma State University, and/or the Library of Congress as applicable. Following submittal, the permittee must provide proof of receipt and acceptance.
SPC HIS-3: Relocation/Salvage. Prior to issuance of any demolition, grading or building permits (whichever occurs first), the permittee, shall advertise the availability of the building(s) for relocation or salvage of architectural features and materials for a period of no less than 60 days.
The advertisement must include notification in a newspaper of general circulation, on a website, and a sign placed adjacent to the public right-of-way on the project site to maximize visibility.
The advertisement shall be reviewed and approved by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee in coordination with the City’s Historic Preservation Officer prior to posting. The permittee shall provide evidence (i.e., proof of publication, website documentation date and time stamped photographs, etc.) to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee that this condition has been met.
If during the 60-day advertisement period the permittee or a third party agrees to relocate the building, the following measures are required:
a) Prior to relocation, the permittee or third party shall engage a building mover who has experience moving similar historic structures. The building(s) must be reinforced/stabilized before the relocation.
b) For projects that include demolition of a CEQA historical resource (i.e., a listed or eligible National Register or California Register property, Candidate City Landmark, designated City Landmark), prior to relocation, the permittee or third party shall consult with the City’s Historic Preservation Officer to determine the feasibility of the receiver site for the building(s) within the City of San José.
c) For projects that include demolition of a CEQA historical resource (i.e., a listed or eligible National Register or California Register property, Candidate City Landmark, designated City Landmark), following relocation, the permittee or third party must rehabilitate the building(s), as needed, in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties to preserve and reuse the buildings. The permittee or third party must submit a letter report prepared by a qualified architectural historian and/or historic architect documenting that the relocation and rehabilitation of the building/s was completed in conformance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
17 for the Treatment of Historic Properties. The letter report must be reviewed and approved by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee in coordination with the City’s Historic Preservation Officer. d) If the permittee or a third party does not agree to relocate the building(s) within the 60- day advertisement period or another agreed upon period of time, the building(s) shall be made available for salvage to third parties that will reuse the historic building materials and features. Building(s) shall not be salvaged prior to the end of the advertising period. The permittee or a third party must submit a letter report documenting the materials and features salvaged to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee.
SPC HIS-4: Commemoration and Public Interpretation. Prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading or building permits (whichever occurs first), the permittee shall retain a qualified architectural historian meeting the Secretary of the Interior Professional Qualifications Standards to develop concepts for an on-site commemorative and interpretive program including, but not limited to, an exhibit and/or display with interpretive text and historic photographs; public art or sculpture; video; interactive media; and/or oral histories. The concept program and design shall be included in the Action Plan (SPC HIS-1) and reviewed and approved by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee in coordination with the City’s Historic Preservation Officer.
Prior to the issuance of any occupancy permits, the design for the commemoration and public interpretation shall be fully developed, in consultation with the City’s Historic Preservation Officer, and a detailed implementation plan shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval. The final approved design for the commemoration and public interpretation program shall be implemented by the permittee and shall be installed on private property in a suitable publicly accessible location on the site as agreed upon by the City.
Geology and Soils
Standard Permit Conditions – Seismic Hazards
Criteria: The following condition applies to all projects. If the project already has a site-specific Geotechnical Report, then SPC GEO-1 does not need to be included as a Standard Permit Condition and project-specific conditions identified in the Geotechnical Report shall be required. Letter bullet e) should only be included for projects where groundwater could be encountered.
SPC GEO-1: Seismic Hazards. A Geotechnical Report shall be submitted, reviewed, and approved by the City Geologist. The Geotechnical Report shall determine the site-specific soil conditions and identify the appropriate design and construction techniques to minimize risks to people and structures, including but not limited to: foundation, earthwork, utility trenching, retaining and Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
18 drainage recommendations. The investigation should be consistent with State of California guidelines for the preparation of seismic hazard evaluation reports (California Geological Survey Special Publication 117A, 2008, and the Southern California Earthquake Center report 1999). A recommended minimum depth of 50 feet should be explored and evaluated in the investigation.
The City Geologist will review the Geotechnical Report and issue a Geologic Clearance. a) All excavation and grading work shall be scheduled in dry weather months or construction sites shall be weatherized.
b) Stockpiles and excavated soils shall be covered with secured tarps or plastic sheeting. c) Ditches shall be installed to divert runoff around excavations and graded areas if necessary.
d) The project shall be constructed in accordance with the standard engineering practices in the California Building Code, as adopted by the City of San José. A grading permit from the San José Department of Public Works shall be obtained prior to the issuance of a Public Works clearance. These standard practices would ensure that the future building on the site is designed to properly account for soils-related hazards on the site. e) If dewatering is needed, the design-level geotechnical investigations to be prepared for individual future development projects shall evaluate the underlying sediments and determine the potential for settlements to occur. If it is determined that unacceptable settlements may occur, then alternative groundwater control systems shall be required.
