HomeMy WebLinkAboutMCUP 09-12; AT&T SD0475 CARLSBAD; Admin Decision Letterfnfll WZ,,µ HJ/a.'1/()q b,t] • l • \
• • FILE COPY City of Carlsbad
October 26, 2009
Jim Kennedy
TAIC
9089 Clairmont Mesa Boulevard, Suite 200
San Diego, CA 92123
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SUBJECT: MINOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. MCUP 09-12 -AT&T SD0475 -
CARLSBAD (REPLACES CUP 94-04x2) -Request for approval of a Minor Conditional Use
Permit (MCUP 09-12 replaces CUP 94-04x2); to allow the continued operation of a Wireless
Communication Facility (WCF), consisting of twelve panel antennas entirely hidden behind an
existing rooftop parapet and existing equipment cabinets located within the building, located at
1015 Chestnut Avenue, in the R-P-Q Zone and Local Facilities Management Zone 1.
Dear Jim Kennedy,
The Planning Director has completed a review of your application for a Minor Conditional Use
Permit MCUP 09-12 -AT&T SD0475 Carlsbad for the continued operation of a Wireless
Communication Facility (WCF) consisting of twelve panel antennas entirely hidden behind an
existing rooftop parapet and existing equipment cabinets located within the building, located at
1015 Chestnut Avenue. A notice was sent to property owners within a 300' radius of the subject
property requesting comments regarding the above request. No comments were received
within the ten day notice period (ending on October 16, 2009). After careful consideration of the
circumstances surrounding this request, the Planning -Director has determined that the four
findings required for granting a Minor Conditional Use Permit can be made and therefore,
APPROVES this request based on the following findings and conditions.
Findings:
1. That the requested use is necessary or desirable for the development of the.community,
and is in harmony with the various elements and objectives of the general plan,
including, if applicable, the certified local coastal program, specific plan or master plan in
that (a) the use is necessary and desirable fo~ the development of the community
because of the benefit and demand for digital communications and data
transmissions for businesses, individuals, public agencies and emergency
services systems in this part of the City; (b) the existing use is consistent with the
General Plan in that the T-R/O (Travel Recreation/Office) General Plan Land Use
designation does not preclude the provision of the Wireless Communication
Facility (WCF) uses. The WCF is consistent with City Council Policy No. 64,
Wireless Communication Facilities, in that it is in a preferred. non-residential
location and has a stealth design. The project's location and stealth design
comply with General Plan objectives that seek to maintain and enhance
Carlsbad's appearance.
2. Tti.at the requested use is not detrimental to existing uses or to uses specifically
permitted in the zone in which the proposed use is to be located in that the existing WCF
is .located within a preferred location as listed in the Location Guidelines A.1.b. of
1635 Faraday Avenue• Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 • (760) 602-4600 • FAX (760) 602-8559 • www.ci.carlsbad.ca.us @
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, I • • MCUP 09-12-AT&T SD0475-CARLSBAD
October 26, 2009
Page 2
City Council Policy No. 64 (commercial zone) and all aspects of the WCF exhibit
stealth design and are completely hidden by existing improvements. The WCF
use is not precluded by the project sites Resid~ntial Professional {R-:P) zoning.
Furthermore, the existing WCF will not result in additional building coverage, does
not alter the site or building design, and does not interfere with nor is it visible to
other surrounding uses.
3. That the site for the proposed conditional use is adequate in size and shape to
a9commodate the yards, setbacks, walls, fences, parking, loading facilities, buffer areas,
landscaping and other development features prescribed in this code and required by the
Pfanning Director in order to integrate the use with· other uses ·in the neighborhood in
that the WCF antennas and equipment cabinets, which ~re stealth in design, are an
existing use and no modifications are being proposed. The original a'pproval of
the Conditional Use Permit (CUP 94-04) was perm~ed on July 6, 1994. • ·'
4. That the street system serving the proposed use is adequate to properly handle all traffic
generated by the proposed use in that the unmanned WCF requires, on average, only
monthly maintenance visits and occasional visits in response to operational
problems.
5. That the proposed WCF is consistent with City Council Policy No. 64 in that it is located
in a preferred location (commercial zone) as listed in Location Guidelines A.1.b. of
City Council Policy Statement No. 64 and exhibits stealth design, as the panel
antennas are located behind an existing rooftop parapet and the _supporting
equipment cabinets are located inside the building and screened from public view.
