HomeMy WebLinkAboutSoundwall at Desert Breezes CommunityREQUEST:
CITY OF PALM DESERT
PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
Direct Staff to Construct the Fred Waring Drive Soundwall at
Its Full Design Height to Provide Maximum Noise Reduction
and Aesthetic Appeal at Desert Breezes
SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works
DATE: November 16, 2006
CONTENTS: Depiction of Reduction Locations
Vicinity Map
Recommendation:
Direct staff to construct the Fred Waring Drive soundwall at its full
design height to provide maximum noise reduction and aesthetic
appeal at Desert Breezes.
Discussion:
Fred Waring Drive between California Drive and Washington Street is being
widened to continue the six -lane configuration now in place from Highway 111
east to California Drive. One of the mitigation measures, as a part of this
widening project, is the construction of a ten -foot soundwall barrier along the
north side of Fred Waring Drive between Warner Trail and the easterly property
line of the Desert Breezes community.
The ten -foot measurement is to be taken from the top of the curb elevation along
Fred Waring Drive. There is an elevation difference between the curb and the
private resident backyards (some as much as three feet), so that while the wall is
ten feet in height on the Fred Waring Drive side, the Desert Breezes residents
will be left with a seven- to eight -foot wall height on their side.
Nine residents affected in the Desert Breezes community have requested that
the height of the soundwall abutting their property be decreased by two to three
feet, as to not impair their current view. These residents have executed a
General Release Agreement that would be recorded and attached to each
Fred Waring Drive Soundwall Height Reduction
Page 2 of 2
November 16, 2006
specific property, releasing the City of Palm Desert from any claims, damages,
etc. resulting from the reduction of the height of the mitigation measure.
Staff has several concerns regarding this request:
• Since not all of the residents requesting a height reduction are adjacent to
one another, an uneven appearance would be created by varied wall
heights, thereby compromising the aesthetic appeal of the soundwall (see
attached rendering for visual impact).
• Reducing the height of the wall may decrease its ability to provide the
intended noise mitigation for all the residents. While the nine residents
requesting the lowered wall height are willing to trade some of the noise
reduction in favor of maintaining their view, such a change to the structure
of the wall would undoubtedly affect its noise mitigating function for the
other residents as well. However, it may be noted that in staffs opinion
the wall height could be reduced by a maximum of one foot with no
significant impact to noise mitigation.
• Reducing the height of the soundwall may impact the City's
reimbursement from the Coachella Valley Association of Governments.
Therefore, staff recommends that City Council approve the construction of the
Fred Waring Drive Soundwall at Desert Breezes to its full height as shown on the
approved plans.
Prepared By:
Bo Chen, P.E.
Senior Engineer
Approval:
Homer Croij
ACM for Deve
Carlos L. 0
City Manager
ment Services
Departm-nt He
Mark Gree wood, P.E.
Director of Public Works
CITY COUNCIL�CTION:
APPROVED DENIED
RECEIVED OTHER
MEETI
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
ABSTAIN:, )?&
VERIFIED BY: ktAW
Origina]. on File 3rith City Clerk's Office
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WALL RENDERING AFTER THE HEIGHT REDUCTION REQUEST OF 7 TO 3'
VICINITY MAP
Fred Waring Drive Soundwall at Desert Breezes
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