HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment #7 (TTAD)To: Denyelle Nishimori, Senior Planner
Town of Truckee Planning Division
From: Hardy S. Bullock, Community Affairs & Conservation Manager
Truckee Tahoe Airport District
Subject: Review of Joerger Ranch Specific Plan (PC -3) Draft Environmental Impact Report
Date: October 24, 2013
Denyelle,
Staff has reviewed the EIR. We support the findings outlined in the response from Mr. Landon,
Executive Director, Truckee Tahoe Airport Land Use Commission in his letter dated October 24, 2013.
I wanted to relay a few relevant concepts regarding the potential development.
The Specific Plan identifies Multi Family Residential (RM) areas of concentration within
CLUP zones D. Over the past 36 months 25% of new households reporting annoyance are
located within CLUP zone D.
Noise contours depict the average levels for all aircraft and all flight paths. The Truckee Tahoe
community is not average but highly aware of aircraft noise and over flight annoyance. Almost
all of our community annoyance as reported by our constituents is, "single event ". This means
it was a unique sound by way of its intensity, duration, frequency, or time of day. Most of the
time residents in this area would not notice the average aircraft following an average track.
Occasionally there will be a large aircraft, an exceptionally loud aircraft, or an aircraft lower
than usual that will annoy and or frighten people. This single event annoyance is considered
material by our agency and it is our goal to prevent this where possible. The location of this
(RM) area is positioned slightly south of the extended departure centerline of runway 29 and
directly under an existing arrival route. There is a significant possibility that residents will
routinely encounter single event type annoyance associated with flight operations in the
proposed development area.
70% of departures occur on runway 29. If aircraft depart this runway and fail to initiate an
adequate positive rate of climb they may appear low to observers on the ground. This location
will be subject to low flying aircraft and maneuvering aircraft during all weather conditions and
times of day.
Due to local site conditions and proximity, the proposed development area is subject to noise
from aircraft ground run up, snow removal equipment, and medevac operations. While most
aircraft activity is limited to daylight hours both medevac and snow removal operations take
place around the clock.
The runway 11 REILS (runway end identifier lights) are clearly visible and very bright when
viewed from areas on or near the proposed development area. These lights only activate when
an aircraft turns them on in advance of a visual arrival to runway 11.
Thank you for considering these items.
Most Sincerely,
� sue.
Hardy S. Bullock
Community Affairs & Conservation Manager
Truckee Tahoe Airport District
connected, by more than a runway
www.TRUCKE ETA HOEAIRPO RT. COM
October 24, 2013 - Page 2 of 2