CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 1 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M Summary of Responses
As of September 2, 2020, 8:00 AM, this forum
had:
Topic Start
Attendees: 339 August 10, 2020, 4:30
PM
Responses: 284
Hours of Public Comment: 14.2
QUESTION 1
What is your association to Sunnyvale (choose all that apply)? % Count
Live in Sunnyvale 95.4% 271
Work in Sunnyvale 28.5% 81
Visit Sunnyvale Regularly 4.2% 12
Other 3.2% 9
QUESTION 2
What do you think has an impact on air quality in the City? (choose all that apply) % Count
Construction activities 53.0% 149
Traffic 89.0% 250
Pollution 67.6% 190
Industrial activities 49.5% 139
Other 27.4% 77
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 2 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M QUESTION 3
Prioritize the following actions the City can take to improve air quality from 1 to 6, with 1 being the highest priority and 6 being the lowest priority:
1. Increase green space by promoting additional parks and open space
2. Increase green space by promoting tree planting
3. Reduce vehicle miles traveled
4. Limit new development near areas with higher levels of pollutants
5. Limit new development near sensitive uses
6. Reduce air pollution during construction
QUESTION 4
Aside from the actions listed above, are there any other actions or comments you would like to share? Answered 87
Skipped 197
The responses are grouped by topic and they are not listed in any order. *Repeated responses with count
General Comments
Educate people and companies in how their actions impact air pollution. (2)* Accelerate action on mitigating climate change (to reduce frequency of wildfires).
Measure and report high levels of pollutants to motivate businesses to reduce pollution.
Set cleanup requirements or fees for the industries and development that cause pollution.
Eliminate fossil fuels and promote solar power in commercial buildings to reduce air pollution.
Update landscaping policies to plant more female trees to reduce pollen and respiratory health.
Addressed pollution at the county and region level.
Insist on “work from home”, that limits pollution 95%.
Hire experts to determine effective ways to improve air quality.
Work collaboratively with SVCE to achieve Climate Action Plan goals.
Operation of Equipment
Ban gas powered leaf blowers to reduce air pollution. (9)* Ban gas powered lawn mowers to reduce air pollution. (4)* Restrict the use of charcoal BBQ pits and outdoor gas and propane grills.
Limit days allowed to run gas powered equipment in each neighborhood.
Airplane
Reduce flights over Sunnyvale. (8)*
Make airplanes fly higher. (2)*
Reduce airplane noise.
The lack of traffic due to the pandemic has reduced air pollution and noise.
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 3 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M Reduce flights in and out of Moffett Field.
Reduce airplane noise near Serra park area at homestead and Mary.
New Development
Limit development and stop building. (7)*
Stop building large office buildings that increase traffic and pollution. (2)* Reduce density to limit population explosion in Sunnyvale. (2)* Build tall buildings and add more open space.
Allowing housing closer to offices to reduce VMT, and therefore pollution.
Transportation
Increase public transportation so that it becomes a viable commute option. (6)* Promote electric vehicle usage. (5)*
Improve walkability to reduce traffic. (4)*
Provide more protected bike lanes and bike parking. (3)* Provide higher wall and more trees between 237 and Persian Drive. (2)* Provide protected bike lanes in the city to get to bay trails.
Provide more electric vehicle charging options throughout the city.
City planning should focus on citizens more than VMT.
Promote all-electric public transit options.
Fix traffic lights immediately to prevent cars idling through an empty intersection.
Encourage bicycle use by taxing cars more than bikes and increasing gasoline tax.
Charge companies for car parking spaces.
Create a buyback program to switch from gas guzzling vehicles to electric vehicles.
Improve roadways by adding lanes, overpasses, underpasses, and widening lanes.
Improve public transportation by adding shuttles on circular routes like Mountainview.
Reduce road space for cars and increase safe biking lanes.
Reduce stop and go traffic by better timing traffic lights.
Post vehicle speeds of vehicles passing red light without stopping.
Streamline main artery traffic flows as much as possible with synchronizing green lights.
Increase Green Space
Promote vegetation that helps with air quality and carbon capture.
Provide a large tree in the middle of a cul-de-sac’s like Vasquez ct.
Plant street trees that do not shed pollen and leaves.
Limit Building against the sidewalks and create more green space.
City should employ more tree specialists to reduce wait for non-emergency responses.
Other Comments
Help clean the bay.
Support and pursue legislation e.g. Govt relaxing NEPA standards.
With the virus the traffic decreased, and the pollution decreased.
Increase street sweeping frequency.
Provide 2nd Immersion Program in the district.
Create policy to limit smoking.
Promote fiber in all homes.
