Revisions to Public Draft of the General Plan Amendments Note: The Final Draft of the General Plan Amendments include revisions made to the public draft released in April 2023. This attachment compares the public draft with the final draft along with staff comment for each.
Revisions are shown with strikethroughs for deleted or replaced text and underlines for added text.
Air Quality - Chapter 7: Environmental Management
Page # Public Draft (April 2023) Final Draft (May 2023) Staff Comments
9 Policy EM-11.17 (EJ) Consider
transportation improvements in
areas of the city that are low-
income and/or bear a high
pollution burden.
Policy EM-11.17 (EJ)
Consider Prioritize
transportation
improvements in areas of
the city that are low-
income and/or bear a
high pollution burden.
Replaced
“Consider” with
“Prioritize” as the
policy is targeted
to specific areas
of the City.
Noise - Chapter 6: Safety and Noise:
Page # Public Draft (April 2023) Final Draft (May 2023) Staff Comments
2 Regarding perceived increases
in noise a 1 dBA increase is
generally not perceptible, a 3
dBA increase is considered to
be barely perceptible, a 5 dBA
is distinctly perceptible, and an
increase of 10 dBA is perceived
as a doubling of the noise level.
Regarding perceived
increases in noise a 1
dBA increase is generally
not perceptible, a 3 dBA
increase is considered to
be barely perceptible, a 5
dBA increase is distinctly
perceptible, and an
increase of 10 dBA is
perceived as a doubling
of the noise level.
Revised for
better readability.
2 For the purposes of
enforcement, all noise
measurements are taken at the
impacted property line for
detached single-family homes,
duplexes, and Mobile Homes
and at the impacted primary
open space of multi-family
dwelling units.
For the purposes of
enforcement, all noise
measurements are taken
at any point on the
impacted property line for
of detached single-family
homes, and duplexes,
and Mobile Homes and at
the impacted primary
open space of multi-
family dwelling units,
Revised for
clarity and
consistency with
the proposed
changes to the
Sunnyvale
Municipal Code
(SMC) Section
19.42.030 (Noise
or Sound Level)
Attachment 16
adjacent to the property
generating the noise.
2 There are also policies
discouraging placement of
residential uses near transit
areas and aircraft noise
contours.
There are also policies
discouraging addressing
placement of residential
uses near transit areas
and aircraft noise
contours.
Revised for
consistency with
the proposed
new policies and
other existing
policies that
encourage
transit-oriented
developments.
4 The 2016 LUTE EIR shows
modeled roadway noise
contours for existing and future
conditions.
The 2016 Land Use and
Transportation Element
Draft Environmental
Impact Report (LUTE
EIR) shows modeled
roadway noise contours
for existing and future
conditions.
Revised for
better readability.
8 Governor’s Officer of Planning
and Research
Governor’s Officer of
Planning and Research
Corrected typo
8 Exterior Noise Compatibility
Standards for Various Land
Uses:
Land Use Type: Residential:
Low- Density Detached Single-
Family Homes, Duplexes,
Mobile Homes.
Exterior Noise
Compatibility Standards
for Various Land Uses:
Land Use Type:
Residential: Low- Density
Detached Single-Family
Homes, and Duplexes,
Mobile Homes.
Removed
“mobile homes”
because they
are outside the
City’s jurisdiction
for noise
regulation.
8 Exterior Noise Compatibility
Standards for Various Land
Uses:
Residential: Highest Level of
Exterior Noise Exposure that is
Regarded as “Normally
Acceptable2 (Ldn3) = 60 dBA4
4Applies at the primary useable
open space area of a detached
single-family home, duplex or
mobile home, which is typically
the backyard or a fenced side
yard.
Exterior Noise
Compatibility Standards
for Various Land Uses:
Residential: Highest Level
of Exterior Noise
Exposure that is
Regarded as “Normally
Acceptable2 (Ldn3) = 60
dBA4
4Applies at the primary
useable open space area
for transit-oriented
developments of a
detached single-family
home, or duplex or mobile
home, which is typically
the backyard or a fenced
side yard.
Updated
footnote to limit
applicability of
the noise
standard to only
certain outdoor
areas of transit-
oriented
developments.
Also, removed
“mobile homes”
because they
are outside the
City’s jurisdiction
for noise
regulation.
Attachment 16
11 Policy SN-8.8 Avoid
construction of new residential
uses where the outdoor LDN is
greater than 70 DBA as a result
from train noise.
Policy SN-8.8 Avoid
construction of new
residential uses where
the outdoor LDN is
greater than 70 DBA as a
result from train noise.
