PC RES 2018-020 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-20
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING THAT THE INSTALLATION OF A
NEW 150' TALL LATTICE TOWER TO ACCOMMODATE LAND
MOBILE RADIO (LMR) ANTENNAS WITH THE CONSTRUCTION OF A
400FT2 EQUIPMENT STRUCTURE, 100KW GENERATOR, AND 2,000
GALLON DIESEL FUEL TANK WITHIN A 9'-4" ENCLOSURE AT 5741
CRESTRIDGE ROAD IS CONSISTENT WITH THE OVERALL GOALS
AND POLICIES OF THE CITY'S GENERAL PLAN.
WHEREAS, in January 2009, the California Joint Powers Authority established the
Los Angeles Regional Interoperable Communications System Authority (LA-RICS
Authority) to form a region-wide plan to establish 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, on August 9, 2013, the LA-RICS Authority identified four viable
locations in the City to install LMR wireless facilities: 1) Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall;
2) Fire Station No. 53 on Palos Verdes Drive South; 3) Fire Station 83 in Miraleste
Plaza; and, 4) Los Angeles County-owned "Antenna Farm," located at 5741 Crestridge
Road;
WHEREAS, on April 23, 2018, the LA-RICS Authority notified the City, pursuant
to Government Code Section 65402(a), of the proposed LMR network at the Antenna
Farm. The proposed installation is for a new 150' tall lattice tower to accommodate a
LMR wireless facility with the construction of a 400ft2 equipment structure, 100KW
generator, and 2,000 gallon diesel fuel tank within a 9'-4" enclosure;
WHEREAS, Section 65402(a) of the California Government Code requires that,
no construction of a public building or structure by the county can occur "until the
location, purpose and extent of ... such public building or structure have been submitted
to and reported upon by the planning agency having jurisdiction, as to conformity with"
the adopted general plan of the jurisdiction;
WHEREAS, on May 17, 2018, 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 12, 2018, the Planning Commission conducted a meeting,
at which time all interested parties were given an opportunity to be heard and present
evidence.
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-20
Page 1
NOW, THEREFORE, THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES DOES HEREBY FIND, DETERMINE, AND RESOLVE AS
FOLLOWS:
Section 1: The main purpose of the proposed project is to provide a platform
that facilitates timely and effective responses to emergencies throughout Los Angeles
County while supporting routine day-to-day communications for public safety.
Implementing the system enables interoperable communication for all first responders in
the region, as well as improving coordination during periods where initial responses
among multi-agencies are crucial. In this case, the Planning Commission finds that the
provisions of the City's General Plan concerning the general health and safety of the
community prevail over those provisions concerning visual impacts for purposes of
determining overall consistency with the goals and policies of the General Plan.
Section 2: The existing 150' tall tower stretches approximately 60' across the
site, and appears massive and bulky. The proposed replacement tower will appear less
massive and bulky because it will be constructed using a pyramid-like style with a larger
base and a narrow top, which meets the general intent of the General Plan to minimize
the adverse aesthetic and visual impacts for modified projects in the City. The Planning
Commission notes, however, that both the existing structure and the proposed structure
are inconsistent with the Sensory Environment Goal and Visual Aspects Policies of the
General Plan, and would welcome further reduction of the height and/or the bulk and
mass of the structure in the future.
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.
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 12, 2018, the date of the Planning Commission's final action.
Section 5: 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 made a
part thereof by reference, the Planning Commission hereby finds that the proposed
installation of a new 150' tall lattice tower to accommodate LMR antennas with the
construction of a 400ft2 equipment structure, 100KW generator, and 2,000 gallon diesel
fuel tank within a 9'-4" enclosure at 5741 Crestridge Road is consistent with the overall
Goals and Policies of the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan.
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-20
Page 2
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 12th day of June 2018, by the following
vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS NELSON, SAADATNEJADI, VICE CHAIRMAN BRADLEY, AND
CHAIRMAN JAMES.
NOES: COMMISSIONER PERESTAM
ABSTENTIONS: NONE
RECUSALS: NONE
ABSENT: COMMISSIONER LEON
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William J. Jam-
Chairman
am-Chairman
Ara Mihranian ---
Director of Community Development
and Secretary of the Planning Commission
P.C. Resolution No. 2018-20
Page 3