Standard Permit Conditions – Paleontological Resources
Criteria: The following condition applies to all projects that involve substantial ground-disturbing activities (such as construction of subterranean parking garages) and include excavation of at least 10 feet below the ground surface.
SPC GEO-2: Paleontological Resources. If vertebrate fossils are discovered during construction, all work on the site shall stop immediately, the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or Director’s designee shall be notified, and a qualified professional paleontologist shall assess the nature and importance of the find and recommend appropriate treatment.
Treatment may include, but is not limited to, preparation and recovery of fossil materials so that they can be housed in an appropriate museum or university collection and may also include preparation of a report for publication describing the finds. The permittee shall be responsible for implementing the recommendations of the qualified paleontologist. A report of all findings shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee.
Hazards and Hazardous Materials
Criteria: The following condition applies to any project with ground disturbance (General Plan Policies EC-6.4, EC-7.1, EC-7.2, EC-7.3, EC-7.4, and EC-7.5).
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
19 SPC HAZ-1: Environmental Site Assessment and Remediation. Prior to the issuance of any demolition or grading permits, the permittee shall retain a qualified environmental professional to conduct a Phase I Environmental Site Assessment (ESA) to identify risks due to hazardous materials, past spills, or other environmental concerns associated with the project site. If further investigation is necessary based on the result of the Phase I ESA, the permittee shall retain a qualified environmental professional to conduct a Phase II soil, soil vapor and/or groundwater investigation to determine if the soil, soil vapor, and groundwater from former uses of the site have resulted in contamination concentrations above established Regional Water Quality Control Board (RWQCB) Environmental Screening Levels (ESLs).
If the Phase II results indicate soil, soil vapor and/or groundwater contamination above ESLs, the permittee shall enter into a regulatory oversight agreement with the Santa Clara County Department of Environment Health (SCCDEH), RWQCB, or the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC). The permittee shall meet with the regulatory oversight agency and perform additional soil, soil gas and/or groundwater sampling and testing, as required, to adequately define the known and suspected contamination. A Site Management Plan (SMP), Corrective Action Plan (CAP), Remedial Action Plan (RAP), or other equivalent plan shall be prepared and submitted to the regulatory oversight agency for their approval. The plan shall include a Health & Safety Plan (HASP) and shall establish remedial measures and/or soil management practices to ensure construction worker safety and the health of future workers and visitors. Evidence of regulatory oversight and the approved plan shall be provided for review to the Director of the City of San José Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement, and the Environmental Compliance Officer in the City of San José’s Environmental Services Department.6 Hydrology and Water Quality
Standard Permit Conditions – Construction-related Water Quality Criteria: The following condition applies to all projects except for projects located near or adjacent to riparian/riparian vegetation. If a project is located near or adjacent to riparian/riparian vegetation, then letter bullet f) should be removed and an equivalent method should be included instead.
SPC HYD-1: Construction-related Water Quality. Construction-related water quality measures shall include the following:
a) Burlap bags filled with drain rock shall be installed around storm drains to route sediment and other debris away from the drains.
6 The permittee should take into account project timeline/budget at an early stage in the process, as regulatory oversight will require additional time due to the agency's process.
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
20 b) Earthmoving or other dust-producing activities shall be suspended during periods of high winds.
c) All exposed or disturbed soil surfaces shall be watered at least twice daily to control dust as necessary.
d) Stockpiles of soil or other materials that can be blown by the wind shall be watered or covered.
e) All trucks hauling soil, sand, and other loose materials shall be covered and all trucks shall maintain at least two feet of freeboard.
f) All paved access roads, parking areas, staging areas and residential streets adjacent to the construction sites shall be swept daily (with water sweepers). g) Vegetation in disturbed areas shall be replanted as quickly as possible. h) All unpaved entrances to the site shall be filled with rock to remove mud from tires prior to entering City streets. A tire wash system shall be installed if requested by the City. i) The permittee shall comply with the City of San José Grading Ordinance, including implementing erosion and dust control during site preparation and with the City of San José Zoning Ordinance requirements for keeping adjacent streets free of dirt and mud during construction.
Noise and Vibration
General Plan Policy EC-1.7 provides a screening method for determining whether a significant construction noise impact would occur. To further clarify this General Plan Policy, City of San José will use the Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) thresholds of 80 A-weighted average noise levels (dBA Leq) at residential receptors and 85 dBA Leq at commercial and office receptors from the Transit Noise and Vibration Impact Assessment Manual to assess noise and vibration impacts from project construction as it provides a reasonable, yet conservative threshold to protect noise-sensitive receptors.7
Construction Noise
Standard Permit Conditions – Construction Noise
Criteria: The following condition applies to all construction projects within 500 feet of residential uses or schools and within 200 feet of commercial or office uses if construction would include substantial noise generating activities (such as building demolition, grading, excavation, use of impact equipment, or building framing) occurring for 12 months or less) (General Plan Policy EC-
1.7).8
7 Illingworth & Rodkin, Inc. Environmental Review Handbook, San José, CA – Construction Noise Limits Review.
November 18, 2025.
