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Home My WebLink AboutCategorical Xmptn - Portola Ave Right Turn Pckt 633-07 _� �• � /� CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: ADOPTION OF CATEGORICAL EXEMPTION AND FILING OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION FOR THE PORTOLA AVENUE FREE RIGHT TURN PROJECT (PROJECT NO. 633-07) SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works DATE: December 11, 2014 CONTENTS: Notice of Exemption Form Technical Memorandum Vicinity Map Recommendation By Minute Motion, adopt the Categorical Exemption for the Portola Avenue Free Right Turn Project and authorize the Director of Public Works to execute and file the Notice of Exemption with the County Clerk. Funds for the $50.00 filing fee are availing in Account No. 400-4438-433-4001, Portola Wall and Sidewalk Capital Outlay Account. Backqround On June 26, 2014, the Palm Desert City Council authorized the deconstruction of four homes on Portola Avenue. The four homes were deconstructed to widen southbound Portola Avenue and expand the free right turn lane onto westbound Fred Waring Drive. The free right turn project will be funded partially by state funds, which require that the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) requirements be met. Terra Nova Planning and Research, Inc., provided a technical memorandum for the project assessing the environmental impacts, including potential vehicle noise impacts. Based on the memorandum, staff has prepared the Environmental Impact Assessment and determined that the project will have little to no environmental impact and, therefore, meets the criteria for a Categorical Exemption. Attached are the CEQA Notice of Exemption forms to be filed with the County Clerk. Staff Report Adoption of Categorical Exemption and filing the Notice of Exemption for the Portola Avenue Free Right Turn Project (Project No. 633-07) Page 2 of 2 December 11, 2014 Fiscal Analysis There is no fiscal impact beyond the cost of the filing fee. Prepared By: Depart n d: �'`' - v oel ontalvo, P.E., Senior Engineer Mark e wood, P.E. Director o Public Works Paul S. Gibson, Director of Finance Approval: ��' _�'� ,?�- ��'U�ft�flc�{ John M. Wohlmuth, City Manager CiTY COUNCII.ACTIQN APPROVED � DEN?ED RECEIVED OTHER MF.ETING DATE Z` �' � AYF.S: �rruK�Twta�rvta.n�ie�_�,ar�,,.��..�.�. NOES: .�P1`.� ._...�......�.�.......�..... AI3SFNT: Na''� AI3STAIN: .�,.�'`� . ......�_.�.�.�..........r VC;RIFIED BY: f�K�r1rv� Original on File with City Clerk's Office Notice of Exemption Appendix E To: Office of Planning and Research From: (Public Agency): City of Palm Desert P.O. Box 3044, Room 113 73-510 Fred Waring Drive Sacramento,CA 95812-3044 Palm Desert, CA 92260 County Clerk County of: Riverside (Address) Project Title: Critical Turn Street Improvements Project Applicant: City of Palm Desert Project Location -Specific: Northwest corner of Fred Waring Drive and Portola Avenue Project Location -City: Palm Desert Project Location -County: Riverside Description of Nature, Purpose and Beneficiaries of Project: Relocation of an existing critical right-turn pocket to the west of its existing location,plus new sidewalk and landscape improvements and construction of a 6 to 8 foot masonry wall Name of Public Agency Approving Project:City of Palm Desert Name of Person or Agency Carrying Out Project:Public Works Department Exempt Status: (check one): ❑ Ministerial (Sec. 21080(b)(1); 15268); ❑ Declared Emergency (Sec. 21080(b)(3); 15269(a)); ❑ Emergency Project(Sec. 21080(b)(4); 15269(b)(c)); � Categorical Exemption. State type and section number: Existing Facilities, Class I, Section 15301 ❑ Statutory Exemptions. State code number: Reasons why project is exempt: CEQA Guidelines Section: 15301.Existing Facilities,Class I. Project is a minor alteration of existing public structures and includes streets,sidewalks,gutters,associate structures and project grading. Lead Agency Mark Greenwood P.E. 760-776-6453 Contact Person: Area Code/Telephone/Extension: If filed by applicant: 1. Attach certified document of exemption finding. 2. Has a Notice of Exemption been filed by the public agency approving the project?, ❑Yes ❑ No Signature: Date: Title: Director, Public Works O Signed by Lead Agency O Signed by Applicant Authority cited:Sections 21083 and 21110, Public Resources Code. Date Received for filing at OPR: N/A Reference:Sections 21108,21152,and 21152.1,Public Resources Code. Rc��isrd 201 I b�ECEIVED r , NOV p g 2014 CrTY OF PALA�DESEqT PUBLIC WOAKg pEpT � J TERRA NOVA PLANNING & RESEARCH, INC.