PC RES 2017-028 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2017-28
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES DENYING, WITHOUT PREJUDICE,
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY ASG NO. 53 FOR
THE INSTALLATION OF TWO 21.4" PANEL ANTENNAS
ENCASED IN A 2' TALL CANISTER SHROUD ON AN EXISTING
52' TALL WOOD UTILITY STREETLIGHT POLE WITH RELATED
VAULTED MECHANICAL EQUIPMENT AT THE NORTHWEST
INTERSECTION OF MONERO DRIVE AND GRANVIA
ALTAMIRA.
WHEREAS, Chapter 12.18 of the Rancho Palo Verde Municipal Code (RPVMC
or Municipal Code) governs the permitting, development, siting, installation, design,
operation and maintenance of wireless telecommunications facilities ("WTFs") in the
City's public right-of-way ("PROW") (RPVMC § 12.18.010);
WHEREAS, beginning in May of 2016, Crown Castle (the "Applicant") applied to
the City for an Wireless Telecommunications Facility Permit ("WTFP"), pursuant to
Section 12.18.040(A) of the Municipal Code, to install 26 antennas in the public right-of-
way (PROW) to service AT&T customers throughout the City (the "Project") including
ASG No. 53 at the intersection of Monero Drive and Granvia Altamira;
WHEREAS, the original proposal called for the installation of two 21.4" panel
antennas mounted on a 4' mast arm, extending from the existing 52' tall wood utility
streetlight pole. The radio equipment and power meter were to be placed on the ground
adjacent to the streetlight pole, consisting of 9.7 cubic feet of equipment boxes in the
PROW;
WHEREAS, the revised project calls for the installation of two 21.4" panel
antennas, encased in a 24" tall canister shroud on an existing 52' tall utility streetlight
pole;
WHEREAS, the Project also includes vaulted mechanical equipment including
the radio and auxiliary equipment, as well as the SCE meter box in a secondary vault.
The Project consists of a total of three vaults measuring approximately 43 square feet;
WHEREAS, because the Project's location is within a residential zone and within
the PROW of local streets as identified in the General Plan, approval of a WTFP also
requires an Exception under Section 12.18.190 of the Municipal Code;
WHEREAS, the Project is exempt from review under the California
Environmental Quality Act ("CEQA") because the Project constitutes a small scale
installation of a new facility (14 CCR § 15303(d)).
WHEREAS, on August 22, 2017, the Planning Commission continued the public
hearing, without discussion, to September 12, 2017; and
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WHEREAS, on September 12, 2017, the Planning Commission considered
testimony and evidence presented at the public hearings, the information and findings
included in the Staff Report, and other records of proceedings.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF RANCHO
PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE AND RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The proposed Project is a request to:
A. Install a WTF at the northwest intersection of Monero Drive and Granvia
Altamira,
B. Install two 21.4" panel antennas, encased in a 2' tall canister shroud measuring
2' in diameter that will be mounted on a 4' mast arm, extending from an existing
52' tall wood utility streetlight pole approximately 20.6' from the ground level, and
C. Install vaulted mechanical equipment including the radio and auxiliary equipment,
as well as the SCE meter box in a secondary vault for a total of three vaults
measuring approximately 43 square feet in surface area.
Section 2: The findings required to be made by the Planning Commission for
the approval of a WTF permit, as set forth in Chapter 12.18 of the RPVMC, have not
been made as follows:
A. The Project does not meet the Findings required by Section 12.18.090,
Subsection B, of the Municipal Code, which particularly requires that "[tjhe
proposed facility has been designed and located in compliance with all
applicable provisions of this chapter," as follows:
12.18.080(A)(1)(a): The applicant shall employ screening, undergrounding and
camouflage design techniques in the design and placement of wireless
telecommunications facilities in order to ensure that the facility is as visually
screened as possible, to prevent the facility from dominating the surrounding area
and to minimize significant view impacts from surrounding properties all in a
manner that achieves compatibility with the community and in compliance with
Section 17.02.040 (View Preservation and Restoration) of this code.
The proposed installation of panel antennas encased in a 2' tall canister shroud,
at a height of 20.6' from the ground level, that would be affixed to a 52' tall wood
utility streetlight pole, does not blend with the surrounding environment and would
visually impact the character of the neighborhood as experienced from the
PROW.
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The proposed installation and support equipment does not meet the "non-
dominant design" standard requiring a facility to be compatible with the
surrounding environment. The overall size of the proposed antenna and canister
shroud that is attached to a 4' arm of a wood utility streetlight pole, in its proposed
location, is a feature that is out-of-character to the surrounding neighborhood as
there are no other structures or natural features in the immediate area that would
lend themselves to screening or blending the facility into the built environment. A
more compliant design would present equipment that is seamlessly integrated into
the utility streetlight pole or a "slim-line" design that does not present the antenna
nodes as the dominate feature on this wood utility streetlight pole.
12.18.080(A)(1)(b): Screening shall be designed to be architecturally compatible
with surrounding structures using appropriate techniques to camouflage, disguise,
and/or blend into the environment, including landscaping, color, and other
techniques to minimize the facility's visual impact as well as be compatible with
the architectural character of the surrounding buildings or structures in terms of
color, size, proportion, style, and quality.
