SLOVER AVENUE WAREHOUSE PROJECT FONTANA - Class 32 Exemption Checklist MCN21-044 LLA21-010 DRP21-018
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SLOVER AVENUE WAREHOUSE
PROJECT FONTANA
Class 32 Exemption Checklist
MCN21-044
LLA21-010
DRP21-018
Lead Agency:
City of Fontana
8353 Sierra Avenue
Fontana, CA 92335
Project Applicant:
Newcastle Partners, Inc.
4740 Green River Road, Suite 110
Corona, CA 92878
2 Park Plaza, Suite 1120
Irvine, CA 92614
September 2021
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Table of Contents
1.0 INTRODUCTION........................................................................................................................................................ 1
1.1 PURPOSE OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION...................................................................................................... 1
1.2 DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION ..................................................................................................................... 1
2 PROJECT SETTING .................................................................................................................................................... 2
2.1 PROJECT LOCATION ..................................................................................................................................... 2
2.2 EXISTING PROJECT SITE................................................................................................................................ 2
2.3 EXISTING LAND USES AND REGULATORY SETTING OF THE PROJECT SITE ..................................... 2
2.4 SURROUNDING LAND USES ........................................................................................................................ 2
3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION........................................................................................................................................ 10
3.1 PROPOSED PROJECT.................................................................................................................................. 10
3.2 CONSTRUCTION ......................................................................................................................................... 11
3.3 OPERATION .................................................................................................................................................. 11
4 CITY APPROVALS .................................................................................................................................................. 18
5.0 EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS ................................................................................................................................. 19
5.1 CLASS 32 INFILL REQUIREMENTS ............................................................................................................ 19
6 APPLICABILITY OF CEQA EXEMPTION .............................................................................................................. 20
6.1 APPLICABILITY OF CLASS 32 EXEMPTION ............................................................................................. 20
7 EXCEPTIONS FOR EXEMPTIONS ........................................................................................................................ 38
8 REFERENCES ............................................................................................................................................................ 40
Figures
Figure 1: Regional Location .............................................................................................................................................. 4
Figure 2: Local Vicinity ...................................................................................................................................................... 6
Figure 3: Aerial ................................................................................................................................................................... 8
Figure 4: Conceptual Site Plan ..................................................................................................................................... 12
Figure 5: Building Elevations.......................................................................................................................................... 14
Figure 6: Conceptual Landscape Plan ......................................................................................................................... 16
Figure 7: Noise Measurement Locations ...................................................................................................................... 30
Tables
Table 1: City of Fontana Development Standards ................................................................................................... 20
Table 2: Project Trip Generation ................................................................................................................................. 22
Table 3: Existing Ambient Noise Measurement Results ............................................................................................ 24
Table 4: Construction Equipment Noise Emissions and Usage Factors .................................................................. 24
Table 5: Construction Noise Levels at the Nearby Sensitive Receptors................................................................ 25
Table 6: Operational Noise Levels at the Nearby Homes to South and West of Project Site ....................... 27
Table 7: Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment at 25 feet ............................................................ 28
Table 8: Construction Emissions Summary ................................................................................................................... 32
Table 9: Operations Emissions Summary (lbs/day) .................................................................................................. 33
Table 10: Localized Construction Emissions Summary (lbs/day) ............................................................................ 34
Table 11: Localized Operational Emission Estimates ............................................................................................... 34
Table 12: Greenhouse Gas Emissions .......................................................................................................................... 35
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Appendices
A. General Biological Assessment
B. TIA and VMT Screening Memo
C. Noise Impact Analysis
D. Air Quality and Greenhouse Gas Impact Analysis
E. Health Risk Assessment
F. Preliminary Project Specific Water Quality Management Plan
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1.0 INTRODUCTION
Newcastle Partners, Inc (Applicant) is seeking approval of a Site Plan (MCN21-04), Lot Line
Adjustment (LLA21-010), and Design Review (DRP21-018) from the City of Fontana to demolish an
existing 1,200 square-foot (SF) single-family residence and to develop an approximately 95,600
SF warehouse building (proposed project). The City of Fontana is the Lead Agency for the proposed
project. The Lead Agency will utilize this document as evidence that the proposed project qualifies
for the Class 32 Infill Exemption, which is further described below.
1.1 PURPOSE OF NOTICE OF EXEMPTION
Article 19 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines includes, as required by
Public Resources Code Section 21084, a list of classes of projects which have been determined not
to have a significant effect on the environment. This document demonstrates that the proposed
project qualifies for a CEQA Exemption as an Infill Development Project (Class 32 Exemption),
consistent with the provisions of CEQA Guidelines Sections 15332 and 15300.2 and provides
information for City decision-makers to find that the proposed project is exempt under CEQA.
Pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15332, the project qualifies for a Class 32 Exemption because
it is: (1) consistent with the General Plan designation and policies and Zoning regulations; (2) is
located within the City limits, surrounded by urban uses and is no more than 5 acres in size; (3) has
no value for endangered, rare or threatened species; (4) would not result in any significant effects
related to traffic, noise, air quality or water quality; and (5) can be adequately served by all
required utilities and public services. Additionally, this document demonstrates that the project and
its circumstances would not result in any exceptions identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2.
1.2 DOCUMENT ORGANIZATION
This Exemption Checklist includes the following sections:
Section 1. Introduction
Provides information about CEQA, its requirements for environmental review, and explains the
Exemption Checklist that evaluates the potential impacts of the proposed project to the physical
environment.
Section 2. Project Setting
Provides information about the proposed project’s location, the project site, and background.
