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WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEM NO. 3A-l MEMORANDUM Community Development Dept. 490-2236 Date: July 12, 1996 To: Dennis Welsch From: Mike Falk ~~ Subject: Request for a variance to the fence height in an Industrial District to construct an addition to the noise fence between Advanced Circuits Inc. and the residential neighborhood to the southwest. In the fall of 1993, the City Council approved a variance to allow ACI to enclose an area between two existing buildings. The purpose was to provide additional enclosed manufacturing space and to reduce exterior noise from transfer of materials between buildings. The main issue at the time was noise and how it affected the neighbors across Oasis Park. The City hired Dr. David Braslow to monitor sound during 1993 and to make recommendations to reduce noise levels. A number of improvements were made by the company: "new baffles and equipment, new rules about trash pickup and opening of rear doors in the evening" and a partnership with the City to improve berms, landscaping and fencing. Sound levels have declined by 9 decibels in the residential neighborhood to the north of Oasis Park. The sound from the site to that neighborhood is now lower than the PCA standard. Dr. Braslow has measured this and has recommended that the noise wall be extended to the west approximately 210 feet. Given the grade difference between the ACI plant and the residential units up the hill, Dr. Braslow has recommended that this section of the fence be constructed to be 15 feet tall. City Code requires the maximum height of 8 feet and therefore, a 7 foot height variance is requested in order to have the noise wall accomplish it's intended goal. Hardship exist in that the houses are at a level where the HV AC and other mechanical units on ACI's roof directs sound to their rear yards. ACI has again volunteered to bear the majority of the costs of this addition to the fence.