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 4 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M QUESTION 5
What are your top concerns about noise in the City? (choose all that apply) % Count
Airplane noise 62.1% 175
Operation of heavy equipment, machinery, and
delivery trucks
Operation of equipment near your home (air
conditions, generators, and leaf blowers)
Proximity of residences to major roadways,
freeways, and railways
Traffic noise
28.4% 80
40.8% 115
29.8% 84
47.2% 133
Railway noise 15.2% 43
No concern 7.4% 21
Other 16.7% 47
QUESTION 6
Prioritize the following actions the City can take to reduce noise from 1 to 5, with 1 being the highest priority and 5 being the lowest priority:
1. Continue to advocate for airplane noise reduction
2. Reduce operational noise in residential neighborhoods
3. Encourage use of noise reduction measures in new developments
4. Limit construction hours
5. Reduce noise in mixed-use developments
QUESTION 7
Aside from the actions listed above, are there any other actions or comments you would like to share? Answered 80
Skipped 204
The responses are grouped by topic and they are not listed in any order.
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 5 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M *Repeated responses with count
General Comments
Review new developments responsibly with utmost care. (2)* Reduce new development to reduce traffic.
Do not impose unnecessary noise regulations which will affect new business and travel.
Enforce violation of noise limits with fines.
Stop noise from illegal fireworks.
Operational Noise
Ban gas driven leaf blowers, lawn mowers and other gas driven residential machines. (16)* Limit the days or weeks leaf blowers can be used. (3)*
Limiting construction hours will extends the term of construction, hence it is not helpful.
Provide police presence in residential areas to regulate operational noise limits.
Allow tree trimming services only during business hours.
Limit building invasive construction that impedes on residential areas.
Limit Moffett wind tunnel noise to only business hours.
Reduce noise during the hours of 11pm - 6 am.
Limit the decibels that building alarms can have.
Encourage people use rakes and brooms instead of machinery.
Airplane Noise
Reduce airplane traffic. (8)*
Limit airplane noise during nighttime. (3)*
Reduce flights into/out of Moffett Field. (2)*
Increase the altitude of airplanes in and out of Moffett Field. (2)* Airplane also create air pollution from the engine exhaust fume.
Recommend the 129th Rescue Wing reduce or discontinue touch-and-go flights.
Simplify the process to file complaint about airplane noise.
Roadway Noise
Enforce road stunts due to modified mufflers, engine revving and loud stereo. (7)* Provide tougher laws on auto/motorcycles noise. (2)*
Noise walls along highways are not effective noise deterrents, use better buffers. (2)* Use traffic calming techniques to reduce roadway noise. (2)* Use vegetation and acoustic walls to protect residential areas from roadway noise.
Enforce speed limits with cameras.
Identify and prosecute reckless drivers and similar noisy activities.
Stop vehicles bypassing through Mary Ave, Mathilda Ave, and Wolfe to avoid highways.
Promote extension of VTA tram into Sunnyvale.
Caltrain Noise
Advocate for reduced Caltrain noise.
Work with Caltrain to reduce noise.
Turn off the railway horns.
Other Comments
Improve the quality of life in Sunnyvale.
Control crow population.
Provide Mandarin Immersion Program in the Sunnyvale public school.
Promote fiber in all homes.
Continue Sunnyvale's active participation at the Santa Clara Santa Cruz Round Table.
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 6 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M QUESTION 8
Do you feel there are underserved areas such as low-income neighborhoods with inadequate access to healthy food, transportation, and air and water pollution in Sunnyvale? If so, describe the neighborhood location and how it is underserved.
Answered 83
Skipped 201
The responses are grouped by topic and they are not listed in any order. *Repeated responses with count
General Comments
There are no underserved areas in Sunnyvale. (16)*
Yes, there are underserved areas in Sunnyvale. (8)*
The neighborhood north of 101 to 237 as well as the neighborhood south of 101 to El Camino. (7)* Snail neighborhood, San Miguel, Lakewood and the area north of the tracks and south of Central Expressway. (5)* Duane Ave/Fair Oaks/Hendy/Lakewood. (5)*
Access to Food
North Sunnyvale has lack of grocery stores and limited healthy food choices. (15)* There's a grocery/food desert on the east side, along Lawrence.
Sunnyvale have access to healthy food if willing to cook, because processes food is expensive and not healthy.
People stand in the bread line at local churches. This indicates a lack of food for people living in million-dollar housing.
Transportation
Low-income neighborhoods in north Sunnyvale need better transportation. (6)* The whole city lacks high-quality healthy transportation options. (3)* Limited transportation options to Fremont High. (2)*
We need north-south rail-based public transportation and more connected bike paths.
Our bike lanes are usually mediocre where they do exist, and the network is not comprehensive enough.
