Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation PAMF Backyard Clamor Exceeds City Noise Ordinance

Unless you drive or walk by  the 301 Old San Francisco Road Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) excavation site and physically observe the aggressive shoring currently proceeding forward, despite the CEQA PAMF EIR litigation Appeal, one would never grasp the intensity and scope of the project.

Per the PAMF Respondent CEQA Appeal Brief by Trainor Fairbrook dated April 22, 2011, the site is described “The PAMF’s medical campus is separated from other residences by a large parking lot . . . ” conveying an image or perception of vast “buffered” space between the PAMF site and adjacent Single Family Low Density Residential Homes.

Just look how close this giant excavator is digging furiously immediately behind this Sunnyvale Jarvis Court Home. The excavation or  Shoring Systems will be two levels below grade (25 feet) at the 301 Old San Francisco Sunnyvale PAMF site, just 10 feet from the adjacent residential lot line observed in the photo.

Jarvis Court PAMF Backyard Excavation Exceeds Sunnyvale Noise Ordinance

Neighbors have stated that the vibration feels like continuous earthquakes. The walls shake, they fear damage and items falling from their walls while nerves remain shaken.

Sunnyvale PAMF Construction Jarvis Court Adjacent to Neighbor Residences Exceeds City Noise Ordinance

The PAMF DEIR/FEIR was required by CEQA to explore mitigation measures to reduce the loud noise to a level compliant with the City of Sunnyvale Noise Ordinance.

In fact, the initial indicators, according to John Schwarz, of David J Powers & Associates,  warned Sunnyvale Planners Gerri Caruso and Trudi Ryan 9/19/08 writing “given the proximity of the residential uses, the HIGH construction levels anticipated and the duration of exposure to those levels . . . do not give it to Camino until we have a chance to discuss it.”

According to the PAMF DEIR Noise Impact Analysis, page 89, the Demolition and Site Preparation Noise Levels will reach 75 at Jarvis Court and 70 at Bayview which exceeds acceptable standards, according to the City of Sunnyvale Noise Ordinance.

The PAMF project construction noise is estimated to be two and ½ years at an estimated project cost of $120M or $190M (PAMF versus the City of Sunnyvale estimates).

David J Powers John Schwarz Warns of Significant PAMF Noise Impacts To Residents

The City of Sunnyvale has permitted The Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) Project to begin demotion and excavation despite the current CEQA litigation.

PAMF Giant Pit 301 Old San Francisco Road, Sunnyvale

Click here for the PAMF building webcam activity.

This surprising approval seemingly contradicts the first indicator that the PAMF Rebuild Project, located at 301 Old San Francisco Road, required an Environmental Impact Report (EIR),  according to CEQA, due to the intense construction noise impacts occurring from demolition and excavation that would exceed The City of Sunnyvale Noise Ordinance for an extended amount of time.

On 9/19/08 John Schwarz, of David J Powers & Associates, forwarded the draft environmental noise report from Illingworth & Rodkin to Sunnyvale Planners Gerri Caruso and Trudi Ryan warning “given the proximity of the residential uses, the HIGH construction levels anticipated and the duration of exposure to those levels . . . do not give it to Camino until we have a chance to discuss it.”     

Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation Demolishes Building Despite CEQA Litigation

The Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF), a Subsidiary of Sutter Health, has demolished the former 301 Old San Francisco Road  Building and is preparing the site despite the PAMF Environmental Impact Report (PAMF EIR) CEQA Litigation.

Click here for the PAMF building webcam activity.

PAMF Plywood Fence Noise Barrier. Will this be Adequate?

Note the 8′ plywood fence noise barrier. According to the PAMF DEIR, the purpose is to shield adjacent residences from MAJOR noise generating phases of demolition and construction to reach 75dBA on Jarvis Court, exceeding The City of Sunnyvale Noise Ordinance.            

Sunnyvale PAMF Plans Demolition and Excavation Despite CEQA Litigation

Despite the Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF)  Environmental Impact Report (EIR) CEQA Legal Dispute, Building Permit Plans have been submitted to the City of Sunnyvale to begin demolition and excavation in February.

Click here for the PAMF building webcam activity.

According to Sunnyvale Planner Steve Lynch, PAMF has submitted plans for the foundation and grading permits (first submittals) and staff is currently reviewing the package. Cynthia Greaves, Public Affairs Manager for PAMF, relayed “demolition of the old medical building will take about two weeks, after which the construction company will prepare the site for the excavation of the parking structure. A temporary fence will be placed around the work site perimeter as a safety barrier.”

According to Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) excavating is recognized as one of the most hazardous construction operations.   

PAMF Sunnyvale Warns of Asbestos

PAMF Public Affairs Manager Cynthia Greaves warned the Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation Heritage District Neighbors, December 7, 2010, of clean-up work demolishing tiles and insulation containing asbestos to begin and continue throughout the month of December.

Click here for the PAMF building webcam activity.

What ever happened to holiday twinkling Christmas lights, reindeer and an occasional sighting of Santa during the month of December? No, instead, PAMF neighbors and Sprouts shoppers will be greeted with dumpsters containing dust, old tiles and removed insulation containing asbestos in the remedial work of the two story, 72,065 sq. ft. Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation site. 

FREE 28 Months of Thunderous Pile-Driver “Hammer-Rap” for the Neighbors, Courtesy of PAMF

Get ready to party to agitating, pile driver, hammering noise, and lots of it! The Palo Alto Medical Foundation (PAMF) did not seem to bat an eye at imposing 28 months of loud, 6 day work-week, intense construction noise to their neighbors despite numerous comments and complaints from community members during the June 23, 2009 hearing.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation Giant Excavator Digging feet away from residential homes on Jarvis Court, Sunnyvale

Before the neighbors are told, “Tough luck, there are overriding considerations as to why you must expect over 2 years of construction noise exceeding the City of Sunnyvale Noise Standards,” CEQA requires there be a thorough analysis of alternatives that could reduce this significant adverse unavoidable environmental impact to a less than significant level.

And . . there wasn’t. This is so despite the numerous comments on the noise problem, noise mitigation or lack thereof.

PAMF’s Bounteous Sunnyvale, CA Residential Purchases Planned for Waste/Storage

Wowowowow! PAMF was a high bidder for 448 Kenny Court! Palo Alto Medical Foundation, a subsidiary of Sutter Health, generously purchased this modest residential property for $1,250,000.00 on 11/13/2008 to be developed into a 3,250 s.f. Storage and Waste Management Area for PAMF in Sunnyvale!

To compare apples with apples, a similar home in the neighborhood~ 389 S Pastoria Ave, SOLD for $621,000 just one month prior! Now, that’s STEEP APPRECIATION !

PAMF pays $1.25M for 448 Kenny Court!

(Click on image to enlarge)