Furthermore, the project has been conditioned to maintain compliance with FCC
RF Exposure Guidelines. •
6. • That the Planning Director has determined that the project belongs to a class of projects
that the State Secretary for Resources has found do not have a significant impact on the
environment, and it is therefore categorically exempt from the requirement for the
preparation of environmental documents pursuant to Section 15301 -existing facility,
of the .state CEQA Guidelines. In making this determinatiqn, the Planning Director has
found that the exceptions listed in Section 15300.2 of the state CEQA Guidelines do not
apply to this project. Additionally, as AT&T must comply with FCC regulations, radio
frequency emissions from the proposed facility are below levels established as
acceptable by the FCC, and are therefore not considered a health hazard. In making this
determination, the Planning Director has found that the exceptions listed • in Section
15300.2 of the state CEQA Guidelines do ·not apply to this project.
7. The Planning Director has reviewed each of the exactions imposed on the Developer
contained in this resolution, and hereby finds, in this case, that the exactions are
imposed to mitigate impacts caused by or reasonably related to the project, and the
extent and the degree of the exaction is in rough proportionality to the impact caused by
the project.
Conditions:
1. Approval is granted for MCUP 09-12-AT&T 5D0475 -CARLBAD as shown on Exhibits
"A" -"J" dated October 19, 2009 on file in the Planning Department and incorporated
herein by reference. Development shall occur substantially as shown unless otherwise
noted in these conditions.
( '
• MCUP 09-12-AT&T SDO•-CARLSBAD
October 26, 2009
Page 3
•
2. If any of the following conditions fail to occur, or if they are, by their terms, to be
implemented and maintained over time, if any of such conditions fail to be so
implemented and maintained according to their terms, the City shall have the right to
revoke or modify all approvals herein granted; deny or further condition issuance of all
future building permits; deny, revoke, or further condition all certificates of occupancy
issued under the authority of approvals herein granted; record a notice of violation on the
property title; institute and prosecute litigation to compel their compliance with said
conditions or seek damages for their violation. No vested rights are gained by Developer
or a successor in interest by the City's approval of this Minor Conditional Use Permit.
3. Staff is authorized and directed to make, or require the Developer to make, all
corrections and modifications to the MCUP 09-12 documents, as necessary to make
them internally consistent and in conformity with the final action on the project.
Development shall occur substantially as shown on the approved Exhibits. Any
proposed development different from this approval shall require an amendment to this
approval.
4. The Developer/Operator shall and does hereby agree to indemnify, protect, defend and
hold harmless the City of Carlsbad, its Council members, officers, employees, agents,
and representatives, from and against any and all liabilities, losses, damages, demands,
claims and costs, including court costs and attorney's fees incurred by the City arising,
directly or indirectly, from (a) City's approval and issuance of this Minor Conditional
Use Permit, (b) City's approval or issuance of any permit or action, whether
discretionary or non-discretionary, in connection with the use contemplated herein, and
(c) Developer/Operator's installation and operation of the facility permitted hereby,
including Without limitation, any and all liabilities arising from the emission by the facility
of electromagnetic fields or other energy waves or emissions.
5. The Developer shall comply with all applicable provisions of federal, state, and local
ordinances in effect at the time of building permit issuance.
6. This project shall comply with all conditions and mitigation measures, which are required
as part of the Zone 1 Local Facilities Management Plan and any amendments made to
that Plan prior to the issuance of building permits.
7. All conditions of approval imposed upon Conditional Use Permit CUP 94-04x2 as stated
in Planning Commission Resolution No. 5671 shall apply as conditions of approval for
MCUP 09-04 and are incorporated by this reference, except Condition No. 2 which is
replaced by Condition No. 9 below. •
8. MCUP 09-12 shall be reviewed by the Planning Director on a yearly basis to determine if
all conditions of this permit have been met and that the use does not have a substantial
negative effect on surrounding properties or the public health, safety and general
welfare. If the Planning Director determines that: 1) the minor conditional use permit
was obtained by fraud or misrepresentation; or 2) the use for which such approval is
granted is not being exercised; or 3) the conditions of approval have not been met; or 4)
the minor conditional use permit is being or recently has been exercised contrary to any
of the terms or conditions of approval; or 5) the use for which such approval was granted
has ceased to exist or has been suspended for one year or more; or 6) the use is in
violation of any statute, ordinance, law or regulation; or 7) the use permitted by the minor
conditional use permit is being or has been so exercised as to be detrimental to the
public health, safety or welfare or so as to constitute a nuisance, the Planning Director
• • MCUP 09-12 -AT&T SD0475 -CARLSBAD
October 26, 2009
Page4
shall hold an informal public hearing and after providing the permittee the opportunity to
be heard, the planning director may revoke and terminate the minor conditional use
permit in whole or in part, reaffirm the minor conditional use permit, modify the
conditions or impose new conditions.