Section 3. Project Description
Includes a description of the proposed project’s physical features and construction and operational
characteristics.
Section 4. Discretionary Approvals
Describes anticipated approvals and permits needed for implementation of the proposed project.
Section 5. Class 32 Infill Exemption Requirements
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Includes the Exemption Checklist and evaluates the proposed project’s potential to result in
significant adverse effects to the physical environment.
2 PROJECT SETTING
2.1 PROJECT LOCATION
The project site is located at 16355 Slover Avenue in the northern portion of the City of Fontana
within the County of San Bernardino. The site consists of two parcels (APN 0255-021-02 and 0255-
021-03) located on 4.6 net acres (5.0 gross acres) directly south of Slover Avenue. Regional access
to the project site is provided by Interstate 10 (I-10) off the Citrus Avenue exit and State Route 60
(SR-60) off the Country Village Road exit. The project site and surrounding area is pictured in
Figure 1, Regional Location. Local access is available from Slover Avenue as shown in Figure 2, Local
Vicinity.
2.2 EXISTING PROJECT SITE
The project site encompasses 4.6-acres and is developed with a single-family residence located
near the northwest corner of the project site. The project site is currently used as a truck-trailer
parking lot. The site consists of mostly barren land with minimal and sparsely located shrubbery
and trees located near the single-family residence. The site is flat with minimal elevation gains
periodically observed throughout the site. There are power poles and overhead wires located along
the northern edge of the project site boundaries that connect to the poles that run through the
abutting property. The project site’s existing conditions are shown in Figure 3, Aerial.
2.3 EXISTING LAND USES AND REGULATORY SETTING OF THE PROJECT SITE
The Fontana General Plan land use designation is Light Industrial (I-L) and has a zoning designation
of Light Industrial (M-1). The M-1 zone allows for a variety of industrial operations and related
uses including business parks, high-cube/warehousing, technology centers and offices.
2.4 SURROUNDING LAND USES
The project site is located within a predominately developed area and is surrounded by the
following land uses:
NORTH: Slover Avenue is located directly north of the project site followed by light industrial
retail uses. The light industrial retail uses have a general plan designation of Light
Industrial (I-L) and zoning Designation of Light Industrial (M-1).
SOUTH: A 10-foot alley is located directly south of the site followed by. single-family
residential homes. The closest residence is located approximately 200 feet from the
project boundary. The single-family residences are zoned Residential Planned
Community (R-PC). The northern boundary of Citrus High School is located
approximately 677 feet south of the Project site.
WEST: Single-family residential homes are located directly west of the project site. The
closest residence is located approximately 160 feet from the project boundary. The
single-family residences are zoned Residential Planned Community (R-PC).
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EAST: An industrial warehouse is located directly east of the project site. The warehouse is
zoned Light Industrial (M-1).
SOUTHWEST: The northeastern boundary of the Jurupa Hills High School is located approximately
387 feet southwest of the project site.
City of Fontana 3Regional Location
Rancho
Cucamonga
Rialto
Fontana
County of San Bernardino
County of Riverside
City of Fontana, County of Riverside, San Bernardino County, Bureau of Land
Management, Esri, HERE, Garmin, INCREMENT P, USGS, METI/NASA, NGA, EPA,
USDA
Project Site
••
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City of Fontana 5Local Vicinity
© OpenStreetMap (and) contributors, CC-BY-SA
Project Site
••
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City of Fontana 7Aerial View
GeoEye, Maxar, Microsoft
Project Site
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3 PROJECT DESCRIPTION
3.1 PROPOSED PROJECT
The proposed project would demolish the existing approximately 1,200 SF single-family residence
and construct an approximately 95,600 SF warehouse building. The project includes the construction
of associated parking, landscaping, and utility improvements to serve the site. The building would
be utilized for warehousing/distribution uses with associated office space. The proposed site plan
is shown on Figure 4, Conceptual Site Plan.
Development Summary
The project includes a total building area of 95,600 SF which includes 5,000 SF of office space,
88,100 SF warehouse, and 2,500 SF of mezzanine. The warehouse would be 39.5 feet in height
as pictured in Figure 5, Building Elevations. A total of 11 dock-high doors and 2 grade level doors
are proposed. The dock doors would be placed along the eastern boundary of the warehouse
building to limit noise spread to adjacent residences. A 10-foot landscaped setback would be
included along the western and southern boundary and a 20-foot setback would be included along
the northern boundary adjacent to the public right-of-way.
Parking and Loading Summary
The project would provide 43 parking spaces, 1 more than the 42 spaces required by the municipal
code. These 43 parking spaces would include 41 standard stalls and 2 accessible stalls for
Americans with Disabilities Act compliance. In addition, 3 trailer stalls would be provided.
The warehouse would provide 3 grade level truck doors and 11 dock doors for loading and
unloading. The exterior loading area would be screened by an existing 8 to10-foot wall associated
with the adjacent industrial project.
Landscaping
The project proposes 24,050 SF of ornamental landscaping that would cover approximately 30
percent of the site. As depicted in Figure 4, Conceptual Landscaping Plan, landscaping would
include 24-inch box trees, 36-inch box trees along Slover Avenue, various shrubs, and groundcover
to screen the proposed building, parking, and loading area from off-site viewpoints. In addition,
the 10-foot setback along the western and southern boundary and the 20-foot setback along the
northern boundary including along the site’s Slover Avenue frontage adjacent to the public right-
of-way would all be landscaped.
Fencing and Walls
The project would construct a 14-foot high concrete tilt-up screen wall along the western and
southern boundaries of the project site. The existing 8 to 10-foot wall provided by the adjacent
industrial warehouse to the east would screen the loading docks.
