06. Environmental Policies & Procedures - Open Space Noise Mitigation

Implement practices to mitigate noise pollution in open spaces

Rationale: Identifying and mitigating unwanted noise sources coming from sources such as highways or airports reduces auditory disturbances — contributing to improved cognitive performance and sleep quality and decreased risk of cardiovascular diseases, hypertension, depression, and anxiety.

For the most accurate strategy and documentation requirements, please refer to the digital scorecard made available on the Fitwel Platform.

Requirements

Demonstrate compliance with one of the options below:

Option 1 - Open Space Noise Mitigation Practices (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

1. Identify all significant noise sources within a 1/2 mile or 800 meters of the project boundary.

Significant noise sources may include but are not limited to the following:

• interstates, highways, and principal arterial roads with 6 or more travel lanes
• heavy industrial/agricultural use
• heavy rail and at-grade/elevated rail transit
• airport facilities.

2. Implement a minimum of two of the following practices to alleviate excess noise:

• siting open spaces and outdoor amenities away from significant noise sources
• siting buildings to buffer open space from noise sources
• installing physical barriers to redirect noise to unpopulated areas
• using dense landscaping and natural material strategically placed at noise sources and outdoor amenities to absorb excess noise
• grading and mounding land to redirect and absorb noise
• restricting access for heavy vehicles in residential areas.

Option 2 - Open Space Noise Mitigation Practices (Full Credit):

Demonstrate compliance with all the following requirements:

1. Confirm that there are no significant noise sources within a 1/2 mile or 800 meters of the project boundary.

Compliance Documentation

Design and Built Pathways

Option 1 - Open Space Noise Mitigation Practices (Full Credit):

Requirement 1

• Upload an annotated plan identifying all significant noise sources within a 1/2 mile or 800 meters of the site.

Requirement 2

• Checkboxes to certify that all the following mitigation measures to alleviate excess noise will be implemented (minimum two):
  • siting open spaces and outdoor amenities away from significant noise sources
  • siting buildings to buffer open space from noise sources
  • installing physical barriers to redirect noise to unpopulated areas
  • using dense landscaping and natural material strategically placed at noise sources and outdoor amenities to absorb excess noise
  • grading and mounding land to redirect and absorb noise
  • restricting access for heavy vehicles in residential areas.
• Upload an annotated plan showing all the selected planned mitigation measures to alleviate excess noise.

Option 2 - Open Space Noise Mitigation Practices (Full Credit):

Requirement 1

• Checkbox to certify that no significant noise sources are within a 1/2 mile or 800 meters of the site.