PC MINS 20180424 I
APPROVED 5/8/18 ,►;
CITY OF RANCHO PALOS VERDES
PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING
APRIL 24, 2018
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Chairman James at 7:04 p.m. at the Fred Hesse
Community Center, 29301 Hawthorne Boulevard.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Commissioner Saadatnejadi led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
ATTENDANCE
Present: Commissioners Saadatnejadi, Leon, Tomblin, and Perestam, Vice Chairman
Bradley, and Chairman James
Absent: Commissioner Nelson
Also present were Community Development Director Mihranian, Deputy City Attorney
Laymon, R.F. Consultant Michael Afflerbach via telephone, and Public Works Director
Sasson.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
The agenda was unanimously approved as presented.
COMMUNICATIONS
City Council Items: Director Mihranian reported that the City Council, at its April 17th
meeting, introduced an ordinance based on the Planning Commission's recommended
code language codifying a compliance review process for Conditional Use Permits and
initiated a General Plan Land Use Map and Zoning Map Amendment to consider annexing
three lots on Rue Le Charlene that will come before the Planning Commission in the near
future. He added that there will be a Special City Council Meeting this coming Thursday,
April 26th at 6:00 p.m. to consider the Planning Commission's recommendations on the
updated General Plan and Land Use Map and will conduct a Special Meeting on
Saturday, April 28th at 10:00 a.m. to review the Capital Improvement Program.
Staff: Mr. Mihranian distributed late correspondence for non-agenda items.
Commission: Commissioner Tomblin reported that he is formally resigning from the
Planning Commission effective after tonight's meeting.
COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE (regarding non-agenda item):
Debbie Landis updated the Commission on the lawsuit between Vista Verde
condominium residents and Green Hills.
Sharon Lovey's spoke on Green Hills and the proposed grading permit.
Matt Geier spoke on the insufficient conditions at Green Hills.
Lori Brown commented on Green Hills as it relates to the Vista Verde condominium
complex and the City's View Ordinance.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. APPROVAL OF THE APRIL 10, 2018 P.C. MINUTES
Approved as presented on a vote of 5-0-1 with Vice-Chairman Bradley abstaining as he
was absent from that meeting.
CONTINUED PUBLIC HEARINGS
None
CONTINUED BUSINESS
None
NEW PUBLIC HEARINGS
2. MAJOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY PERMIT ASG NO. 48: Lower
Mossbank Drive west of Basswood Avenue (AB)
Director Mihranian presented the staff report with a brief background on the original
project reviewed by the Commission in October including summarizing the reasons the
Commission denied the project. He noted that the Applicant appealed the Commission's
decision and the City Council referred the project back to the Planning Commission to
review the project revisions while maintaining jurisdiction over the appeal. He noted that
the project before the Commission this evening remains in the same location but with a
smaller canister with related vaulted mechanical equipment.
Planning Commission Minutes
April 24,2018
Page 2
A discussion ensued between Staff and the Commission regarding the canister revision,
the RF Coverage analysis prepared by the Applicant and reviewed by the City's RF
Consultant, the alternative locations, the future proposed installation of a Verizon wireless
facility on this utility pole, aesthetic impacts with two wireless facilities on one pole,federal
and state laws regarding expanding existing wireless facilities, and other wireless facilities
that have gone live within the immediate area.
Chairman James opened the public hearing
Becky Karlmann spoke in opposition to the location due to a view impairment from her
residence and that the cell site is not necessary in the area. She also stated there is no
significant gap in coverage.
Mohammad Ziali spoke in opposition to the location due to his concerns of medical
impacts and visual impacts noting that his residence is adjacent to the proposed wireless
facility.
Michael Shonafelt, legal counsel for Crown Castle, stated that they have explored
alternative locations based on their coverage objective in the area, and noted that
although the alternative locations will better meet their coverage objective, the proposed
location was identified as its primary location because it results in a least intrusive impact
to the neighborhood.
Stephen Garcia, representing Crown Castle, spoke in regards to the coverage gap and
capacity objectives at the proposed location and provided further explanation on their
drive test analysis.
Jeff Calvagna commented on the discussion between the Commission and the City's RF
Consultant as it relates to the coverage gap, questioned the pending Verizon application
proposed at this location, and noted that he generally supports placing a wireless facility
on this utility pole.