Access and Circulation
The project proposes two access points from Slover Avenue. The site would also be accessible via
sidewalks along Slover Avenue.
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Infrastructure Improvements
Water and Sewer Improvements
The project applicant would install onsite water lines that would connect to the existing 12-inch
diameter water line in Slover Avenue and would install an onsite sewer system that would connect
to the existing 6-inch diameter sewer line in Slover Avenue.
Drainage Improvements
Proposed underground infiltration systems would be located near the western boundary of the
project site. Catch basins would be installed along the perimeter of the building. In addition, the
project would ensure all on-site drainage would not have discharge points or runoff at the rear of
the property through project design features.
Sidewalk Improvements
The proposed project would include 6-footwide sidewalks along the project frontage per City
standards.
Offsite Improvements
Existing power poles and overhead lines located on Slover Avenue would be removed and
overhead lines would be moved to underground lines. A streetlight would be installed near the
southwest corner of the project site along Slover Avenue per City of Fontana standards.
3.2 CONSTRUCTION
Construction activities are expected to begin in the first quarter of 2022 and take approximately
1 year. Project construction would include site preparation, demolition, grading, building
construction, architectural coating, and paving. The project’s anticipated opening year is 2023.
3.3 OPERATION
The project would be operated as an industrial warehouse building. Typical operational
characteristics include employees traveling to and from the site, delivery of materials and supplies
to the site, truck loading and unloading, and manufacturing activities. Operation is assumed to be
24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
City of Fontana 11Conceptual Site Plan Slover Avenue Exemption Figure 4
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City of Fontana 13Building Elevations Slover Avenue Exemption Figure 5
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City of Fontana 15Conceptual Landscape Plan Slover Avenue Exemption Figure 6
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4 CITY APPROVALS
The Applicant requests City of Fontana’s approval of the following discretionary actions to
implement the proposed project:
Design Review Approval.
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5.0 EXEMPTION REQUIREMENTS
5.1 CLASS 32 INFILL REQUIREMENTS
Article 19 of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA Guidelines Sections 15300 to 15333),
includes a list of classes of projects that have been determined to not have a significant effect on
the environment and as a result, are exempt from review under CEQA.
Class 32 Infill Exemption
One of the classes of projects exempt from CEQA review are projects that are specified as urban
infill development. CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 defines the Class 32 Infill Exemption as a
project that meets the following five requirements:
a) The project is consistent with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable
general plan policies as well as with applicable zoning designation and regulations.
b) The proposed development occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five
acres substantially surrounded by urban uses.
c) The project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species.
d) Approval of the project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic, noise,
air quality, or water quality.
e) The site can be adequately served by all required utilities and public services.
Exceptions
In addition to meeting the five requirements stated above, the CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2
provides specific instances where exceptions apply to a project that would otherwise meet the
requirements for an exemption. These exceptions are:
a) Location: Classes 3, 4, 5, 6, and 11 are qualified by consideration of where the project is
to be located – a project that is ordinarily insignificant in its impact on the environment may
in a particularly sensitive environment be significant. Therefore, these classes are considered
to apply in all instances, except where the project may impact on an environmental resource
of hazardous or critical concern where designated, precisely mapped, and officially
adopted pursuant to law by federal, state, or local agencies.
b) Cumulative Impact: All exemptions for these classes are inapplicable when the cumulative
impact of successive projects of the same type in the same place, over time is significant.
c) Significant Effects: A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is
a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment
due to unusual circumstances.
d) Scenic Highways: A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may result
in damage to scenic resources, including but not limited to, trees, historic buildings, rock
outcroppings, or similar resources, within a highway officially designated as a state scenic
highway. This does not apply to improvements which are required as mitigation by an
adopted negative declaration or certified EIR.
e) Hazardous Waste Sites: A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project located on
a site which is included on any list complied pursuant to Section 65962.5 of the Government
Code.
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f) Historical Resources: A categorical exemption shall not be used for a project which may
cause a substantial adverse change in the significance of a historical resources.
6 APPLICABILITY OF CEQA EXEMPTION
6.1 APPLICABILITY OF CLASS 32 EXEMPTION
The analysis below provides substantial evidence that the project properly qualifies for an
exemption under CEQA Guidelines Section 15332 (i.e., Class 32) and, as a result, would not have
a significant effect on the environment. Additionally, the analysis shows there are no exceptions to
qualifying for the categorical exemption, as identified in CEQA Guidelines Section 15300.2.
a. Criterion Section 15332(a): General Plan and Zoning Consistency: The project is consistent
with the applicable general plan designation and all applicable general plan policies as well as
with applicable zoning designation and regulations.
The City of Fontana General Plan land use designation for the project site is Light Industrial and the
existing zoning designation of the site is Light Industrial. The Light Industrial zone allows for a variety
of industrial operations and related uses including business parks, high-cube/warehousing,
technology centers and offices.
Table 1 shows the project’s consistency with City of Fontana Development Standards. As shown, the
proposed project would meet all of the requisite development standards, including lot size, setback,
landscaping, and parking requirements. Therefore, the project would be consistent with the
applicable zoning regulations.
Table 1: City of Fontana Development Standards
Development Standard Required Provided
Parking 41 43
Office @ 1/250 SF
Warehouse @ 1/750 SF
Minimum Lot Size 43,560 SF 200,669 SF
Structure Height 75’ Max 39.5’
Front Setback 15’ 20’
Interior and Rear Setback (Abutting 30’ 46’
Residential)
Interior and Rear Setback (Abutting all 5’ 45’
other zoning districts)
Rear Setback 15’ 15’
Site Landscaping Coverage 15.0 % 30.1%
b. Criterion Section 15332(b): Project Location, Size, and Context: The proposed development
occurs within city limits on a project site of no more than five acres substantially surrounded by
urban uses.
