PC RES 2020-007 P.C. RESOLUTION NO. 2020-07
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
RANCHO PALOS VERDES FINDING THAT THE INSTALLATION OF A
NEW 70' TALL MONOPINE (PLUS A 25' TALL LIGHTING ROD) AT
7000 LOS VERDES DRIVE TO ACCOMMODATE LAND MOBILE
RADIO (LMR) ANTENNAS, THE CONSTRUCTION OF A 12'-6" TALL
231FT2 EQUIPMENT STRUCTURE, THE INSTALLATION OF A 25KW
GENERATOR AND A 786 GALLON FUEL TANK WITHIN A NEW
430FT2 7'-4" TALL ENCLOSURE 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., the 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) Los Verdes Golf
Course at 7000 Los Verdes Drive; 2) Federal Aviation Administration property at the top
of San Pedro Hill (3860 Crest Road); 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 21, 2020, the Applicant submitted documents of the
proposed project at the Los Verdes Golf Course 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. 2020-07
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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 recitals are true and correct and incorporated herein by
reference.
Section 2: The proposed installation of a new 70' tall monopine (plus a 25' tall
lighting rod) to accommodate LMR antennas, the construction of a 12'-6" tall 231ft2
equipment structure, the installation of a 25kw generator and a 786 gallon fuel tank
within a new 430ft2 7'-4" tall enclosure at 7000 Los Verdes Drive 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.C. Resolution No. 2020-07
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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 at the project site is an alternative location to the original
plan which initially identified Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall as a feasible site in
order to address adverse visual impacts. The proposed project has also been
designed to mitigate visual impacts even further by proposing a 70' monopine that
will appear visibly integrated with other existing foliage in the surrounding area, while
the original plan at Rancho Palos Verdes City Hall proposed a 70' tall monopole. In
addition, the proposed equipment structure and enclosure will not be readily visible
as the closest homes in the vicinity are at least 500' away in distance and at least
50' higher in elevation than the proposed location at the project site. As such, the
Planning Commission finds that proposed project is consistent with the above Policy
related to the Circulation Element.
C. Visual Resources Element
• Visual Resources Policy No. 7 - "For developments that are proposed within
areas that impact the visual character of a corridor, require developers to
incorporate treatments into their projects that enhance a corridor's imagery."
(General Plan Pg. V-3)
• Visual Resources Policy No. 8 - "Require developments that will impact corridor-
related views to mitigate their impacts."(General Plan Pg. V-3)
The topography in the area slopes down in the southwesterly direction with an
elevation difference of more than 100' between the project site and the neighboring
homes to the northeast. Due to the elevation difference, views from the neighboring
homes towards the ocean and Catalina Island will be preserved. In addition, the
proposed LMR antennas will be installed on a monopine instead of a monopole to
enhance the imagery of the views towards the southwesterly direction and mitigate
any view impacts that may be caused by the proposed antenna structure. Thus, the
Planning Commission finds that the proposed project is consistent with the above
listed Visual Resources Policies.
Section 3: Pursuant to the provisions of the California Environmental Quality Act,
Public Resources Sections 21000 et. seq. ("CEQA"), the State's CEQA Guidelines,
California Code of Regulations, Title 14, Section 15000 et seq., the City's Local CEQA
Guidelines, the proposed LMR wireless facility has been found to be categorically
exempt under Sections 15303 (New Construction) and 15304 (Minor Alterations To
Land) of the Guidelines for Implementation of CEQA. Specifically, the project includes
the construction of a new LMR facility which will require temporary ground disturbance
where only minor alterations of vegetation would occur.
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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.
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 attached
hereto and made a part thereof by reference, the Planning Commission hereby finds
that the proposed installation of a new 70' tall monopine (plus a 25' tall lighting rod) to
accommodate LMR antennas, the construction of a 12'-6" tall 231ft2 2 equipment
structure, and the installation of a 25kw generator and a 786 gallon fuel tank within a
new 430ft2 7'-4" tall enclosure are consistent with the Goals and Policies of the City's
General Plan.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 23' day of June 2020, by the following
vote:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS HAMILL, JAMES, SAADATNEJADI, SANTAROSA, VICE-
CHAIRMAN PERESTAM, AND CHAIRMAN LEON
NOES: NONE
ABSTENTIONS: NONE
RECUSALS: COMMISSIONER CH U RA
ABSENT: NONE
Gordon L n
Chairman
Terry Rodrigue
Interim Director of Community Development
and Secretary of the Planning Commission
01203.000516521501 P.G. Resolution No. 2020-07
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