Chairman James closed the public hearing.
Discussion ensued between the Commission and Staff regarding the impacts related to
additional applications from other telecommunication carriers and that each carrier has
equal opportunity to propose to collocate and install a wireless facility in the same
coverage area.
Commissioner Perestam moved, seconded by Chairman James, to recommend to
the City Council the approval,with conditions, Major Wireless Telecommunications
Facility Permit ASG No. 48 to allow the installation of antennas encased in a
canister measuring 2' tall and 14.6" in diameter mounted on a 4' mast arm of an
existing 40.5' tall wood utility pole with vaulted accessory equipment.
The motion failed on a 3-3 vote with Commissioners Leon, Tomblin, and Vice Chairman
Bradley dissenting.
Planning Commission Minutes
April 24,2018
Page 3
A discussion ensued between Staff and the Commission on continuing the public hearing
to a date certain to allow the Applicant and the City's RF Consultant to further evaluate
the RF analysis, noting that a continuance would only be acceptable by the Commission
of the Applicant agreed to toll the shot clock beyond April 30, 2018.
Stephen Garcia agreed to submit in writing within 24 hours a tolling agreement extending
the shot clock to June 30, 2018.
Vice Chairman Bradley moved, seconded by Commissioner Leon, to continue the
public hearing to June 12, 2018, provided the applicant submits in writing within 24
hours a tolling agreement extending the shot clock to June 30, 2018, to allow the
City's RF Consultant to conduct an updated data analysis, on a vote of 6-0.
3. MAJOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY PERMIT ASG NO. 64: South of 30150
Palos Verdes Drive West (AB)
Director Mihranian presented the staff report providing a brief background on the
original project reviewed by the Commission in September, which included the
installation of a new pole, and stated that Staff, at that time, was recommending to
relocate the wireless facility on the inland side of Palos Verdes Drive West to avoid
potential view impacts from the roadway and the processing of a Coastal
Development Permit. He noted that in light of Staffs recommendation, the project
application was withdrawn and a new application was submitted at the beginning
of the year proposing to install two 21.4" panel antennas to a 17' tall replacement
street sign pole to accommodate a wireless telecommunication facility with related
above-ground mechanical cabinet. He concluded that Staff is recommending
approval provided that the street sign pole be reduced to 14' in height and the
mechanical equipment be vaulted.
Chairman James opened the public hearing
Javier Verdura spoke in opposition to the location of the wireless facility stating
that the project will impair his view from the backyard.
Jeff Calvagna commented on the City's ordinance requiring underground vaults.
He also commented on collocations within the City.
Daniella Verdura also spoke in opposition to the location. She also invited Staff to
visit her residence and review the location and visual impacts to her views.
Stephen Garcia, representing Crown Castle accepts shifting the location of the
pole within 10' of the proposed location and reducing the pole height from 17' to
14'.
Planning Commission Minutes
April 24,2018
Page 4
Discussion ensued between Staff and the Commission regarding noise impacts, potential
view impacts, reducing the pole, placing the mechanical equipment in a vault within the
median versus the parkway, boring the conduit under the roadway, landscaping, and
adjusting the pole location within 10' of the proposed location.
Chairman James closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Tomblin moved, seconded by Commissioner Leon, to adopt P.C.
Resolution No. 2018-14 approving, with conditions, Major Wireless
Telecommunications Facility Permit ASG No. 64 to allow the installation of two
21.4" side-mounted panel antennas flush-mounted to a 14' tall replacement street
sign pole with related vaulted mechanical equipment within the Palos Verdes Drive
West median with the boring of all conduit under the roadway and to have Staff
work with the property owners of 7422 Via Lorado to identify the final location of
the street sign pole within 10' of the proposed location for the approved wireless
facility, on a vote of 6-0.
NEW BUSINESS
None
ITEMS TO BE PLACED ON FUTURE AGENDAS
4. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON MAY 8, 2018
Approved as presented.
5. PRE-AGENDA FOR THE MEETING ON MAY 22, 2018
Approved as presented with a recommendation to consider cancelling the May
22nd at the May 8th meeting
ADJOURNMENT: 10:05 P.M.
For the complete video archive of this Planning Commission meeting go to:
http://rpv.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view id=5&clip id=3129
Click on the agenda item number on the video.
Planning Commission Minutes
April 24,2018
Page 5