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The project is within the city limits of the City of Fontana, on a 4.6-acre site. As shown on Figure 2
and detailed in Section 2.3, the site is surrounded by urban development on all sides. The site is
located on Slover Avenue and is surrounded by residential housing to the west and south and
industrial development to the east. Light industrial retail uses are located to the north across from
Slover Avenue. As the project site is no more than five acres and substantially surrounded by urban
uses, it meets the criteria of CEQA Guidelines Section 15332(b).
c. Criterion Section 15332(c): Endangered, Rare, or Threatened Species: The project site has no
value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species as discussed in the General Biological
Assessment prepared by Hernandez Environmental Services in June 2021 (Appendix A).
The 4.6-acre project site is developed with a single-family residence on the northwest corner of the
site. The rest of the site is covered in gravel and used for storing commercial trucks. At the time of
the biological site visit that occurred on January 20, 2021, for the biological assessment, the site
contained limited ornamental landscaping consisting of cypress trees, queen palms, and an orange
tree near the northwest corner.
The project site is not within any state or federal Habitat Conservation Plans or Habitat Conservation
Plans. In addition, the project site is mapped as light industrial use and is not located within an area
designated as open space or considered to have any significant biological habitat. No special-
status plant species or animal species listed as threatened, endangered, or candidate were
detected on the site due to lack of suitable habitat.
Therefore, the project site has no value as habitat for endangered, rare or threatened species. For
the reasons described above, the proposed project meets the criteria of CEQA Guidelines Section
15332(c).
d. Criterion Section 15332(d): Significant Effects: Approval of the project would not result in any
significant effects relating to traffic, noise, air quality, or water quality.
TRAFFIC
The project proposes the construction of one building with associated office space on the partially
developed site. The project trip generation was prepared using trip rates from the Institute of
Transportation Engineers (ITE) Trip Generation, 10th Edition (2017).
As shown in Table 2 and discussed in the TIA and VMT Screening Memo prepared by EPD Solutions,
Inc. on May 12, 2021 (Appendix B), the operation of the proposed project would generate 166
net daily trips including 17 trips during the a.m. peak hour and 18 trips during the p.m. peak hour.
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Table 2: Project Trip Generation
A.M. Peak Hour P.M. Peak Hour
Daily In Out Total In Out Total
ITE Trip Rate for Warehouse1 1.74 0.13 0.04 0.17 0.05 0.14 0.19
Project Trip Generation 166 13 4 17 5 13 18
Total PCE Trip Generation
218 18 6 24 7 18 25
Proposed Project
ITE= Institute of Transportation Engineer
1Trip rates from the Institute of Transportation Engineers, Trip Generation, 10th Edition, 2017. Land Use Code 150- Warehousing
The City of Fontana has adopted Vehicle Miles Traveled (VMT) significance thresholds and VMT
screening thresholds. The Fontana VMT screening thresholds include a 500 daily trip threshold. The
proposed project generates 166 daily trips, under the 500 daily trip threshold. The project’s PCE
trip generation which includes trucks is 218 daily trips, also under the 500 daily trip threshold. Thus,
the project would be screened out of preparing a full VMT analysis. Therefore, the project would
have a less than significant impact on VMT.
The site is adjacent to existing sidewalks along Slover Avenue to the north and across the street
from the site. Development of the project would construct new 6-foot sidewalks per City standards.
Construction of the sidewalks would result in a conflict with pedestrian facilities that would be
temporary in nature. The new 6-foot sidewalks would provide a long-term benefit for pedestrians.
Thus, the project would not conflict with pedestrian or bicycle facilities. Public transit in the project
vicinity is provided by Omnitrans, which provides a bus route (Route 82) that travels along Slover
Avenue and has a stop at the intersection of Slover and Oleander that would be available to transit
users to and from the project site.
Overall, the proposed project would not result in any significant effects relating to traffic; therefore,
the proposed project meets the traffic related criteria of CEQA Guidelines Section 15332(d).
NOISE
Noise Terminology
Various noise descriptors are utilized in this noise analysis, and are summarized as follows:
Leq: The equivalent sound level, which is used to describe noise over a specified period of time,
typically 1-hour, in terms of a single numerical value. The Leq of a time-varying signal and that of
a steady signal are the same if they deliver the same acoustic energy over a given time. The Leq
may also be referred to as the average sound level.
Lmax: The instantaneous maximum noise level experienced during a given period of time.
Lmin: The instantaneous minimum noise level experienced during a given period of time.
Ldn: The Day-Night Average Level (Ldn) is the weighted average of the intensity of a sound, with
corrections for time of day, and averaged over 24 hours. The time of day corrections require the
addition of ten decibels to sound levels at night between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m.
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CNEL: The Community Noise Equivalent Level, which, similar to the Ldn, is the average A-weighted
noise level during a 24-hour day that is obtained after an addition of 4.77 decibels (dBA) to
measured noise levels between the hours of 7:00 pm to 10:00 pm. These additions are made to the
sound levels at these time periods because during the evening and nighttime hours, when compared
to daytime hours, there is a decrease in the ambient noise levels, which creates an increased
sensitivity to sounds.
Ambient Noise: The “ambient noise level” is the background noise level associated with a given
environment at a specified time and is usually a composite of sound from many sources from many
directions.
