TranslateNoise Policies
- Airport noise/land use compatibility shall be evaluated in terms of the Community Noise Equivalent Level (CNEL). The maximum CNEL considered normally acceptable for residential uses and other noise-sensitive institutions in the vicinity of airports covered by this Plan is 55 CNEL.
- Wherever uses are described as "unacceptable" in Table 8A, the Airport Land Use Commission shall recommend those uses be excluded in local general plans, specific plans, and zoning ordinances or denial of development applications which would introduce those uses into areas impacted by noise above the designated level.
- Uses designated as “conditionally acceptable” in Table 8A shall be recommended as conditional uses in general plans, specific plans and zoning ordinances and may be permitted subject to the cited compatibility criteria.
- Uses designated as “acceptable” in Table 8A shall be subject only to the referral area policies of Section 8.2.2.
- The outdoor-to-indoor noise level reduction requirements in Table 8A are established with respect to aircraft noise. The intent is to ensure that the affected buildings are capable of attenuating aircraft noise events by the stated amount. In complying with the noise level reduction standards, buildings must be equipped with air conditioning or fresh air ventilation systems allowing windows and doors to remain closed. (Numerous empirical studies throughout California have indicated that standard construction following State Building and Energy Codes enables buildings to achieve an NLR of 25 decibels.)
- The noise contours which shall be used for purposes of noise compatibility at each airport (the “regulatory noise contours”) are shown in Exhibits 8A through 8F. The noise contours are forecast for the aircraft operations levels identified in Chapter 5.
- The Airport Land Use Commission shall periodically update the regulatory noise contours as needed based on the availability of authoritative information. For purposes of this policy, authoritative information shall be considered to be updated noise contours developed as part of an F.A.R. Part 150 Noise Compatibility Study, an airport master plan, or an environmental impact report. Whenever the regulatory noise contours are updated, the Airport Land Use Commission shall bear in mind that the regulatory contours are intended to show a reasonable estimation of maximum noise exposure risk. Thus, the regulatory contours shall consider both current noise levels and projected future noise levels.