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g) The Housing Element would have no effect on emergency response plans or evacuation plans for the City. The Element accommodates housing growth on sites that have already been designated for development in the General Plan, and would not result in increases in population beyond the levels assumed during emergency response planning. Impacts of growth on emergency response have been previously analyzed in the EIRs for the General Plan and TOD Strategy. The General Plan includes policies and actions to improve emergency preparedness and these measures would remain in effect after the Housing Element is adopted. h) The General Plan would not expose people or structures to increased risk of wildfire. The Housing Element indicates the potential for fewer than 20 new homes in the San Leandro Hills, which is the only part of the city identified as having high wildfire risks. This represents less than one percent of the city's housing capacity. Measures to mitigate wildfire risks in the hills were previously identified in the General Plan EIR and would continue to apply after the Housing Element is adopted. POTENTIALLY POTENTIALLY SIGNIFICANT LESS THAN ISSUES SIGNIFICANT UNLESS SIGNIFICANT IMPC T SOURCES 15SUES NllTIGATION IMPACT INCORPORATF,D 9. NOISE. Would the project result in: a• Exposure of persons to or generation of noise levels X 1, 2, 3 in excess of standards established in the local general plan or noise ordinances, or applicable standards of other agencies? b• Exposure of persons to or generation of excessive X 1, 2, 3 groundborne vibration of groundborne noise levels? c• A substantial permanent increase in ambient noise X 1, 2 levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? d• A substantial temporary or periodic increase in X 1, 2 ambient noise levels in the project vicinity above levels existing without the project? e• For a project located within an airport land use plan, X 1, 2, 11 would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? f. For a project within the vicinity of a private airstrip, X 1 would the project expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive noise levels? EXPLANATION: a) Adoption of the Housing Element would not by itself expose people to noise levels that exceed the standards established in the General Plan. Some of the housing sites are located near the I-580 freeway and others abut BART and the railroad rights-of--way. Exterior noise levels in these locations do exceed 65 dB Ldn in some instances, which is the General Plan compatibility threshold for housing. The potential impact of these noise sources on housing development was previously analyzed in the EIRs for the General Plan and TOD Strategy. Mitigation measures have already been prescribed and would be implemented as specific development projects are proposed. Most of these measures address design, architecture, noise buffering, sound walls, and site planning. These are found under Goals 35 and 36 in the San Leandro General Plan. In addition, Policy 35.01 of the General Plan requires acoustical studies and noise mitigation measures for any project located in an area that exceeds the City's noise compatibility guidelines. Additional measures are contained in the TOD Strategy EIR. The Housing Element suggests that a General Plan Amendment be considered for the Bayfair BART station parking lot to facilitate future housing development. The 11-acre site is currently designated for Public use on the General Plan Map. Any General Plan Amendment for this site would be subject to environmental review, including evaluations of potential noise impacts. Mitigation measures would be identified as necessary for that project. Thus, the overall impact of the Housin Element on ex osure to noise is less than significant. Housing Element Initial Study and Negative Declaration 18 February 2010