Noise Regulations
Municipal Code Section 18-63 stipulates that excavation, demolition, alteration or repair of any
building or structure other than between the hours of 7:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. on weekdays and
between the hours of 8:00 a.m and 5:00 p.m. on Saturdays, except in case of urgent necessity in
the interest of public health and safety, and then only with a permit from the building inspector,
which permit may be granted for a period not to exceed three days or less while the emergency
continues and which permit may be renewed for periods of three days or less while the emergency
continues. If the building inspector should determine that the public health and safety will not be
impaired by the erection, demolition, alteration or repair of any building or structure or the
excavation of streets and highways within the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., and if he shall
further determine that loss or inconvenience would result to any party in interest, he may grant
permission for such work to be done on weekdays within the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m., upon
application being made at the time the permit for the work is awarded or during the progress of
the work.
Municipal Code Section 30-543 stipulates that within industrial districts, no person shall create or
cause to be created any sound which exceeds the noise levels on this section as measured at the
property line of any residentially zoned property:
1. The noise level between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00 p.m. shall not exceed 70 dB(A).
2. The noise level between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m. shall not exceed 65 dB(A)
Noise measurements. Noise shall be measured with a sound level meter that meets the standards of
the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) Section S14-1979, Type 1 or Type 2. Noise levels
shall be measures using the “A” weighted sound pressure level scale in decibels (reference pressure
= 20 micronewtons per meter squared).
Vibration. No person shall create or cause to be created any activity which causes a vibration which
can be felt beyond the property line with or without the aid of an instrument.
Existing Conditions
To assess the existing noise level environment, 24-hour noise level measurements were taken at 2
locations from May 14, 2021 to May 15, 2021, which are shown in Figure 7, Noise Measurement
Locations and further discussed in the Noise Impact Analysis prepared by Vista Environmental on
June 14, 2021 (Appendix C). A description of these locations and the existing noise levels are
provided below in Table 1.
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Table 3: Existing Ambient Noise Measurement Results
Maximum (dBA Leq 1-hour/Time)
Site Average Average
No. Site Description (dBA Leq) (dBA Lmax) (dBA
Minimum Maximum CNEL)
Located on a palm tree near the northwest
59.5 74.3
A corner of the project site, approximately 50 feet 69.9 100.1 73.1
2:17 a.m. 3:56 p.m.
south of the centerline for Slover Avenue.
Located on a chain-link fence on the southwest 43.2 58.8
B 54.1 82.6 58.8
corner of the project site. 2:36 a.m. 6:07 p.m.
Source: Noise Impact Analysis, 2021, Appendix C
Construction Noise The noise impacts from construction of the proposed project have been analyzed
through use of the FHWA’s Roadway Construction Noise Model (RCNM). The FHWA compiled noise
measurement data regarding the noise generating characteristics of several different types of
construction equipment. Table 4 below provides a list of the construction equipment anticipated to
be used during construction. In addition, Table 4 shows the associated measured noise emissions for
each piece of equipment from the RCNM model and measured percentage of typical equipment
use per day. Construction noise impacts to the nearby sensitive receptors have been calculated
according to the equipment noise levels and usage factors listed in Table 4 and through use of the
RCNM. In order to determine if proposed construction activities would create a significant substantial
temporary noise increase, the Federal Transit Authority (FTA) construction noise criteria thresholds
have been utilized, which shows that a significant construction noise impact would occur if construction
noise exceeds 80 dBA during the daytime at any of the nearby homes.
Table 4: Construction Equipment Noise Emissions and Usage Factors
Number of Acoustical Use Spec 721.560 Lmax at Actual Measured Lmax
Equipment Description Equipment Factor1 (percent) 50 feet2 (dBA, slow3) at 50 feet4 (dBA, slow3)
Demolition
Concrete/Industrial Saws 1 40 85 82
Excavators 3 40 85 81
Rubber Tired Dozers 2 40 85 82
Site Preparation
Rubber Tired Dozer 3 40 85 83
Crawler Tractor 4 40 84 N/A
Grading
Excavator 1 40 85 81
Grader 1 40 85 83
Rubber Tired Dozer 1 40 85 82
Crawler Tractor 3 40 84 N/A
Building Construction
Crane 1 16 85 81
Forklift (Gradall) 3 40 85 83
Generator 1 50 82 81
Tractor, Loader or Backhoe 3 40 84 N/A
Welder 1 40 73 74
Paving
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Number of Acoustical Use Spec 721.560 Lmax at Actual Measured Lmax
Equipment Description Equipment Factor1 (percent) 50 feet2 (dBA, slow3) at 50 feet4 (dBA, slow3)
Paver 2 50 85 77
Paving Equipment 2 50 85 77
Rollers 2 20 85 80
Cement and Mortar Mixers 2 50 85 77
Tractor, Loader or Backhoe 1 40 84 N/A
Architectural Coating
Air Compressor 1 40 80 78
Notes:
1
Acoustical use factor is the percentage of time each piece of equipment is operational during a typical workday.
2 Spec 721.560 is the equipment noise level utilized by the RCNM program.
3 The “slow” response averages sound levels over 1-second increments. A “fast” response averages sound levels over 0.125-second increments.
4 Actual Measured is the average noise level measured of each piece of equipment during the Central Artery/Tunnel project in Boston,
Massachusetts primarily during the 1990s.
Source: Noise Impact Analysis, 2021, Appendix C
Construction-related noise:
The nearest sensitive receptors to the project site are the single-family homes located along the
west side of the project site, where the nearest home is located as near as 160 feet west of the
project site. There are also homes located on the south side of the project site, that are on the south
side of the public alley, where the nearest home is located as near as 200 feet south of the project
site. Table 5 shows that greatest construction noise impacts would be as high as 71 dBA Leq during
the site preparation, grading, and building construction phases at the nearest homes located west
of the site. As shown in Table 5 below, the proposed Project would not exceed the 80 dBA threshold.
