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Dear Planning Commissioners,
The California State Attorney General requires local governments such as the City of Arcata to comply with SB1000 in
Local Land Use Planning.
SB 1000‐Environmental Justice in Local Land Use Planning. “Environmental justice” is defined in California law as the fair
treatment of people of all races, cultures, and incomes with respect to the development, adoption, implementation, and
enforcement of environmental laws, regulations, and policies. (Cal. Gov. Code, § 65040.12, subd. (e).)
(a) A Land Use Element that designates the proposed general distribution and general location and extent of the uses of
the land for housing, business, industry, open space, including agriculture, natural resources, recreation, and enjoyment
of scenic beauty, education, public buildings and grounds, solid and liquid waste disposal facilities, and other categories
of public and private uses of land. The location and designation of the extent of the uses of the land for public and
private uses shall consider the identification of land and natural resources pursuant to paragraph (3) of subdivision (d).
The land use element shall include a statement of the standards of population density and building intensity
recommended for the various districts and other territory covered by the plan. The land use element shall identify and
annually review those areas covered by the plan that are subject to flooding identified by flood plain mapping prepared
by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) or the Department of Water Resources.
A noise element that shall identify and appraise noise problems in the community. The noise element shall analyze and
quantify, to the extent practicable, as determined by the legislative body, current and projected noise levels for all of the
following sources:
(A) Highways and freeways.
(B) Primary arterials and major local streets.
Noise contours shall be shown for all of these sources and stated in terms of community noise equivalent level (CNEL) or
day‐night average sound level (Ldn). The noise contours shall be prepared on the basis of noise monitoring or following
generally accepted noise modeling techniques for the various sources identified in paragraphs (1) to (6), inclusive.
The noise contours shall be used as a guide for establishing a pattern of land uses in the land use element that minimizes
the exposure of community residents to excessive noise.
California Environmental Quality Act & Environmental Impact Report. The study is based on standard checklists covering
topics such as air quality, traffic, and noise. The environmental effects of a project will cause substantial adverse effects
on human beings, either directly or indirectly. The EIR shall also analyze any significant environmental effects the project
might cause or risk exacerbating by bringing development and people into the area affected. The Noise Element is
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required by California cities and counties (Government Code Section 65302) It falls under the California General Plan
Guidelines. Local governments must analyze and quantify noise levels, and the extent of noise exposure, through actual
measurements. Under Government code section 65302(f) Noise Element Requirement primary arterial and major
streets such as H and 16th streets, G street, K street, to be monitored and noise research be done such as Average daily
level of activity (traffic volume per days of the week, and seasonal variations. Distribution of activity over day and night
time periods, day of the week, and seasonal variations. Average noise level emitted by the source. City of Arcata 3.1.1
Noise Element. Within the Noise Element of the General Plan, it specifies an exterior noise standard of 60 dB CNEL and
an interior noise standard of 45 dB CNEL for multi‐family residential. The Secretary of Interior’s Standards for the
treatment of Historic Properties, Preserving windows, and the relation to noise/environment for Historic Neighborhoods
and houses, circulation systems, such as roads and streets. The Circulation System of traffic flow using the H street and G
street for exiting and entering 101 North freeway is a disaster. The quality of life for people living on these busy streets
in the future will be unbearable with the increase in air pollution and noise. This is a violation of SB1000 Environmental
Justice in local planning.
The Gateway Area Plan must do an EIR on the noise exposure from the addition of thousands of more vehicles using the
major streets H & 16th streets, G street, 8th and 9th Streets, K street and Alliance Road. Government section
65302(f)Noise Element Requirement primary arterial and major streets that falls under the California Environmental
Quality Act and the California General Plan Guidelines.
In the near future Cal Poly Humboldt is building additional housing for 2,400 students with the goal of building additional
housing in the future.
Craftsman Student Housing the project will resemble prior planning infill housing at the site. Total project budget 150
million. Planned opening Dec 2024
Library Circle Student Housing, Health, and Dining Building & Parking Structure. Total Project budget 175 million.
Planned opening August 2026
Campus Apartments Student Housing and Parking Structure. Total project budget 110 million. Planned opening August
2026.
All of these projects at Cal Poly and the 3,500 units Gateway Area Project will be putting too much traffic, noise and air
pollution on the North‐town and Downtown of Arcata. Look at how the California courts ruled in the Berkeley vs
Berkeley case regarding CEQA requirements and the inadequate environmental impact report addressing polluting
neighborhoods with traffic and noise. After air pollution, noise is the second biggest environmental factor causing health
problems, increasing the risk of cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, sleep disruption, hearing loss, and heart
attacks. Noise exposure has also been linked to cognitive impairment and behavioral issues in children. All people have
the right to a reasonably quiet environment.
A safety element for the protection of the community from any unreasonable risks associated with the effects of
seismically induced surface rupture, ground shaking, ground failure, tsunami, seiche, and dam failure; slope instability
leading to mudslides and landslides; subsidence; liquefaction; and other seismic hazards identified pursuant to Chapter
7.8 (commencing with Section 2690) of Division 2 of
the Public Resources Code, and other geologic hazards known to the legislative body; flooding; and wild land and urban
fires. The safety element shall include mapping of known seismic and other geologic hazards. It shall also address
evacuation routes, military installations, peak load water supply requirements, and minimum road widths and
clearances around structures, as those items relate to identified fire and geologic hazards. Tsunami Mapping page 7 for
Arcata. https://nctr.pmel.noaa.gov/tsu400/documents/Course_1_Day_2/Session_11/NCEE_patton_dengler.pdf Update
to the NOAA Dengler was published by Lori Dengler on Oct 8th,2022.
Please comply with California State Law by including SB1000 Environmental Justice in the Land Use Element for the City
of Arcata.
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Sincerely,
Gregory Daggett