8 If construction occurs for more than 12 months and would not include substantial noise generating activities, the identified Standard Permit Condition would still apply. For example, if a project anticipates construction over a period of 13 months, but the last month would include interior work and paving, the Standard Permit Condition Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
21 SPC NOI-1: Construction Noise Reduction Measures. Noise minimization measures include, but are not limited to, the following:
a) Pile driving is prohibited.
b) Limit construction to the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M., Monday through Friday for any on-site or off-site work within 500 feet of any residential unit (San José Municipal Code Section 20.100.450). Construction outside of these hours may be approved through a development permit based on a site-specific “Construction Noise Mitigation Plan” and a finding by the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or Director’s designee that the Construction Noise Mitigation Plan is adequate to prevent noise disturbance of affected residential uses.
c) Construct solid plywood fences around ground level construction sites adjacent to operational businesses, residences, or other noise-sensitive land uses. d) Equip all internal combustion engine driven equipment with intake and exhaust mufflers that are in good condition and appropriate for the equipment. e) Prohibit unnecessary idling of internal combustion engines (no more than two minutes). f) Locate stationary noise-generating equipment such as air compressors or portable power generators as far as possible from sensitive receptors. Construct temporary noise barriers to screen stationary noise-generating equipment when located near adjoining sensitive land uses.
g) Control noise from construction workers’ radios to a point where they are not audible at existing residences bordering the project site.
h) Utilize “quiet” air compressors and other stationary noise sources where technology exists.
i) Notify all adjacent business, residences, and other noise-sensitive land uses of the construction schedule, in writing, and provide a written schedule of “noisy” construction activities to the adjacent land uses and nearby residences. j) If complaints are received or excessive noise levels cannot be reduced using the measures above, erect a temporary noise control blanket barrier along surrounding building facades that face the construction sites.
k) Designate a ”disturbance coordinator” who shall be responsible for responding to any complaints about construction noise. The disturbance coordinator shall determine the cause of the noise complaint (e.g., beginning work too early, bad muffler, etc.) and shall require that reasonable measures be implemented to correct the problem.
Conspicuously post a telephone number for the noise disturbance coordinator at the construction site and include it in the notice sent to neighbors regarding the construction schedule.
would still apply because the interior work and paving activity would not generate a substantial noise increase to noise-sensitive receptors.
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
22 Standard Permit Conditions –Enhanced Measures for Extended Construction Hours Criteria: The following condition applies to any project that includes extended construction hours occurring between the hours of 7:00 A.M. and 10:00 P. M. on weekdays and Saturdays and meets the following:
a) Would not require substantial pile foundations or special equipment; and b) Have a construction schedule for more than 12 months but less than three years.
SPC NOI-2: Enhanced Noise Reduction Measures for Extended Construction Hours. The permittee shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to prepare a site-specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment. In addition, to implementing the standard Construction Noise Reduction Measures (SPC NOI-1), the permittee shall include, but are not limited to, the following enhanced Construction Noise Reduction Measures:
a) Construct solid plywood fences around ground level construction sites located adjacent to operational businesses, residences, or other noise-sensitive land uses. Typically, a temporary eight-foot-tall noise barrier fence having a minimum surface density of two pounds per square foot (lbs/ft2), such as 3/4-inch plywood, would provide a minimum attenuation of five A-weighted decibel for adjacent land uses when construction activities occur at the ground level, assuming no cracks or gaps. b) If complaints are received or excessive noise levels cannot be reduced using the measures above, temporary noise control blanket barrier along surrounding building facades that face the construction sites shall be erected. c) Substitute nail guns for manual hammering, where feasible. d) Substitute electrically powered tools for noisier pneumatic tools, where feasible. e) The contractor shall use “new technology” power construction equipment with state-of- the-art noise shielding and muffling devices. All internal combustion engines used on the project site shall be equipped with adequate intake and exhaust mufflers and shall be in good mechanical condition to minimize noise created by faulty or poorly maintained engines or other components. Utilize “quiet” air compressors and other stationary noise sources where technology exists.
The applicant shall submit the site-specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permit.
Standard Permit Conditions – Construction Noise Logistics Plan with Expanded Measures Criteria: The following condition applies to any project that includes construction within the City’s standard construction hours or extended construction hours up to 7:00 A.M. to 10:00 P .M. on Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
23 weekdays and Saturdays; and one of the following applies:
a) Requires pile foundations utilizing drilling methods; and/or b) Has a construction schedule for more than three years with extensive phasing work.
