Noise ELement of the General Plan - click here to read and/or download a printable copy of the document in Adobe PDF format.

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CITY OF TWENTYNINE PALMS GENERAL PLAN - NOISE ELEMENT

Planning Commission Public Hearing

February 5, 2002

City Council Public Hearing/Adoption

February 26, 2002

Section I

PURPOSE

One of the most desired characteristics of desert living is the relatively quiet, peaceful and tranquil attributes compared to the busier urban settings of Southern California. In analyzing the quality of life in the community of Twentynine Palms, these attributes represent the City’s greatest assets. The purpose of the Noise Plan is to retain and protect quality of life by preventing, reducing and controlling noise. 

Lack of noise is a basic and desirable characteristic of living in the City. As development occurs, competing interest have the potential to collide and, if not carefully planned, can result in intrusive noise which could degrade the quality of life for residents and visitors.

The Noise Plan seeks to identify noise sources, and provide a means for sustainable growth without the result of excessive noise. Issues addressed in the Noise Plan include those set forth in California Government Code Section 65302 (f).

Section II

EXISTING NOISE

Noise can be defined as unwanted or undesired sound. Airborne sound is the result of a very rapid change in air pressure form the surrounding normal atmospheric pressure. The combination of noise from all sources near and far is the Ambient Noise Level, or environmental noise.

The most common source of noise is transportation modes. Because of this fact, state law requires that the Noise Plan concentrate on transportation noise. Although the authority for regulating automobiles, motorcycles, and truck noise is held by the State of California, the City may enforce some of these state laws regarding vehicle noise.

Major sources of noise in Twentynine Palms are transportation and combat exercises on the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center (MCAGCC). Additionally, noise is generated by construction and other types of human activity. Fixed sources of noise can be controlled by the City and abated through an active noise control program; mobile sources are more difficult to control and abate.