° TECHNICAL MEMORANDUM Date: October 16, 2014 To: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Public Works Director City of Palm Desert From: John D. Criste, AICP �� Principal Subject: Analysis and CEQA Categorical Exemption for Street and Associated Improvements at the Northwest Corner of Fred Waring Drive and Portola Avenue Purpose& Need The City of Palm Desert has acyuired and demolished four (4) single-family homes that were located at the northwest corner of Fred Waring Drive and Portola Avenue. The purpose of this action is to allow for the relocation of the existing southbound critical right turn pocket (pork chop) to the west of its current location. As currently configured, the critical right turning movement cannot be executed until the vehicle is nearly into the intersection, thereby limiting its effectiveness. The proposed action will allow the extension of the turn pocket farther noRh and increase vehicle stacking in this lane. These improvements will substantially improve intersection operations and minimize the delay for southbound traffic wishing to turn west onto Fred Waring Drive. In addition to the relocated critical right turn lane, the project would include new sidewalks along Portola Avenue and installation of landscaping consistent with that located along Fred Waring Drive. Finally, the project will include the construction of a six-foot to eight-foot decorative masonry wal! that will visually and acoustically screen the residences to the west. Environmental Issues A summary assessment was conducted on the proposed project and the environmental impact issues that could azise with its implementation. As a result of this assessment, it was concluded that the project could expose single-family homes located in the immediate viciniry to traffic noise no longer buffered or screened by intervening residences. Two of the four affected homes have masonry reaz walls, while the other two appear to be wood fences. Both appear to be approximately 6-feet high. Motor Vehicle Noise The principal noise source measured within the community of Palm Desert is vehicular traffic, which includes automobiles, trucks, buses, and motorcycles. The level of noise produced by vehicnlar traffic generally fluctuates in relation to the volume of traffic, the percentage of trucks, and average traffic speed. The vast majority of vehicle noise is generated within 30-inches of the pavement by exhaust and tire tread. Table V-3 from the Noise Element of the City General Plan shows the projected or modeled impacts of traffic and other sources at several locations in the community on local noise environments, including the project vicinity in the Year 2020. 42-635 MELANIE PLACE,SUITE 101 PALM DESERT,CA 92211 Phone: 760-341-4800 Email: adminC�terranovaplanning.com Based upon traffic noise modeling conducted in the project vicinity, it is projected that in the Year 2020, the 70 dBA CNEL noise contour at this location will occur about 124-feet from the roadway centerline. The existing rear lot lines of the potentially affected lots aze located approximately 135 feet from the centerline of Portola Avenue, or just outside the 70 dBA contour. Noise levels will drop by approximately 3 dBA per doubling of the distance; therefore, at 250 feet from the Portola centerline, unshielded Portola traffic noise would be perceived as being at about 67 dBA. Noise Shieldin� One of the most effective ways of reducing traffic noise is a shielding barrier that is constructed between the receiver and the noise source. Barriers of sufficient mass will effectively interfere with the propagation of the sound waves. A solid noise barrier with the mass of a masonry wall can shield receivers by up to 20 dBA. Therefore, the construction of a 6-foot or 8-foot masonry wall that intercepts traffic noise could reduce noise levels in the affected rear yards by up to 20 dBA. Therefore, with the City-planned construction of a masonry wall, backyard noise levels in 2020 and specifically associated with Portola Avenue traffic,would drop down to approximately 50 dBA. The projected noise reduction with the subject wall will probably not achieve 20 dBA. Nonetheless,it is clear that the wall will be an effective noise barrier and will achieve both exterior and interior noise standards for the four potentially impacted residences. Typical Noise Contours Residenaal Neighborhoods 6s aBn cn�t. Yc&t 2020 (w;thout waU> 70 dBA �p ta ZO dBA C.YEL C.vF'J_ reducaon with wul� Purkway Purkway 96' 6'tilin. .:� i.::i�x u,<<L« n��i.,: c. . s�;. 3 8 4' 8' 6' 12 12' 12' 6 S' 4 8 3 Residental Lot Roadway Ccntcrlinc The above schematic cross-section representative of Portola Avenue north of Fred Waring Drive shows the shielding effect of a solid masonry wall. It appears that the top of the existing wall along the rear of the potentially impacted residences is six feet above the roadbed of Portola Avenue and should assure that the traffic noise impacts along Portola Avenue remain insigni�cant and within City noise standards. Summary Based upon our analysis of the proposed project and its potential impacts on nearby residences,it is our opinion that the project,inclusive of a 6-foot to 8-foot masonry wall at or near the property line will effectively reduce potential impacts below levels of significance. J DGkc Cc File 2