PC RES 2020-008 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-08
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING THAT THE INSTALLATION OF A
NEW 50' TALL LATTICE TOWER TO ACCOMMODATE LAND MOBILE
RADIO (LMR) ANTENNAS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 720FT2
EQUIPMENT STRUCTURE, THE INSTALLATION OF A 125KW
GENERATOR AND A 1,731 GALLON FUEL TANK WITHIN A NEW
511FT2 6' TALL ENCLOSURE AT 3860 CREST ROAD ARE
CONSISTENT WITH THE GOALS AND POLICIES OF THE CITY'S
GENERAL PLAN.
WHEREAS, in January 2009, pursuant to the California Joint Exercise of Powers
Act, codified as Government Code Section 6500 et seq., Los Angeles Regional
Interoperable Communications System Authority (LA-RICS Authority) was created, to
form a region-wide plan for an interoperable public safety communications network
utilizing the wireless system of Long-Term Evolution (LTE) for data communication and
the Land Mobile Radio (LMR) for voice communication;
WHEREAS,, in March 2009, the City Council authorized the City's membership in
the LA-RICS Authority;
WHEREAS, since August 9, 2013, the LA-RICS Authority identified several
viable locations in the City to install LTE or LMR wireless facilities where currently 3
remain under consideration or began construction for LMR sites: 1) Federal Aviation
Administration property at the top of San Pedro Hill at 3860 Crest Road; 2) Los Verdes
Golf Course at 7000 Los Verdes Drive; and 3) Los Angeles County-owned Antenna
Farm located at 5741 Crestridge Road;
WHEREAS, on June 12, 2018, the Planning Commission considered a General
Plan Consistency Review for a proposed 150' tall lattice tower (plus a 26' tall lightning
rod) to accommodate LMR antennas at the Los Angeles County-owned Antenna Farm
site and found it to be consistent with the Goals and Policies of the General Plan;
WHEREAS, on December 16, 2018, the Planning Commission considered a
General Plan Consistency Review for a proposed a 70' tall monopole (plus a 23' tall
lightning rod) to accommodate LMR antennas at Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall site
and found it to be inconsistent with the Goals and Policies of the General Plan due to its
adverse visual impacts;
WHEREAS, on May 22, 2020, the Applicant submitted documents of the
proposed project at the San Pedro Hill site per Government Code Section' 65402(a),
which refers to a Planning agency's General Plan Consistency Review of proposed
acquisitions, dispositions, street vacations or abandonments, and construction of public
buildings or structures.
P.C. Resolution No 2020-08
Page 1
WHEREAS, on June 4, 2020, a public notice was mailed to all property owners
within a 500' radius of the subject site announcing the Planning Commission meeting to
consider the proposed project's consistency with the City's General Plan;
WHEREAS, on June 23, 2020, the Planning Commission conducted a meeting,
at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present
evidence.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The above recitals are true and correct and are incorporated herein
by reference.
Section 2: The proposed installation of a new 50' tall lattice tower to
accommodate Land Mobile Radio (LMR) antennas, the construction of a 720ft2
equipment structure, and the installation of a 125kw generator and a 1,731 gallon fuel
tank within a new 511 ft2 6' tall enclosure at 3860 Crest Road are consistent with the
following Goals and Policies of the City's General Plan:
A. Safety Element
• Safety Goal No. 3 - "Develop and enforce health and sanitation requirements and
develop emergency communications and disaster preparedness programs to
ensure the overall health and safety of all residents."(General Plan Pg.S-6)
• Safety Policy No. 6 - "Encourage cooperation among adjacent communities to
ensure law enforcement and fire protection mutual aid in emergency situations."
(General Plan Pg. S-6)
The proposed project aims to provide a seamless communication platform that
facilitates timely and effective responses to emergencies throughout Los Angeles
County while supporting routine day-to-day communications. As the proposed
project will enable the City to effectively respond in the event of an emergency or
disaster and contribute to protecting the public health, safety, and welfare of the
community, the Planning Commission finds that the proposed project is consistent
with the above Goal and Policy related to the Safety Element.