The area in which this Project is proposed consists of non-dense, upscale
residential structures with well-maintained manicured landscaping and parkways.
The proposed panel antennas encased in a canister shroud that would be affixed
by a 4' arm to a wood utility streetlight pole exacerbates the visual clutter in the
surrounding environment and would be visually intrusive as there are no similar
vertical elements with similar facilities in the neighborhood.
The City of Rancho Palos Verdes' streets, parkway- and median- landscaping,
and public utilities within the rights-of-way have been planned and constructed to
achieve an attractive appearance which includes minimizing the number and
appearance of utilities and related equipment, particularly in residential areas.
Consequently, the proposed facility is not sufficiently compatible with matters of
urban design and the long-term maturation of this residential neighborhood—
especially in light of the fact that the Applicant did not establish the presence of a
significant gap in coverage that would necessitate the proposed facility.
12.18.080(A)(5): Equipment. The applicant shall use the least visible equipment
possible. Antenna elements shall be flush mounted, to the extent feasible. All
antenna mounts shall be designed so as not to preclude possible future
collocation by the same or other operators or carriers. Unless otherwise provided
in this section, antennas shall be situated as close to the ground as possible.
The record presented no evidence of the proposed antennas being situated as
close to the ground as possible. The panel proposed panel antennas encased in a
canister shroud measuring approximately 2' tall that would be affixed to a wood
utility streetlight pole on a 4' arm and as such has not been designed to be flush
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mounted that maximally blends with the verticality of the pole, and is not the least
intrusive design based on industry standards found for other antenna poles.
12.18.080(A)(7): Space. Each facility shall be designed to occupy the least
amount of space in the right-of-way that is technically feasible.
The proposed WTF will be mounted to the 4' arm of an existing wood utility street
light pole and would take up more right-of-way space compared to the existing
utility streetlight pole and does not use other feasible "slim-line" or pole-integrated
designs found in the industry.
B. The Project does not meet the Findings required by Section 12.18.190,
Subsection B.2, of the Municipal Code, which particularly requires that
"[t]he applicant has provided the city with a clearly defined technical
service objective and a clearly defined potential site search area," as
follows:
The "technical service objective" identified by the Applicant in all application
documents is the coverage of a "significant gap" in coverage. The wireless service
area to be served by the proposed facility only encompasses approximately 20
homes in City of Rancho Palos Verdes and is not located upon a major highway or
thoroughfare serving many in-vehicle users. Notably, and according to the
Applicant's testimony, the proposed installation will only serve an area within 1000
feet. The evidence provided did not support a finding of a significant gap. The
Applicant is not entitled to seamless or perfect coverage in every area it serves,
and the existence of a small "dead spot" in coverage is hereby found to be an
insignificant deficiency in Applicant's existing coverage in the area. Moreover, the
record established that the service area covered by the proposed installation mostly
covers property located in another jurisdiction. The Planning Commission's
preference is to see collaboration amongst adjacent jurisdiction such that the
communities can share the burden of these installations.
C. The Project does not meet the Findings required by Section 12.18.090,
Subsection E, of the Municipal Code, which particularly requires that "[t]he
applicant has provided the city with a meaningful comparative analysis that
includes the factual reasons why the proposed location and design is the
least noncompliant location and design necessary to reasonably achieve the
applicant's reasonable technical service objectives," as follows:
The Applicant has not provided a meaningful alternative comparative analysis and
the proposed project is not found to be the preferred design. The Applicant should
have explored locating the proposed facility along Hawthorne Blvd. outside the
immediate residential neighborhood to minimize adverse impacts to residents, to
the commercial building located at 28041 Hawthorne Blvd, or the monopole in
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Palos Verdes Estates. See above discussions in regards to RPVMC §12.18.080
for further detail, which discussions are incorporated here.
Section 3: Pursuant to Section 12.18.060 of the Municipal Code (referencing
Chapter 17.80 of the Municipal Code), any interested person aggrieved by this decision
or any portion of this decision may appeal to the City Council. The appeal shall set forth
the grounds for appeal and any specific action being requested by the appellant. Any
appeal letter must be filed within fifteen (15) calendar days of the date of this decision,
or by 5:30 PM on Wednesday, September 27, 2017. The Council-approved appeal fee
must accompany any appeal letter. If no appeal is filed timely, the Planning
Commission's decision will be final at 5:30 PM on Wednesday, September 27, 2017.
Section 4: For the foregoing reasons and based on testimony and evidence
presented at the public hearings, the information and findings included in the Staff
Report, Minutes and other records of proceedings, the Planning Commission of the City
of Rancho Palos Verdes hereby denies, without prejudice, ASG No. 53 for the proposed
wireless telecommunication facility installation at the northwest intersection of Monero
Drive and Granvia Altamira.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of SEPTEMBER 2017, by the
following vote:
AYES: Commissioners Emenhiser, Tomblin, Bradley, Vice-Chairman James, and
Chairman Cruikshank
NOES: Commissioner Nelson
ABSTENTIONS: None
RECUSALS: None
ABSENT: Commissioner Leon
hn M. Cruikshank
411. airman
Ara Mihranian, AICP
Community Development Director; and,
Secretary of the Planning Commission
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