Therefore, given the temporary nature of the construction activities in conjunction with existing City
regulations related to the allowable hours of construction activity, the Project would not result in a
significant impact related to noise.
Table 5: Construction Noise Levels at the Nearby Sensitive Receptors
Construction Noise Level (dBA Leq) at:
Construction Phase Nearest Homes to West1 Nearest Homes to South2
Demolition 70 66
Site Preparation 71 68
Grading 71 66
Building Construction 71 67
Paving 69 65
Painting 57 54
FTA Construction Noise Threshold3 80 80
Exceed Thresholds? No No
Notes:
1 The nearest homes to the west are located as near as 320 feet from the center of the project site.
2 The nearest homes to the south are located as near as 500 feet from the center of the project site.
e The FTA Construction noise thresholds are detailed above Source: Noise Impact Analysis, 2021, Appendix C
Operational-related noise:
The proposed Project would result in the development of a warehouse. Potential noise impacts
associated with the operations of the proposed project would be from project-generated vehicular
traffic on the nearby roadways and from onsite activities.
Vehicular Noise
City of Fontana 25Newcastle Slover II Logistics Center
Class 32 CEQA Exemption Checklist
Vehicle noise is a combination of the noise produced by the engine, exhaust and tires. The level of
traffic noise depends on three primary factors (1) the volume of traffic, (2) the speed of traffic,
and (3) the number of trucks in the flow of traffic. The proposed project does not propose any uses
that would require a substantial number of truck trips and the proposed project would not alter the
speed limit on any existing roadway so the proposed project’s potential offsite noise impacts have
been focused on the noise impacts associated with the change of volume of traffic that would occur
with development of the proposed project.
The General Plan Noise Element Goal 8 and associated policies, requires the protection of noise
sensitive land uses through diligent planning that includes a prohibition of new sensitive land uses in
incompatible areas and noise-tolerant uses shall be located in noise-producing areas such as near
transportation corridors. However, neither the General Plan nor the CEQA Guidelines define what
constitutes a “substantial permanent increase to ambient noise levels”, as such, this impact analysis
has utilized guidance from the Federal Transit Administration for a moderate impact that has been
detailed above in Table A that shows that the project contribution to the noise environment can
range between 0 and 7 dB, which is dependent on the existing noise levels.
The Trip Generation prepared for the Project shown in Table 2 found that the proposed project
would generate up to 166 daily trips. Most of these trips would travel on Slover Avenue to either
Citrus Avenue or Sierra Avenue to Interstate 10. The Fontana Forward General Plan Update 2015-
2035 Draft Environmental Impact Report (General Plan DEIR), June 8, 2018, shows that for the year
2015, Slover Avenue between Citrus Avenue and Sierra Avenue had an average of 14,500 daily
vehicle trips.
In order for project-generated vehicular traffic to increase the noise level of Slover Avenue in the
vicinity of the project site, by 3 dB, the roadway traffic would have to double, and for the roadway
noise levels to increase by 1.5 dB, the roadway traffic would have to increase by 50 percent. Since
the proposed project would only result in a maximum of a 1.1% percent increase in traffic volumes
on Slover Avenue, the project-related roadway noise increase is anticipated to be not noticeable
to the human ear. Therefore, the project would not result in a significant impact related to vehicular
noise.
Operational Noise
The operation of the proposed project may create an increase in onsite noise levels from truck
operations, including loading/unloading activities, warning alarms from forklifts and trailers
backing up1, rooftop mechanical equipment, and parking lot activities. As mentioned previously,
Section 30-543(d) of the City’s Municipal Code limits the noise created from industrial sources at
the property lines of the nearby residential properties to 70 dBA between 7:00 a.m. and 10:00
p.m. and 65 dBA between 10:00 p.m. and 7:00 a.m.
In order to determine the noise impacts from the operation of rooftop mechanical equipment,
parking lots, and truck loading/unloading activities, reference noise measurements were taken of
each noise source and are shown in Table 6. In order to account for the noise reduction provided
by the proposed 14-foot high walls on the south and west property lines and the proposed 37.5-
foot high parapet wall on the proposed warehouse, the wall attenuation algorithms from the
Technical Noise Supplement to the Traffic Noise Analysis Protocol (TeNS), prepared by Caltrans,
1
Warning alarms from forklifts and trailers backing up would occur in the loading dock area located on the eastern
side of the building
City of Fontana 26Newcastle Slover II Logistics Center
Class 32 CEQA Exemption Checklist
September 2013, were utilized and the noise calculation spreadsheet along with the reference
noise measurements are provided in Appendix C. In addition, the noise analysis modeled 12-foot
high walls as a conservative analysis; however, the proposed 14-foot walls would provide further
noise reductions.
Table 6: Operational Noise Levels at the Nearby Homes to South and West of Project Site
Homes South of Project Site Homes West of Project Site
Distance - Source to Noise Level1 Distance - Source to Noise Level1
Noise Source Property Line (feet) (dBA Leq) Property Line (feet) (dBA Leq)
Rooftop Equipment2 70 31 45 35
3
Parking Lot 30 30 75 23
Truck Operations4 30 64 20 63
Combined Noise Levels 64 63
City Noise Standard (day/night) 70/65 70/65
Exceed City Noise Standard? No/No No/No
Notes:
1 The calculated noise levels account for the noise reduction provided by the minimum 12-foot high walls required on the south and west
property lines and proposed 37.5 foot high parapet wall on the proposed warehouse building.