SPC NOI-3: Construction Noise Logistics Plan with Expanded Measures. Thes permittee shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to prepare a site-specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment and a Construction Noise Logistics Plan (Plan). The Plan shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement of the Director’s designee prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading, or building permit before start of construction. In addition, to implementing the Construction Noise Reduction Measures in SPC NOI-1 and SPC NOI-2 and, as part of the Plan, the permittee shall include, but is not limited to, the following expanded Construction Noise Reduction Measures:
a) List of equipment expected to be used during each phase of construction and the quantity of equipment in each phase.
b) Construction noise levels estimated at 50 feet and at the receiving property lines during each phase of construction.
c) Project-specific mitigation measures to be implemented during each construction phase that would reduce construction noise levels at the receiving property lines to meet 80 dBA Leq at noise-sensitive receptors or 85 dBA Leq at office and commercial receptors.
Where these thresholds cannot be met, the Plan shall demonstrate that all reasonable and feasible efforts are being made to reduce construction noise levels to the greatest extent possible.
d) Identify the “disturbance coordinator” for the project, who shall be responsible for responding to any complaints about construction noise. The disturbance coordinator shall determine the cause of the noise complaint (e.g., a bad muffler) and require that reasonable measures be implemented to correct the problem. Conspicuously post a telephone number for the disturbance coordinator at the construction site and include it in the notice sent to neighbors regarding the construction schedule. e) The construction schedule should be posted conspicuously at the construction site to notify the surrounding receptors of upcoming and ongoing construction activities.
The applicant shall submit the site-specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permit.
Standard Permit Conditions – Noise Logistics Plan with Expanded Measures for Nighttime Construction, Sunday or Holiday Construction, or Pile Driving.
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
24 Criteria: The following condition applies to any project that include impact or vibratory pile driving for pile foundations, regardless of length of construction.
SPC NOI-4: Pile Driving. If the project includes impact or vibratory pile driving for pile foundations, the permittee shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to prepare a site- specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment and a Construction Noise Logistics Plan (Plan). The Plan shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement of the Director’s designee prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading, or building permit before start of construction. In addition, to implementing the Construction Noise Reduction Measures in SPC NOI-1 to NOI-3 and, as part of the Plan, the permittee shall include, but is not limited to, the following expanded Construction Noise Reduction Measures for pile driving:
a) Limit all pile driving activities to the hours between 7:00 A.M. and 7:00 P.M. Monday through Friday to reduce excessive noise on sensitive days and during sensitive times of day.
b) If impact pile driving is proposed, foundation pile holes shall be pre-drilled to minimize the number of impacts required to seat the pile. Pre-drilling foundation pile holes is a standard construction noise control technique. Pre-drilling reduces the number of blows needed to seat the pile.
c) If impact pile driving is proposed, multiple-pile drivers shall be considered to expedite construction. Although noise levels generated by multiple pile drivers would be higher than the noise generated by a single pile driver, the total duration of pile driving activities would be reduced.
d) Locate material stockpiles, as well as maintenance/equipment staging and parking areas, as far as feasible from residential receptors.
e) The permittee shall prepare a detailed construction schedule for major noise-generating construction activities. The construction plan shall include a procedure for coordinating with adjacent residential land uses to schedule construction activities to minimize noise disturbance.
f) To minimize adverse effects of construction noise on the surrounding neighborhoods near the project site, the following measures will be utilized to identify, mitigate, respond to, and track any complaints that may arise pertaining to construction noise:
i. Property owners and occupants located within 500 feet of construction activities shall be notified at least 14 calendar days prior to pile driving activities; ii. A large on-site sign near the public right-of-way containing permitted construction days/hours, complaint procedures, and phone numbers for the complaint manager and City Code Enforcement unit shall be posted; iii. A complaint log that records received complaints and how complaints were addressed shall be maintained and submitted to the City for review upon the City’s request;
iv. If reliable noise complaints are received during pile driving activities, noise levels shall be monitored at the location from which the noise complaints originated Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
25 by a qualified acoustical professional. Hourly-average (Leq) noise level measurements should be made for activities representative of those that generated the complaint. If the measured noise levels during this test are found to exceed 80 A-weighted average noise levels, dBA Leq, at noise-sensitive property lines or 85 dBA Leq at office or commercial property lines, an acoustical professional should be retained to specify additional noise attenuation measures to reduce noise levels to City Standards. These measures may include operational considerations, the use of additional ground-level noise barriers, or noise control blanketing of the building structure.
The applicant shall submit the site-specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permit.
Criteria: The following condition applies to any project that include nighttime construction hours (10:00 P. M. to 7:00 A.M.), regardless of length of construction.