Deleted existing
policy as the
proposed new
policies SN-8.9,
8.10, and 8.12
replaces this
policy.
12 Policy SN -8.11 For new
office/R&D and similar uses, the
city shall require that building
design achieves a maximum
interior noise standard of 55
dba LEQ (peak-hour).
Policy SN -8.11 For new
office/R&D and similar
uses, the city shall require
that building design
achieves a maximum
interior noise standard of
55 dba LEQ during (peak-
hours).
Revised for
clarity.
16 Policy SN-10.2 Consider
potential noise impacts when
evaluating proposed
transportation projects (e.g.,
road, freeway, and transit
developments). Minimize noise
impacts through the
implementation of mitigation
measures, such that maximum
noise exposure does not
exceed levels in Figure 6-6 or a
substantial increase as defined
in Figure 6-7.
Policy SN-10.2 Consider
potential noise impacts
when evaluating
proposed transportation
projects (e.g., road,
freeway, and transit
developments). Minimize
noise impacts through the
implementation of
mitigation measures,
such that maximum noise
exposure does not
exceed levels in Figure 6-
6 or a substantial
increase as defined in
Figure 6-7.
Deleted because
a separate policy
for transportation
projects is not
needed.
16 Figure 6-7: Exterior Incremental
Traffic-Noise Standards for
Noise-Sensitive Uses (dBA)
The City has adopted exterior
allowable incremental traffic-
noise standards for sensitive
land uses according to the
Federal Transit Administration
Guidelines. Standards are
based on both residential,
including land uses and
buildings where people normally
sleep, and institutional,
including land uses with primary
daytime and evening uses.
Incremental exposure increases
are defined based on the
Figure 6-7: Exterior
Incremental Traffic-Noise
Standards for Noise-
Sensitive Uses (dBA)
The City has adopted
exterior allowable
incremental traffic-noise
standards for sensitive
land uses according to
the Federal Transit
Administration
Guidelines. Standards are
based on both residential,
including land uses and
buildings where people
normally sleep, and
institutional, including
Deleted table
and related text
because a
separate
standard for
transportation
projects is not
needed.
Attachment 16
justification that people are
already exposed to high levels
of noise and can only tolerate
small increases. If existing
noise levels are low, a greater
incremental change is allowed.
The above traffic-noise
standards shall be used to
determine substantial traffic-
noise increases associated with
new discretionary development
undergoing CEQA review.
land uses with primary
daytime and evening
uses. Incremental
exposure increases are
defined based on the
justification that people
are already exposed to
high levels of noise and
can only tolerate small
increases. If existing
noise levels are low, a
greater incremental
change is allowed. The
above traffic-noise
standards shall be used
to determine substantial
traffic-noise increases
associated with new
discretionary
development undergoing
CEQA review.
17 According to the 2012
Comprehensive Land Use Plan
(CLUP) for the Moffett Federal
Airfield (Moffett), this number
will remain similar until at least
2022.
According to the 2012
Comprehensive Land Use
Plan (CLUP) for the
Moffett Federal AirfField
(Moffett), this number will
remain similar until at
least 2022.
Revised for
consistency
18 Policy SN-10.3 Policy SN-10.2 Renumbered
18 Policy SN-10.4 – SN-10.4a-4e
Policy SN-10.3– SN-
10.3a-3e
18 Policy SN-10.5 Policy SN-10.4
21 Policy SN-10.6 – SN-10.6a-6e
Policy SN-10.5– SN-
10.5a-5e
Environmental Justice - Chapter 1: Introduction - Environmental Justice:
Page # Public Draft (April 2023) Final Draft (May 2023) Staff Comments 7 In approximately 10 years a
comprehensive update of
this document will be
undertaken, updating the
community’s conditions and
all the goals, policies, and
actions within the document.
In aApproximately every 10
years a comprehensive
update of this document will
beis undertaken, updating
the community’s conditions
and all the goals, policies,
and actions within the
document.
Revised for
better readability.
8 Policy EJ 1.4: Continue to
evaluate the need for new or
Policy EJ 1.4: Continue to
eEvaluate the need for new
Deleted
“Continue” for
Attachment 16
improved alternative
transportation infrastructure
(e.g., public transit routes,
sidewalks, bicycle facilities)
in low-income and high
pollution burden bearing
communities. (Land Use and
Transportation)
or improved alternative
transportation infrastructure
(e.g., public transit routes,
sidewalks, bicycle facilities)
in low-income and high
pollution burden bearing
communities. (Land Use and
Transportation)
correctness and
deleted “the need
for” to simplify the
language.
Attachment 16