2 Rooftop equipment is based on a reference noise measurement of 66.6 dBA at 10 feet.
3
Parking lot is based on a reference noise measurement of 63.1 dBA at 5 feet.
4 Truck operations is based on a reference noise measurement of 67.4 dBA at 5 feet.
Source: Noise Impact Analysis, 2021, Appendix C
Table 6 shows that the proposed project’s worst-case operational noise from the simultaneous
operation of all noise sources on the project site would create a noise level of 64 dBA at the homes
to the south and 63 dBA at the homes to the west of the project site. The worst-case operational
noise level of 64 dBA at the nearby homes would be within both the City’s daytime noise standard
of 70 dBA and nighttime noise standard of 65 dBA. The proposed Project would consist of 14-foot
walls along the southern and western boundaries of the site adjacent to the residential homes.
Therefore, the Project would comply with the City’s noise standards and would not result in a
significant impact related to operational noise.
Aircraft Noise
The proposed project would not expose people residing or working in the project area to excessive
noise levels from aircraft. The nearest airport is Ontario International Airport that is located
approximately seven miles west of the project site. The project site is located outside of the 60
dBA CNEL noise contours of Ontario International Airport. No impacts would occur from aircraft
noise.
Construction-Related Vibration
The City does not have quantified vibration standards applicable to the proposed Project. However,
the Caltrans Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual (2020) provides guidelines
for assessing the potential for adverse vibration effects related to structural damage and human
perception. Construction activity can result in varying degrees of ground vibration, depending on
the equipment used on the site. Operation of construction equipment causes ground vibrations that
spread through the ground and diminish in strength with distance. Buildings in the vicinity of the
construction site respond to these vibrations with varying results ranging from no perceptible effects
at the low levels to slight damage at the highest levels. Table 7 provides vibration levels for
particular construction activities at a distance of 25 feet.
City of Fontana 27Newcastle Slover II Logistics Center
Class 32 CEQA Exemption Checklist
Table 7: Vibration Source Levels for Construction Equipment at 25 feet
Peak Particle Velocity Approximate Vibration Level
Equipment (inches/second) (Lv)at 25 feet
Upper range 1.518 112
Pile driver (impact)
typical 0.644 104
Upper range 0.734 105
Pile driver (sonic)
typical 0.170 93
Clam shovel drop (slurry wall) 0.202 94
Vibratory Roller 0.210 94
Hoe Ram 0.089 87
Large bulldozer 0.089 87
Caisson drill 0.089 87
Loaded trucks 0.076 86
Jackhammer 0.035 79
Small bulldozer 0.003 58
Source: Noise Impact Analysis, 2021
Section 30-543(c) of the City’s Municipal Code restricts the creation of vibration which can be felt
beyond the property line. However, since neither the Municipal Code nor the General Plan provides
a quantifiable vibration threshold level, Caltrans guidance that is detailed above in Section 4.2 has
been utilized, which defines the threshold of perception from transient sources at 0.25 inch per
second PPV.
The primary source of vibration during construction would be from the operation of a bulldozer.
From The City does not have quantified vibration standards applicable to the proposed Project.
However, the Caltrans Transportation and Construction Vibration Guidance Manual (2020) provides
guidelines for assessing the potential for adverse vibration effects related to structural damage
and human perception. Construction activity can result in varying degrees of ground vibration,
depending on the equipment used on the site. Operation of construction equipment causes ground
vibrations that spread through the ground and diminish in strength with distance. Buildings in the
vicinity of the construction site respond to these vibrations with varying results ranging from no
perceptible effects at the low levels to slight damage at the highest levels. Table 7 provides
vibration levels for particular construction activities at a distance of 25 feet.
Table 7 above indicates that a large bulldozer would create a vibration level of 0.089 inch per
second PPV at 25 feet. Based on typical propagation rates, the vibration level at the nearest home
(160 feet away) would be 0.012 inch per second PPV. The vibration level at the nearest offsite
structure would be well below the 0.25 inch per second PPV threshold detailed above. Therefore,
the project would not result in the exposure of persons to or generation of excessive ground-borne
noise and vibration.
Operation-Related Vibration
The proposed project would consist of the development of a development of a warehouse. The
proposed project would result in the operation of trucks on the project site, which are a known
source of vibration. Trucks would operate on the east side of the project site from Slover Avenue to
the south side of the truck loading area. The nearest sensitive receptors to where trucks would
operate on the project site are the homes to the south that are as near as 175 feet from the southern
edge of the truck loading area.
City of Fontana 28Newcastle Slover II Logistics Center
Class 32 CEQA Exemption Checklist
Caltrans has done extensive research on vibration level created along freeways and State Routes
and their vibration measurements of roads have never exceeded 0.08 inches per second PPV at
15 feet from the center of the nearest lane, with the worst combinations of heavy trucks. Truck
activities would occur onsite as near as 175 feet from the nearest home. Based on typical
propagation rates, the vibration level at the nearest home would by 0.005 inch per second PPV.
Therefore, vibration created from operation of the proposed project would be well below the 0.25
inch per second threshold detailed above. Therefore, operational vibration would not result in a
significant impact.
Overall, the proposed business park would not result in any significant effects relating to noise;
therefore, the proposed project meets the noise related criteria of CEQA Guidelines Section
15332(d).
City of Fontana 29Noise Measurement Locations Slover Avenue Exemption Figure 7
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City of Fontana 31Newcastle Slover II Logistics Center
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AIR QUALITY
Air Quality Management Plan. The project site is located in the South Coast Air Basin, which is
under the jurisdictional boundaries of the South Coast Air Quality Management District (SCAQMD).