SPC NOI-5: Nighttime Construction. The permittee shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to prepare a site-specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment and a Construction Noise Logistics Plan (Plan). The Plan shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement of the Director’s designee prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading, or building permit before start of construction. In addition to implementing the Construction Noise Reduction Measures in SPC NOI-1 to NOI-3 and, as part of the Plan, the permittee shall include, but is not limited to, the following expanded Construction Noise Reduction Measures for nighttime construction:
a) Limit the active equipment to as few pieces of equipment as possible. b) To the extent consistent with applicable regulations and safety considerations, operation of back-up beepers shall be avoided near sensitive receptors during nighttime hours, and/or the work sites shall be arranged in a way that avoids the need for any reverse motions of trucks or the sounding of any reverse motion alarms during nighttime work. If these measures are not feasible, equipment and trucks operating during the nighttime hours with reverse motion alarms must be outfitted with SAE J994 Class D alarms (ambient-adjusting, or “smart alarms” that automatically adjust the alarm to five A-weighted decibel (dBA) above the ambient near the operating equipment). c) Nighttime concrete pouring to the location farthest from the nearest noise-sensitive receptor or a minimum distance of 225 feet from the nearest noise-sensitive receptor shall be limited, where feasible. Concrete trucks and pumps along roadways with noise- sensitive receptors during all nighttime activities shall be restricted. d) If nighttime construction noise continues to result in excessive disruption to nearby neighbors, a construction noise monitoring plan shall be implemented, which includes a provision for noise monitoring at the nearby receptors to confirm that nighttime Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
26 construction noise levels meet nighttime noise level thresholds at the nearest sensitive uses. Construction monitoring shall occur for the first two days of construction for period of nighttime construction work to demonstrate that the nighttime construction activities are compliant with the construction noise level thresholds of 70 A-weighted average noise levels (dBA Leq) at the nearest sensitive uses. These thresholds are based on the Federal Transit Administration’s nighttime thresholds. Additional noise monitoring shall be completed on a more frequent basis if needed, in response to complaints. In the event of noise complaints, the contractor will provide information to client within 48 hours of being notified of the complaint, regarding the noise levels measured and activities that correspond to the complaints, as well as the proposed changes at the site to reduce the noise levels to below the thresholds. e) Sensitive receptors identified by the noise-monitoring with the potential to be exposed to nighttime construction noise levels exceeding 70 dBA Leq shall be provided with vouchers for alternate accommodations for the duration of the nighttime construction. f) Residences or other noise-sensitive land uses within 500 feet of construction sites shall be notified of the nighttime construction schedule, in writing, prior to the beginning of construction. This notification shall specify the dates for all nighttime construction.
Designate a “construction liaison” that would be responsible for responding to any local complaints about nighttime construction noise. The liaison would determine the cause of the noise complaints (e.g., starting too early, bad muffler, etc.) and institute reasonable measures to correct the problem. Conspicuously post a telephone number for the liaison at the construction site.
The applicant shall submit the site-specific, quantitative Construction Noise Assessment to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permit.
Standard Permit Conditions – Operational Noise
Criteria: The following condition applies to any project that includes standard (such as heating, ventilation, and air conditioning [HVAC] equipment) mechanical equipment associated with residential and commercial buildings adjacent to sensitive receptors such as residences. If a project includes mechanical equipment beyond standard HVAC equipment such as back-up generators or equipment associated with an industrial use, a project-level noise study will be required at the Planning stage to confirm noise levels meet General Plan and Municipal Code standards.
SPC NOI-6: Mechanical Equipment Noise: Prior to the issuance of any building permits, mechanical equipment shall be selected and designed to meet the City’s 55 day-night average sound level (dBA DNL) noise level requirement at the nearby noise-sensitive land uses. A qualified acoustical consultant shall be retained to review the mechanical noise equipment to determine specific noise reduction measures needed to reduce equipment noise to comply with the City’s noise level requirements. Noise reduction measures could include, but are not limited Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
27 to, selection of equipment that emits low noise levels and installation of noise barriers, such as enclosures and parapet walls, to block the line-of-sight between the noise source and the nearest receptors. Other alternate measures include locating equipment in less noise-sensitive areas (such as along the building façades farthest from the nearest residences or sensitive receptors), where feasible. The findings and recommendations from the acoustical consultant for noise reduction measures shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any building permits.
Construction Vibration
Standard Permit Conditions – No Impact or Vibratory Pile Driving Criteria: The following condition applies to any non-pile driving projects with existing buildings of conventional construction located within 30 feet of the project site boundaries (to meet the City’s 0.2 in/sec PPV9) or buildings built between the 1940s and 1990s located within 20 feet of the project site boundaries (to meet the Caltrans threshold of 0.3 in/sec PPV)(General Plan Policy EC-2.3).