B. Circulation Element
• Circulation Policy No. 52 - "Balance the need to accommodate wireless
communications coverage in the community with the need to protect and
maintain the quality of the environment for residents. All new proposals to
construct wireless communication facilities shall be reviewed using guidelines
adopted and kept current by the Planning Commission and, where applicable,
P.0 Resolution No. 2020-08
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considering covenants, conditions, and restrictions (CC&Rs). These guidelines
shall balance public and private costs and benefits to the greatest reasonable
extent, and encourage colocation of facilities and the use of evolving wireless
communication technologies to minimize impacts." (General Plan Pg. C-8)
The proposed LMR facility will maintain the same antenna structure and height as
the existing 50' tall lattice tower with a reduction in the lightning rod from 20' to 7',
and located approximately 100' southwest from its current location which will
increase the setback to the residential area in the easterly direction. Furthermore,
the proposed project will not intensify the land use by building more antennas on the
site as once the proposed LMR facility is operational, the existing 50' lattice tower
and associated improvements will be demolished. Therefore, the Planning
Commission finds that the proposed project is consistent with the above Policy
related to the Circulation Element.
C. Visual Resources Element
• Visual Resources Policy No. 8 - "Require developments that will impact corridor-
related views to mitigate their impacts."(General Plan Pg. V-3)
Once the proposed LMR facility is operational, the existing Los Angeles County
antennas and associated improvements will be demolished in part to not create
additional structures that may cause potential view impacts. In addition, the
proposed project will be part of a clustered development of various antenna facilities
concentrated on one particular site rather than a single antenna structure that will
likely stand out elsewhere. Furthermore, the project site itself is at one of the highest
peaks in the Peninsula measuring 1,460' above sea level, in which there are no
protected views in the direction of or over the project site. Therefore, the Planning
Commission finds that the proposed project is consistent with the above Policy
related to the Visual Resources Element.
Section 3: The proposed LMR wireless facility is statutorily exempt from review
under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), per Public Resources Code
Section 21080.25, as the subject site meets all the criteria set forth in this exemption.
Furthermore, the proposed project is categorically exempt from CEQA pursuant to
Sections 15301 (Existing Facilities), 15303 (New Construction), and 15304 (Minor
Alterations to Land) of the California Guidelines for Implementation of CEQA.
Section 4: Any interested person aggrieved by this decision or by any portion of
this decision may appeal to the City Council. Pursuant to Section 17.80.070 of the
Rancho Palos Verdes Municipal Code, any such appeal must be filed with the City, in
writing, setting forth the grounds of the appeal and any specific actions requested by the
appellant, and accompanied by the appropriate appeal fee, no later than fifteen (15)
days following June 23, 2020, the date of the Planning Commission's final action.
P.C. Resolution No. 2020-08
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Section For the foregoing reasons and based on the information and findings
included in the Staff Report and all other records of the proceedings, which are attached
hereto and made a part thereof by reference, the Planning Commission hereby finds
that the proposed installation of a new 50' tall lattice tower to accommodate Land
Mobile Radio (LMR) antennas, the construction of a 720ft2 equipment structure, the
installation of a 125kw generator and a 1,731 gallon fuel tank within a new 511 ft2 6' tall
enclosure are consistent with the Goals and Policies of the City's General Plan_
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 23rd day of June 2020, by the following
vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS CHURA, HAMILL,JAMES, SAADATNEJADI,
SANTAROSA, VICE-CHAIRMAN PERESTAM, AND CHAIRMAN LEON
NOES: NONE
ABSTENTIONS: NONE
RECUSALS: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Gordo Leon
Chairman
4Y-
Terry Rodrigue
Interim Director of Community Development
and Secretary of the Planning Commission
01203 000518521491 P.C. Resolution No. 2020-08
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