5A Public Hearings 2018 0220 - Laserfiche WebLink

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sensitive receptors include residences, schools and school yards, parks and playgrounds, daycare centers, nursing homes, and medical facilities (BAAQMD 2017a). The majority of sensitive receptor locations are therefore residences, schools, and hospitals. Commercial land uses dominate the Specific Plan Area; however, pockets of sensitive receptors occur in the following areas:  The Summerhill Terrace Apartments are located in the southern corner of the Specific Plan Area, to the west of Hesperian Boulevard, and north of the Union Pacific Railroad tracks.  A row of multi-family residences lines the east side of Hesperian Boulevard from Thornally Drive to Springlake Drive.  The Hesperian Villas, a multi-family apartment complex, is located on the west side of Hesperian Boulevard, south of Cherrybrooke Commons.  Several single-family residences are located on Olive Court between the east side of Hesperian Boulevard and the BART tracks. In addition, residential neighborhoods in San Leandro and unincorporated Alameda County surround the Specific Plan Area to the west, north, and east. The BAAQMD recommends that general plans include buffer zones to separate sensitive receptors from sources of TACs and odors. In April 2005, the CARB released the final version of the Air Quality and Land Use Handbook, which is intended to encourage local land use agencies to consider the risks from air pollution prior to making decisions that approve the siting of new sensitive receptors (e.g. homes or daycare centers) near sources of air pollution. Unlike industrial or stationary sources of air pollution, siting of new sensitive receptors does not require air quality permits, but could create air quality problems. The primary purpose of the handbook is to highlight the potential health impacts associated with proximity to common air pollution sources, so that those issues are considered in the planning process. CARB makes recommendations regarding the siting of new sensitive land uses near freeways, truck distribution centers, dry cleaners, gasoline dispensing stations, and other air pollution sources. These recommendations are based primarily on modeling information and may not be entirely reflective of conditions in the Specific Plan Area. The Air Quality and Land Use Handbook notes that siting of new sensitive land uses within these distances may be possible, but recommends that site-specific studies be conducted to identify actual health risks. CARB acknowledges that land use agencies have to balance other siting considerations such as housing and transportation needs, economic development priorities and other quality of life issues. CARB recommends avoiding siting new sensitive land uses within 500 feet of a freeway, urban roads with 100,000 vehicles per day, or rural roads with 50,000 vehicles per day (CARB 2005). 4.2.2 Impact Analysis a. Methodology and Significance Thresholds This analysis uses BAAQMD’s May 2017 CEQA Air Quality Guidelines to evaluate potential air quality impacts associated with implementation of the proposed Specific Plan. The plan-level thresholds in the May 2017 BAAQMD CEQA Air Quality Guidelines were used for this analysis to determine whether the impacts of the Specific Plan exceed the thresholds identified in Appendix G of the CEQA Guidelines. 147