SPC VIB-1: Non-pile Driving within 30 feet. The permittee shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to prepare a site-specific, quantitative Vibration Assessment. The permittee shall be required to implement the following Vibration Reduction Control Measures:
a) A list of all heavy construction equipment to be used for this project known to produce high vibration levels (e.g., tracked vehicles, vibratory compaction, jackhammers, hoe rams, etc.) shall be submitted by the contractor to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to issuance of demolition or grading permits. This list shall be used to identify equipment and activities that may generate substantial vibration and to define the level of effort required to reduce vibration levels below the thresholds. b) Place operating equipment on the construction site as far as possible from vibration- sensitive receptors.
c) Smaller equipment (less than 18,000 pounds) shall be used near the property lines or adjacent sensitive buildings to minimize vibration levels. For example, a smaller vibratory roller similar to a Caterpillar model CP433E vibratory compactor could be used when compacting materials within 30 feet of sensitive buildings. The smaller equipment intended to implement this requirement shall be individually identified among the list of equipment required under the above condition as a subset of equipment allowed for use at the property lines.
d) Avoid dropping heavy equipment and using vibratory rollers within 30 feet of sensitive structures. Use alternative methods for breaking up existing pavement, such as a 9 inches/second peak particle velocity = in/sec PPV
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
28 pavement grinder, instead of dropping heavy objects, within 30 feet of structurally sensitive buildings. Select demolition methods that do not involve large impact tools, such as hoe-rams, within 30 feet of sensitive buildings. Portable jackhammers, saws, or grinders shall be used to minimize impacts to the ground.
The applicant shall submit the site-specific, quantitative Vibration Assessment to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permit.
Standard Permit Conditions – Impact or Vibratory Pile Driving Criteria: The following condition applies to any project that requires impact or vibratory pile driving and is located within 125 feet of existing buildings of conventional construction (to meet the City’s
0.2 in/sec PPV10) or within 90 feet of buildings of conventional construction built between the 1940s and 1990s (to meet the Caltrans threshold of 0.3 in/sec PPV).
SPC VIB-2: Pile Driving near Buildings of Conventional Construction. The permittee shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to prepare a site-specific, quantitative Vibration Assessment. In addition to implementing any applicable Vibration Reduction Control Measures (SPC VIB-1), the permittee shall include, but is not limited to, the following expanded Vibration Reduction Control Measures:
a) Notify neighbors within 500 feet of the construction site of the construction schedule and that there could be noticeable vibration levels resulting from pile driving. b) For all projects requiring impact pile driving, foundation pile holes shall be pre-drilled to minimize the number of impacts required to seat the pile. c) For all projects requiring impact pile driving, jet or partially jet piles into place to minimize the number of impacts required to seat the pile. d) Prior to the issuance of a demolition, grading, or building permit, which occurs first, the applicant shall implement a construction monitoring plan to document conditions during pile driving activities. All plan tasks shall be undertaken under the direction of a licensed Professional Structural Engineer in the State of California and be in accordance with industry-accepted standard methods. The Plan shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to issuance of a demolition, grading, or building permit, whichever occurs first. The construction vibration monitoring plan should be implemented to include the following tasks:
i. Identification of sensitivity to groundborne vibration of nearby structures. A vibration survey (generally described below) would need to be performed; 10 inches/second peak particle velocity = in/sec PPV
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
29 ii. Performance of a photo survey, elevation survey, and crack monitoring survey for each of these structures. Surveys shall be performed prior to any pile driving activity, at regular intervals during pile driving, and after completion, and shall include internal and external crack monitoring in structures, settlement, and distress and shall document the condition of foundations, walls, and other structural elements in the interior and exterior of said structures; iii. Development of a vibration monitoring and construction contingency plan to identify structures where monitoring would be conducted, set up a vibration monitoring schedule, define structure-specific vibration limits, and address the need to conduct photo, elevation, and crack surveys to document before and after pile driving. Alternative construction methods would be identified for when vibration levels approach the limits that are stated in the General Plan, such as Policy EC-2.3;
iv. If vibration levels approach limits, suspend construction and implement alternative construction methods to either lower vibration levels or secure the affected structures;
v. Conduct post-survey on structures where either monitoring has indicated high levels or complaints of damage have been made. Make appropriate repairs or compensation where damage has occurred as a result of construction activities; vi. The results of all vibration monitoring shall be summarized and submitted in a report shortly after substantial completion of pile driving identified in the project schedule. The report will include descriptions of measurement methods, equipment used, calibration certificates, and graphics, as required, to clearly identify vibration-monitoring locations. An explanation of all events that exceeded vibration limits will be included together with proper documentation supporting any such claims;
vii. Designate a person responsible for registering and investigating claims of excessive vibration. The contact information of such a person shall be clearly posted on the construction site.
The applicant shall submit the site-specific, quantitative Vibration Assessment to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permit.
Criteria: The following condition applies to any pile driving and non-pile driving project located within the following minimum distances of historic buildings 11:
11 Per the California Code of Regulations Title 14, Section 15064.5, a historical resource is defined as any object, building, structure, site, area, place, record, or manuscript that has been determined eligible for listing on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP), the California Register of Historic Resources (CRHR), or a local register of historic resources.
