noise element N-1: Noise-Sensitive Land Uses

Only areas below are considered part of the General Plan.

Noise-sensitive Land Uses

Goal & Policies

• N-1: Noise-sensitive land uses are protected from excessive noise and vibration exposure.

Policies: Policy & Regulation

• N-1.1: Assess the compatibility of proposed land uses with the noise environment when preparing, revising, or reviewing development project applications.
• N-1.2: Require new projects to comply with the noise standards of local, regional, and state building code regulations, including but not limited to the city's Municipal Code, Title 24 of the California Code of Regulations, the California Green Building Code, and subdivision and development codes.
• N-1.3: Require noise abatement measures to enforce compliance with any applicable regulatory mechanisms, including building codes and subdivision and zoning regulations, and ensure that the recommended mitigation measures are implemented.
• N-1.4: Regulate the control of nuisances, such as residential party noise and barking dogs, through the city's Municipal Code.
• N-1.5: Protect agricultural uses from noise complaints that may result from routine farming practices.
• N-1.6: Coordinate with the County of Riverside and adjacent jurisdictions to minimize noise impacts from adjacent land uses along the city's boundaries, especially its rural edges.
• N-1.7: Mitigate exterior and interior noises to the levels listed in the table below to the extent feasible, for stationary sources adjacent to sensitive receptors:

Policies: Sitting & Design

• N-1.8: Locate new development in areas where noise levels are appropriate for the proposed uses. Consider federal, state, and city noise standards and guidelines as a part of new development review.
• N-1.9: Limit the development of new noise-producing uses adjacent to noise-sensitive receptors and require that new noise-producing land be are designed with adequate noise abatement measures.
• N-1.10: Guide noise-tolerant land uses into areas irrevocably committed to land uses that are noise-producing, such as transportation corridors adjacent to the I-215 or within the projected noise contours of any adjacent airports.
• N-1.11: Discourage the siting of noise-sensitive uses in areas in excess of 65 dBA CNEL without appropriate mitigation.
• N-1.12: Minimize potential noise impacts associated with the development of mixed-use projects (vertical or horizontal mixed-use) where residential units are located above or adjacent to noise-generating uses.
• N-1.13: Require new development to minimize vibration impacts to adjacent uses during demolition and construction.

Policies: Transportation Noise

• N-1.14: Minimize vibration impacts on people and businesses near light and heavy rail lines or other sources of ground-borne vibration through the use of setbacks and/or structural design features that reduce vibration to levels at or below the guidelines of the Federal Transit Administration. Require new development within 100 feet of rail lines to demonstrate, prior to project approval, that vibration experienced by residents and vibration-sensitive uses would not exceed these guidelines.
• N-1.15: Employ noise mitigation practices and materials, as necessary, when designing future streets and highways, and when improvements occur along existing road segments. Mitigation measures should emphasize the establishment of natural buffers or setbacks between the arterial roadways and adjoining noise-sensitive areas.
• N-1.16: Collaborate with transportation providers, including airport owners, the Federal Aviation Administration, Caltrans, Southern California Association of Governments, neighboring jurisdictions, and railroad owners and operators, to prepare, maintain, and update transportation-related plans that minimize noise impacts and identify appropriate mitigation measures.
• N-1.17: Prevent the construction of new noise-sensitive land uses within airport noise impact zones. New residential land uses within the 65 dB CNEL contours of any public-use or military airports, as defined by the Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission, shall be prohibited.
• N-1.18: Work with the Southern California Regional Rail Authority and railroad owners and operators to reduce the noise impacts on noise-sensitive uses adjacent to railroad tracks.
• N-1.19: Monitor proposals for future transit systems and require noise control to be considered in the selection of transportation systems that may affect the city.
• N-1.20: Adhere to any applicable Riverside County Airport Land Use Commission land use compatibility criteria, including density, intensity, and coverage standards.

General Plan Exhibits

• Exhibit N-1: Future Noise Contours