The SCAQMD and Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG) are responsible for
preparing the Air Quality Management Plan (AQMP), which addresses federal and state Clean Air
Act (CAA) requirements. The AQMP details goals, policies, and programs for improving air quality
in the Basin. In preparation of the AQMP, SCAQMD and SCAG use land use designations contained
in General Plan documents to forecast, inventory, and allocate regional emissions from land use
and development-related sources. For purposes of analyzing consistency with the AQMP, if a
project’s density is consistent with the General Plan, its emissions would be consistent with the
assumptions in the AQMP, and the project would not conflict with SCAQMD’s attainment plans. In
addition, the SCAQMD considers projects consistent with the AQMP if the project would not result
in an increase in the frequency or severity of existing air quality violations or cause a new violation.
As discussed previously, the proposed project would be consistent with the existing land use and
zoning designations. As a result, the proposed project would also be consistent with the assumptions
in the AQMP and would not conflict with SCAQMD’s attainment plans.
Construction Emissions. Construction activities associated with the proposed project would
generate pollutant emissions from the following: (1) site preparation, grading, and excavation; (2)
construction workers traveling to and from project site; (3) delivery and hauling of construction
supplies to, and debris from, the project site; (4) fuel combustion by onsite construction equipment;
(5) building construction; application of architectural coatings; and paving. The amount of emissions
generated on a daily basis would vary, depending on the intensity and types of construction
activities occurring.
It is mandatory for all construction projects to comply with SCAQMD Rules, including Rule 403 for
controlling fugitive dust, PM10, and PM2.5 emissions from construction activities. Rule 403
requirements include, but are not limited to, applying water in sufficient quantities to prevent the
generation of visible dust plumes, applying soil binders to uncovered areas, reestablishing ground
cover as quickly as possible, utilizing a wheel washing system to remove bulk material from tires
and vehicle undercarriages before vehicles exit the proposed project site, covering all trucks hauling
soil with a fabric cover and maintaining a freeboard height of 12-inches, and maintaining effective
cover over exposed areas. Compliance with Rule 403 was accounted for in the construction emissions
modeling.
Construction emissions associated with the proposed project were modeled using CalEEMod as
outlined in the Summary of CalEEMod Model Runs and Output prepared by Vince Mirabella on
May 17, 2021 (Appendix D). As shown in Table 8 the construction emissions generated by the
proposed project would not exceed SCAQMD regional thresholds.
Table 8: Construction Emissions Summary
Emissions (pounds per day)
Year
ROG NOX CO SO2 PM10 PM2.5
2022 Maximum Daily Emissions 4.6 26.5 21.2 0.1 9.4 6.0
2023 Maximum Daily Emissions 50.5 17.0 19.6Newcastle Slover II Logistics Center
Class 32 CEQA Exemption Checklist
Threshold Exceeded? No No No No No No
Source: Mirabella, 2021. Appendix D
Therefore, construction activities would result in a less than significant impact.
Operational Emissions. Implementation of the proposed business park would result in long-term
regional emissions of criteria air pollutants and ozone precursors associated with area sources, such
as natural gas consumption, landscaping, applications of architectural coatings, and consumer
products. However, operational vehicular emissions would generate the majority of the emissions
generated from the project.
Operational emissions associated with the proposed project were modeled using CalEEMod and
are presented in Table 9. As shown, the proposed project would result in long-term regional
emissions of the criteria pollutants that would be below the SCAQMD’s applicable thresholds.
Therefore, the project’s operational emissions would not result in a significant effect related to
regional emissions.
Table 9: Operations Emissions Summary (lbs/day)
Operational Activity ROG NOx CO PM10 PM2.5
Area 2.2Newcastle Slover II Logistics Center
Class 32 CEQA Exemption Checklist
Table 10: Localized Construction Emissions Summary (lbs/day)
CO NOx PM10 PM2.5
2022 20.6 26.4 9.2 5.9
2023 16.2 14.4 0.7 0.7
Maximum Daily Emission
20.6 26.4 9.2 5.9
2022-2023
LST Thresholds 1,359 220 11 7
Exceeds Threshold? No No No No
Source: Mirabella, 2021. Appendix D
Furthermore, as demonstrated in Table 11, the project’s operational emissions would not result in a
significant effect related to localized emissions.
Table 11: Localized Operational Emission Estimates
Maximum Daily Regional Emissions
Operational Activity (pounds/day)
NOx CO PM10 PM2.5
AreaNewcastle Slover II Logistics Center
Class 32 CEQA Exemption Checklist
Construction activities produce combustion emissions from various sources, such as site excavation,
grading, utility engines, heavy-duty construction vehicles onsite, equipment hauling materials to and
from the site, asphalt paving, and motor vehicles transporting the construction crew. Exhaust
emissions from onsite construction activities would vary daily as construction activity levels change.
In addition, operation of the proposed project would result in area and indirect sources of
operational GHG emissions primarily from vehicle trips, electricity and natural gas consumption,
water transport (the energy used to pump water), and solid waste generation. GHG emissions from
electricity consumed by the six buildings would be generated off-site by fuel combustion at the
electricity provider. GHG emissions from water transport are also indirect emissions resulting from
the energy required to transport water from its source.
The estimated operational GHG emissions that would be generated from implementation of the
proposed project are shown in Table 12. Additionally, in accordance with SCAQMD
recommendation, the project’s amortized construction related GHG emissions are added to the
operational emissions estimate in order to determine the project’s total annual GHG emissions.
Table 12: Greenhouse Gas Emissions
Annual GHG Emissions
Activity (MTCO2e)
Project Operational Emissions
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