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
30 Non-pile Driving Equipment
a) 65 feet of a historic building to meet the City’s 0.08 inches/second peak particle velocity (in/sec PPV)
b) 25 feet of the project site to meet the Caltrans threshold of 0.25 in/sec PPV Pile Driving Equipment
c) 290 feet of historic buildings to meet the City’s current 0.08 in/sec PPV threshold d) 100 feet of historic building to meet the Caltrans threshold of 0.25 in/sec PPV SPC VIB-3: Expanded Vibration Reduction Control Measures. The permittee shall retain a qualified acoustical consultant to prepare a site-specific, quantitative Vibration Assessment. In addition to implementing the Vibration Reduction Control Measures (SPC VIB-1), the permittee shall include, but is not limited to, the following expanded Vibration Reduction Control Measures:
a) A list of all heavy construction equipment that are known to produce high vibration levels (e.g., tracked vehicles, vibratory compaction, jackhammers, hoe rams, etc.) shall be submitted by the contractor to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to issuance of demolition or grading permits. This list shall be used to identify equipment and activities that may generate substantial vibration and to define the level of effort required to reduce vibration levels below the thresholds.
b) Place operating equipment on the construction site as far as possible from vibration- sensitive receptors.
c) Smaller equipment (less than 18,000 pounds) shall be used near the property lines or adjacent sensitive buildings to minimize vibration levels. For example, a smaller vibratory roller similar to a Caterpillar model CP433E vibratory compactor could be used when compacting materials within 65 feet of sensitive buildings. The smaller equipment intended to implement this requirement shall be individually identified among the list of equipment required under the above condition as a subset of equipment allowed for use at the property lines.
d) Avoid dropping heavy equipment and using vibratory rollers within 65 feet of sensitive structures. Use alternative methods for breaking up existing pavement, such as a pavement grinder, instead of dropping heavy objects, within 65 feet of structurally sensitive buildings. Select demolition methods that do not involve large impact tools, such as hoe-rams, within 65 feet of sensitive buildings. Portable jackhammers, saws, or grinders shall be used to minimize impacts to the ground. e) A Construction Vibration Monitoring Plan shall be implemented to document conditions during demolition and heavy groundwork activities. All plan tasks shall be undertaken under the direction of a licensed Professional Structural Engineer in the State of California and be in accordance with industry-accepted standard methods. The Plan shall be submitted to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
31 Director’s designee and the City of San José’s Historic Preservation Officer for review and approval prior to issuance of a demolition, grading, or building permit, whichever occurs first. The Construction Vibration Monitoring Plan shall include the following tasks:
i. Identification of sensitivity to groundborne vibration of nearby structures. A vibration survey (generally described below) would need to be performed; ii. Performance of a photo survey, elevation survey, and crack monitoring survey for each of these structures. Surveys shall be performed prior to any demolition activity, at regular intervals during demolition and construction, and after completion, and shall include internal and external crack monitoring in structures, settlement, and distress and shall document the condition of foundations, walls and other structural elements in the interior and exterior of said structures;
iii. Development of a Vibration Monitoring and Construction Contingency Plan to identify structures where monitoring would be conducted, set up a vibration monitoring schedule, define structure-specific vibration limits, and address the need to conduct photo, elevation, and crack surveys to document before and after demolition and construction activities. Alternative construction methods would be identified for when vibration levels approach the limits that are stated in the General Plan, such as Policy EC-2.3;
iv. If vibration levels approach limits, suspend construction and implement alternative construction methods to either lower vibration levels or secure the affected structures;
v. Designate a person responsible for registering and investigating claims of excessive vibration. The contact information of such a person shall be clearly posted on the construction site.
vi. Conduct a post-construction survey on structures where either monitoring has indicated high vibration levels or complaints of damage has been made. Make appropriate repairs or compensation where damage has occurred as a result of construction activities;
vii. The results of all vibration monitoring shall be summarized and submitted in a report to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee shortly after substantial completion of construction identified in the project schedule. The report shall include descriptions of measurement methods, equipment used, calibration certificates, and graphics, as required, to clearly identify vibration-monitoring locations. An explanation of all events that exceeded vibration limits will be included together with proper documentation supporting any such claims.
viii. Regular weekly or monthly monitoring reports (as determined by the City of San José’s Historic Preservation Officer) shall be submitted during construction to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee and the Historic Preservation Officer if the project site is located within Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
32 300 feet of any nearby historical resources as outlined in the monitoring schedule;
f) The permittee shall prepare preconstruction survey documentation of the nearby historical resources as part of project start-up. Prior to issuance of a demolition, grading, or building permit, whichever occurs first, a qualified architectural historian shall undertake an existing visual conditions study of the nearby historical resources within 300 feet of the project site. The purpose of the study would be to establish the baseline conditions of the neighboring historic buildings prior to construction, including the location and extent of any visible cracks or spalls. The documentation shall take the form of detailed written descriptions and visual illustrations and/or photos, including those physical characteristics of the resources that convey their historic significance.