9. This Conditional Use Permit is granted for a period of ten years from October 19, 2009
through October 18, 2019. This permit may be revoked at any time after a public
hearing, if it is found that the use has a substantial detrimental effect on surrounding
land uses and the public's health and welfare, or the conditions imposed herein have not
been met. This permit may be extended for a reasonable period of time not to exceed
ten years upon written application of the permittee made no less ttian 90 days prior to
the expiration date. The Planning Commission may not grant such extension, unless it
finds that there are no substantial negative effects on surrounding land uses or the
public's health and welfare. If a substantial negative effect on surrounding land uses or
the public's health and welfare is found, the extension shall be denied or granted with
conditions which will eliminate or substantially reduce such effects. There is no limit to
the number of extensions the Plarming Commission may grant.
10. If any condition for construction of any public improvements or facilities, or the payment
of any fees in-lieu thereof, imposed by this approval or imposed by law on thfs residential
housing project are challenged this approval shall be suspended as provided in
Government Code Section 66020. If any such condition is determined to be invalid this
approval shall be invalid unless the City Council determines that the project without the
condition complies with all requirements of law.
11. Owner/Applicant shall submit to the City a Notice of Restriction to be filed in the office of
the County Recorder, subject to the satisfaction of the Planning Director, notifying all
interested parties and successors in interest that the City of Carlsbad has issued a
Minor Conditional Use Permit on the real property owned by the owner/applicant.
Said Notice of Restriction shall note the property description, location of the file
containing complete project details and all conditions of approval as well as any
conditions or restrictions specified for inclusion in the Notice of Restriction. The Planning
Director has the authority to execute and record an amendment to the notice, which
modifies or terminates said notice upon a showing of good cause by the owner/applicant
or successor in interest.
12. Developer shall report, in writing, to the Planning Director within 30 days, any address
change from that which is shown on the p~rmit application.
Engineering:
13. Developer shall comply with the City's Stormwater Regulations, latest version, and shall
implement best .management practices at all times. Best management practices include
but are not limited to pollution treatment practices or devices, erosion control to prevent
silt runoff during construction, general housekeeping practices, pollution prevention and
educational practices, maintenance procedures, and other management practices or
devices to prevent or reduce the discharge of pollutants to stormwater, receiving water
or stormwater conveyance system to the maximum extent practicable. Developer shall
notify prospective owners and tenants of the above requirements.
( . . . ' . MCUP 09-12 -AT&T SDO•-CARLSBAD
October 26, 2009
Page 5
Code Reminders:
•
14. Approval of this request shall not excuse compliance with all applicable sections of the
Zoning Ordinance and all other applicable City ordinances in effect at time of building
permit issuance, except as otherwise specifically provided herein.
NOTICE
Please take NOTICE that approval of your project includes the "imposition" of fees, dedications,
reservations, or other exactions hereafter collectively referred to for convenience as
"fees/exactions."
You have 90 days from the date of final approval to protest imposition of these fees/exactions.
If you protest them, you must follow the protest procedure set forth in Government Code Section
66020(a), and file the protest and any other required information with the City Manager for
processing in accordance with Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 3.32.030. Failure to timely
follow that procedure will bar any subsequent legal action to attack, review, set aside, void, or
annul their imposition.
You are hereby FURTHER NOTIFIED that your right to protest the specified fees/exactions
DOES NOT APPLY to water and sewer connection fees and capacity charges, nor planning,
zoning, grading or other similar application processing or service fees in connection with this
project; NOR DOES IT APPLY to any fees/exactions of which you have previously been given a
NOTICE similar to this, or as to which the statute of limitations has previously otherwise expired.
This decision may be appealed by you or any other member of the public to the Planning
Commission within ten days of the date of this letter. Appeals must be submitted in writing to
the Planning Department at 1635 Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad, along with a payment of
$613.00. The filing of such appeal within such time limit shall stay the effective date of the order
of the Planning Director until such time as a final decision on the appeal is reached. If you have
any questions regarding this matter, please feel free to contact Chris Sexton at (760) 602-4624.
Sincerely,
f!v7B7l(L
Assistant Planning Director
GTB:CS:sm
c: Michele Masterson, Senior Management Analyst
Christer Westman, Senior Planner
Chris DeCerbo, Team Leader
Mike Peterson, Community Development
Glen Van Peski, Development Services
David Rick, Project Engineer
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