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).

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Failed City of Sunnyvale Mary Avenue Extension Project Fees Almost $1.3M and Rising

The City of Sunnyvale has been charged close to a whopping $1.3M to date for the failed Mary Avenue Extension Project (MAEP) with additional expenses to De-Publish Precedent Opinion climbing and still yet unknown.

Filed and Published December 16, 2010, the 6th Appellate Court ruled against the City of Sunnyvale Council’s approval of the proposed Mary Avenue Extension Project and its Certification of the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR).

The Appellate Court found the City of Sunnyvale’s usage of year 2020 hypothetical traffic “baseline” to be legally deficient. The FEIR did not consider the project’s traffic and related impacts on the existing environment and “constituted a failure to proceed in the manner required by law.”  

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. 

Limited 300 Feet Notification Area Surrounding Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation PAMF Site

Imagine your residential home located just 5 houses away from the proposed Sunnyvale Palo Alto Medical Foundation to soar 52 Feet Tall, with a combined medical building and underground garage to total  300,000 square feet, including over 800 parking spaces and never being notified of the plans.

Click here for the PAMF building webcam activity.

Attorney Zan Henson states “An Appeal is Mandatory” as Judge Elfving Denies PAMF EIR Decertification

Ironically, in an issue disputing “adequacy,” Judge William Elfving posted his ruling on October 6, but it took an additional week, afterward, to receive his written decision. As well, the Sept 24th hearing was almost 3 weeks ago, and as of yesterday afternoon, the file had not been delivered from Judge William Elfving’s Court Clerk to the Court Recorder’s office.    

Still Waiting for the Ruling

A big thanks to the community members who have inquired about the outcome of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation PAMF EIR Lawsuit. We are still waiting to receive the judge’s ruling. I visited the court recorder’s office this past Friday and Judge Elfving’s Court Clerk still had not brought the file down to the recorder’s office.

As well, our Attorney Zan Henson had still not receive docs in the mail. Will post as soon as we receive word.

PAMF’s Introductions to Commissioners Assisted by City, While Neighbors Are Told “You’re On Your Own”

Those experienced with Planning Commissioners and Councilmembers will firmly state “Don’t expect to show up on the night of the hearing and ask for what you want. You need to talk with the decision-makers well in advance during the planning stages. By Council night, it’s a done deal.”