The documentation shall be reviewed and approved by the City of San José’s Historic Preservation Officer, or equivalent prior to issuance of a demolition, grading, or building permit, whichever occurs first.
g) Once the baseline conditions of the neighboring historical resource(s) within 300 feet of the project site are determined, the permittee shall engage a qualified architectural historian to prepare a Historical Resources Protection Plan that provides measures and procedures to protect nearby historical resources from direct or indirect impacts during construction activities (i.e., due to damage from operation of construction equipment, staging, and material storage). The Historical Resources Protection Plan must be approved by the City’s Historic Preservation Officer of the Department of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement prior to issuance of a grading, or building permit. The permittee shall ensure the contractor follows the Historical Resources Protection Plan while working near these historic resources. At a minimum, the plan shall include:
i. Guidelines for operation of construction equipment adjacent to historical resources;
ii. Means and methods to reduce vibrations from excavation and construction; iii. Requirements for monitoring and documenting compliance with the plan; and iv. Education/training of construction workers about the significance of the historical resources around which they would be working. h) The qualified architectural historian shall establish a “Monitoring Team” comprised of at least one qualified architectural historian and one structural engineer for the duration of the site monitoring process. During the demolition and construction phases, the Monitoring Team shall make periodic site visits to monitor the condition of the property, including monitoring of any instruments such as crack gauges, if necessary, or reviewing vibration monitoring required by other construction monitoring processes required under the City’s permit processes. Site visit reports and documents shall be provided to the City’s Historic Preservation Officer on a quarterly basis. The Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee and the City’s Historic Preservation Officer may request any additional number of site visits at their discretion.
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
33 i. If, in the opinion of the Monitoring Team, substantial adverse impacts to any historical resource related to construction activities are found during construction, a representative of the Monitoring Team shall inform the permittee (or the applicant’s designated representative responsible for construction activities), the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee and the Historic Preservation Officer of the potential impacts. The permittee shall implement the Monitoring Team’s recommendations for corrective measures, including halting construction in situations where construction activities would imminently endanger any historical resource. In the event of damage to any nearby historical resource during construction, the permittee shall ensure that repair work is performed in compliance with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties and shall restore the character-defining features in a manner that does not affect the structure’s historic status. The Monitoring Team shall prepare a report documenting all site visits. The reporting period shall be a minimum of once every three months. The Monitoring Team or its representative, shall submit the site visit reports to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee and the Historic Preservation Officer no later than one week after each reporting period. The Monitoring Report shall also include, but is not limited to, the following:
i) Summary of the demolition and construction progress; j) Identification of substantial adverse impacts related to construction activities; k) Problems and potential impacts to any historical resources and adjacent buildings during construction activities;
l) Recommendations to avoid any potential impacts;
m) Actions taken by the permittee in response to the problem; n) Progress and the level of success in meeting the applicable Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for the Treatment of Historic Properties for the project as noted above for the character-defining features, and in preserving the character defining features of nearby historic properties; and
o) Inclusion of photographs to explain and illustrate progress. i. The Monitoring Team shall submit a final document associated with monitoring and repairs after completion of the construction activities to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee and the City’s Historic Preservation Officer prior to the issuance of any Certificate of Occupancy (temporary or final). The permittee shall submit the site-specific, quantitative Vibration Assessment to the Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for review and approval prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permit.
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions
34 Transportation
Standard Permit Conditions – Transportation Demand Management Plan Criteria: The following condition applies to projects in areas in mitigatable areas of the City as mapped by the Department of Transportation for the type of proposed use (residential, commercial, or industrial).
SPC TRANS-1: Construction and Transportation Demand Management Plan. Prior to the issuance of any demolition, grading and/or building permits, the permittee shall prepare project construction plans that illustrate the design of the project site enhancements, and shall coordinate with the Department of Public Works to incorporate the following from the transportation analysis or local transportation analysis:
(List improvements and measures from the Transportation Analysis to reduce VMT, as approved by the Department of Public Works and the Department of Transportation) SPC TRANS-2: Transportation Demand Management Plan. Prior to the issuance of occupancy permits, the permittee shall provide a Transportation Demand Management (TDM) plan for review and approval by the Department of Public Works and Department of Planning, Building, and Code Enforcement. After the project is constructed and occupied, the permittee shall identify a transportation coordinator. The transportation coordinator would be responsible for implementing the ongoing TDM plan. The TDM plan would need to be re-evaluated annually for the life of the project. It is recommended that the designated transportation coordinator consult with City staff to ensure the monitoring and reporting meets the City’s expectations. The TDM Coordinator shall be responsible for submitting the monitoring reports to the Director of Department of Public Works and Director of Planning, Building and Code Enforcement or the Director’s designee for the life of the project.
Attachment E: Environmental Standard Permit Conditions