Local resident David Meyers urged the City Council to order a new noise study for the 210 freeway in La Crescenta, attacking the previous study as inadequate.
Meyers spoke during council consideration of a new noise element for the city general plan, updated from the one previously adopted in 1978.
The element included a 210 freeway noise study conducted by consultant Fred Greve, which found the noise impact did not exceed state standards.
Meyers said the Greve report was based on outdated standards, included contradictory data and left out material that should be included.
Greve, who was in the audience, said Meyers was mistaken about the standards that needed to be applied, and defended the study as accurate and complete.
The study checked noise levels at four locations in January of 2006, and did not find freeway noise to exceed state standards on an hourly basis, though there were some higher spikes for minutes at a time. High noise readings came from heavy winds, airplanes passing and noise from gardeners, as well as passing trucks.
Mayor Ara Najarian asked if the noise issue would change if the 710 freeway were completed, bringing more traffic to the 210. Planning director Hassan Haghani said it would, but he didn't expect a new study would be needed for at least 10 years.
The staff report indicated that residents along all four freeways, the 210, 134, 2 and 5, are impacted by noise, but sound walls are a state and regional resource out of the hands of the city.
Another issue on the sound element was a staff recommendation for a noise impact report for new residential projects, which Greve said would cost developers perhaps $3,000 to $5,000.
Yousefian asked if such a report would be required for the condominium project on Pennslyvania Avenue near the freeway, long planned but still not under construction. He was told the project has received its approvals for entitlements, and would not be covered.
The noise element also calls for a change in Saturday construction hours, from the current 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. to 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. In response to a question, Yousefian said this would not apply to amateur home carpenters working on their own property.
Yousefian, a contractor by profession, ended up voting no on the noise element.
