PC RES 2018-031 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2018-31
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING THAT THE INSTALLATION OF A
NEW 70' TALL MONOPOLE (PLUS A 23' TALL LIGHTING ROD) TO
ACCOMMODATE LAND MOBILE RADIO (LMR) ANTENNAS, THE
CONSTRUCTION OF A 10' TALL 194FT2 EQUIPMENT STRUCTURE,
AND THE INSTALLATION OF A 25KW GENERATOR AND 785
GALLON FUEL TANK WITHIN AN 8' TALL ENCLOSURE AT 30940
HAWTHORNE BOULEVARD, ARE INCONSISTENT WITH THE
CIRCULATION, LAND USE, AND VISUAL RESOURCES ELEMENTS'
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, 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 for LMR sites: 1) Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall; 2) Los
Angeles County-owned Antenna Farm located at 5741 Crestridge Road; and 3) Federal
Aviation Administration property at the top of San Pedro Hill.
WHEREAS, on October 31, 2018, the Applicant submitted documents of the
proposed project at the Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall per Government Code Section
65402(a), which refers to the planning agency's General Plan consistency review of
proposed acquisitions, dispositions, street vacations or abandonments, and construction
of public buildings or structures.
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 November 22, 2018, a public notice was mailed to all property
owners within a 500' radius of the subject site and interested parties announcing the
Planning Commission meeting to consider the proposed project's consistency with the
City's General Plan.
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WHEREAS, on December 11, 2018, 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 proposed installation of a new 70' tall monopole to accommodate
LMR antennas, the construction of a 10' tall 194ft2 equipment structure, and the
installation of a 25KW generator and 785 gallon fuel tank within an 8' tall enclosure at
30940 Hawthorne Boulevard are inconsistent with the following Goals and Policies of
the City's General Plan that was updated in September 2018:
A. Circulation Element
• Communication Systems 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,
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 project is exempt from the City's zoning regulations pursuant to Government
Code Sections 53090(a) and 53091(a), the Planning Commission does not have
the benefit of reviewing the merits of the proposed project to ensure that the
project meets the City's guidelines for wireless facilities. Moreover, the Planning
Commission does not have the ability to ensure that the design of the proposed
monopole that measures 70' in height without the lightning rod (measuring 93' in
height with the lightning rod) is the least intrusive design, albeit not located within
the City's Public right-of-way. The Planning Commission finds that the height,
location, and design of the proposed monopole will have adverse visual impacts
to the Civic Center site and views from surrounding properties, including public
views.
B. Land Use Element
• Land Use Goal No. 1 - "Provide for land uses that will be sensitive to and
enhance the natural environment and character of the City; supply
appropriate facilities to serve residents and visitors; promote fiscal balance;
and protect the general health, safety, and welfare of the City." (General Plan
Pg.L-7)
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• Land Use Goal No. 3 - "Preserve and enhance the visual character and
physical quality of existing neighborhoods and housing in a manner that
serves the needs of the residents." (General Plan Pg.L-7)
• Institutional Policy No. 25 - "Review the location and site design of future
institutional uses to ensure their compatibility with adjacent sites." (General
Plan Pg.L-9)
• Institutional Policy No. 26 — "Encourage mitigation of the adverse aesthetic
impacts of utility facilities." (General Plan Pg.L-9)
The LA-RICS antenna facility is proposed in a location of the City's Civic Center
campus that is conspicuous from any point of view on the site, as well as private
properties on Via La Cresta, and public views from Hawthorne Blvd., Palos
Verdes Drive West, Palos Verdes Drive South, Lower Point Vicente, and from
several public trails in the immediate area including at the Alta Vicente and
Vicente Bluffs Reserves. The Planning Commission does not believe that the
proposed location has been identified with preserving and enhancing the visual
character of the site nor neighboring sites in mind, nor is compatible with existing
uses on the site, including future uses of the Civic Center, and does not
adequately mitigate aesthetic impacts. The proposed monopole will result in the
removal of the existing 55' tall retractable antenna, which will be replaced with a
fixed 70' tall monopole (93' tall with the attached lightning rod). The existing
retractable antenna measures 112' in height when fully extended which rarely
occurs.
C. Visual Resources Element
• Visual Resources Goal No. 1 - "Preserve views and vistas for the public
benefit and, where appropriate, the City should strive to enhance and restore
these resources and the visual character of the City, and provide and
maintain access for the benefit and enjoyment of the public." (General Plan
Pg.V-3)
• Visual Resources Policy No. 1 — "Develop controls to preserve existing
significant visual aspects from future disruption or degradation." (General
Plan Pg.V-3)
• Visual Resources Policy No. 3. — "Preserve and enhance existing positive
visual elements and restore those that have been lost." (General Plan Pg.V-3)
The proposed 70' tall monopole will have an adverse visual impact to the Civic
Center property as viewed on-site, as well as various off-site locations including
public and private property. Although the number of antenna towers will not
increase with the project, as the City's existing amateur radio tower will be
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removed and replaced with the new 70' tall monopole, the proposed monopole
will intensify the adverse impact upon the visual character of the site due to the
height and conspicuous siting of the monopole and the attached antennas.
Section 2: 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 3: 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 December 11, 2018, the date of the Planning Commission's final action.
Section 4: For the foregoing reasons and based on the information and findings
included in the Staff Report, which are attached hereto and made a part thereof by
reference, the Planning Commission hereby finds that the proposed installation of a new
70' tall monopole to accommodate LMR antennas, the construction of a 10' tall 194ft2
equipment structure, and the installation of a 25KW generator and 785 gallon fuel tank
within an 8' tall enclosure at 30940 Hawthorne are inconsistent with the Safety
Element's Goals and Policies of the Rancho Palos Verdes General Plan.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 11th day of December 2018, by the
following vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS LEON, SAADATNEJADI, PERESTAM, AND VICE-
CHAIRMAN BRADLEY
NOES: COMMISSIONER NELSON AND CHAIRMAN JAMES
ABSTENTIONS: NONE
RECUSALS: NONE
ABSENT: NONE
Vl '
William J. Ja es
Chairman
Ara Mihranian
Director of Community Development
and Secretary of the Planning Commission
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