Air Quality and Noise
Areas sandwiched between 101 and 237 have noise and air quality issues. (4)* There is no sound wall between 237 and Persian Dr for about a mile West of E Java Dr. The air quality and noise for all of us living facing 237 is outrageously bad.
Along Tasman and Lawrence, the mobile home communities face high traffic noise and exhaust fumes which affects breathing capabilities.
Air pollution close to Moffett Field is high.
Willow Ranch Mobile Home park is a senior home and it is right next to 237. It is exposed to pollution which can cause dementia for seniors.
Green Space
Many areas in the city do not have close access to green space. (2)* W Olive av and Ayala drive seem to have excessive congestion and need more green areas as well as off street parking.
Areas near the Lawrence and Monroe area need more parks.
Low income areas could use more trees.
North Sunnyvale needs age friendly streetscape.
Affordable Housing
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 7 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M Need more affordable housing. (4)*
Millennials should be able to buy houses in Sunnyvale.
Groundwater Contaminated Sites
There are Superfund sites in Lakewood and San Miguel areas that haven't been cleaned up. (3)* Schools
North Sunnyvale has inadequate access public high school.
Healthcare
North Sunnyvale has inadequate access to healthcare.
Other Comments
Sunnyvale schools and community-based organizations are very pro-active in trying to support underserved neighborhoods.
North Sunnyvale has lower-income residences. Sunnyvale Community Services has programs to assist them.
Our problem is fires. It causes terrible pollution.
The City should proactively respond to such issues, if found in Sunnyvale.
Make fiber available to all homes in Sunnyvale.
Lakewood village area doesn't get enough police to stop illegal dangerous driving in the neighborhood.
QUESTION 9
What is the best way the City can improve environmental justice? (choose all that apply) Use a variety of methods to provide information to
the public.
27.7% 73
Other 19.7% 52
QUESTION 10
Please enter any comments or suggestions below:
Answered 59
Skipped 225
The
responses are grouped by topic and they are not listed in any order. % Count
Create more open spaces. 61.4% 162
Promote a mix of uses, including
employment/offices within neighborhoods.
33.7% 89
Prioritize the addition of commercial and retail
uses within neighborhoods.
36.0% 95
Restrict higher-polluting and noisier land uses near
residential and sensitive uses.
70.5% 186
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 8 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M *R
epeated responses with count
Airplane Noise
Reduce flight noise. (10)*
Spread the air traffic outside of southern flow to dilute effect.
Continue to advocate for airplane noise reduction.
Prevent airplane from flying low.
Increase Green Space
Increase green space. (5)*
Continue to work on creating open spaces.
Encourage more tree planting.
Plant fruit trees.
New Development
Stop high buildings. (3)*
Don't build tall offices near residences. (2)*
Keep residential neighborhoods residential. (2)*
Stop new developments.
Preserve neighborhood serving businesses.
Promote low density developments to reduce traffic.
Reduce high density housing.
Reduce residential density to reduce noise and pollution.
Promote electrification in new developments.
Operational Noise
Eliminate noise from lawn mower. (2)*
Reduce noise from industries.
Reduce nighttime noise from vehicles near residential neighborhoods.
Eliminate noise from leaf blower.
Eliminate noise from motor bikes.
Consider mitigation measures such as sound walls, vegetation, and traffic calming.
Reduce nighttime noise from playing loud music.
Enforce current noise ordinance.
Air Pollution and Noise from Vehicles
Limit vehicles idling.
Limit pollution from vehicles.
Increase the availability of mass transit.
Promote underground transportation.
Reduce vehicle noise.
Promote electric vehicles.
Promote underground parking in high density areas.
Construction Noise
Increase regulation for construction activities.
Caltrain Noise
Attachment 14
CITY STUDY OF AIR QUALITY, NOISE AND ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE ISSUES Give us your Feedback to Update Sunnyvale General Plan Document 9 | www.opentownhall.com/9335 Created with OpenGov | September 2, 2020, 8:00 A M Reduce Caltrain noise.
Eliminate noise from Caltrain horns.
Environmental Justice - General
Increase affordable housing.
Reduce homelessness.
Increase street cleaning and sweeping frequency.
Environmental Justice - Outreach
Make e-communication with City staff easier.
City Staff continue to work with neighborhood associations for outreach.
Improve access to public broadcasting.
Promote fiber in residences.
Other Comments
Redesign trash cans to reduce compost side. (2)*
Reduce light pollution in the nighttime.
No new policies, because they invade privacy.
Support independent eateries requiring tech employees to dine outside office.
Reduce pollution caused by poor neighborhoods.
Let the long-time polluters pay for cleanup.
Provide mandarin immersion program in public schools.
Allow parking in front of business on ECR.
Promote walking.
Provide awareness to trash collection, sorting, and recycling process.
Attachment 14