HomeMy WebLinkAboutMCUP 11-02A; SD06184A T-MOBILE; Admin Decision LetterJuly 12, 2016
Courtney Standridge
5015 Shoreham Place
Suite 150
San Diego, CA 92122
{'Cityof
Carlstiad
SUBJECT: MCUP 11-02(A) -SD06184 T-MOBILE -Request for approval of a Minor Conditional
Use Permit Amendment (MCUP 11-02(A)) to allow the modification of an existing
wireless communications facility (WCF) at 760 Macadamia Drive, in the General
Commercial {C-2) Zone and Local Facilities Management Zone 22.
Dear Ms. Standridge,
The City Planner has completed a review of your application for a Minor Conditional Use Permit
Amendment MCUP 11-02A for the modification of an existing wireless communications facility {WCF)
consisting of the replacement of three existing panel antennas with three new, larger panel antennas
and the replacement and addition of associated equipment at 760 Macadamia Drive. 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 July 7, 2016).
After careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding this request, the City Planner 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 for the development of the community because of the benefit and demand for digital
communications and data transmissions for businesses, individuals, public agencies and
emergency service systems in this part of the City; (b) the proposed use is consistent with the
General Plan in that the General Commercial (GC) Land Use designation does not preclude the
provision of Wireless Communication Facility (WCF) uses. The WCF plan has been found to be
consistent with City Council Policy No. 64, Wireless Communication Facilities, in that it is in a
preferred non-residential location (commercial building) and has a stealth design as discussed in
finding number five below. The project's location and stealth design comply with General Plan
objectives that $eek to maintain and enhance Carlsbad's appearance.
Community & Development
Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 760-602-4600 I 760-602-8560 f I www.carlsbadca.gov
MCUP 11-02(A) -SD06184A T-MOBILE
July 12, 2016
Page 2
2. That 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 proposed WCF is located within a
preferred non-residential location (commercial building) as listed in Location Guideline A.1.b. of
City Council Policy Statement No. 64, 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 site's
General Commercial (C-2} zoning. Furthermore, the placement of the antennas and associated
WCF equipment will not result in any additional building coverage, do not alter the existing site or
building design, and do not interfere with nor are they visible to other surrounding uses. The
project has been conditioned to maintain compliance with FCC RF Exposure Guidelines.
3. That the site for the proposed conditional use is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the
yards, setbacks, walls, fences, parking, loading facilities, buffer areas, landscaping and other
development features prescribed in this code and required by the City Planner in order to integrate
the use with other uses in the neighborhood in that the proposed panel antennas and associated
equipment are located on the rooftop of an existing commercial building behind parapet walls
and additional equipment will be located within an existing equipment room behind the
commercial building thereby exhibiting stealth design techniques. When completed, the
installation of the new antennas and associated WCF equipment will not change the appearance
of the La Quinta Inn Hotel building as only minor modifications will be necessary.
4. That the street system serving the proposed use is adequate to properly handle all traffic generated
by the proposed use in that the proposed unmanned WCF use would require, 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 Guideline A.1.b. of City Council Policy
Statement No. 64 and exhibits stealth design, as the new antennas are located behind existing
rooftop parapet walls which use RF transparent material painted and textured to match the
existing commercial building. The additional equipment will be located within an existing
equipment room behind the commercial building thereby exhibiting stealth design techniques.
6. That the City Planner 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 Facilities of the state CEQA Guidelines. In making
this determination, the City Planner has found that the exceptions listed in Section 15300.2 of the
state CEQA Guidelines do not apply to this project.
7. The City Planner 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.
MCUP 11-02(A) -SD06184A T-MOBILE
July 12, 2016
Page 3
Conditions:
1. Approval is granted for MCUP 11-02(A) as shown on Exhibits "A" -"Q" dated July 12, 2016 on file
in the Planning Division and incorporated herein by reference. Development shall occur
substantially as shown unless otherwise noted in these conditions.
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 Amendment.
3. Staff is authorized and directed to make, or require the Developer to make, all corrections and
modifications to the MCUP 11-02(A) 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 attorney1s fees incurred by the City arising, directly or indirectly, from (a)
City's approval and issuance of this Minor Conditional Use Permit Amendment, (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 22 Local Facilities Management Plan and any amendments made to that Plan prior to the
issuance of building permits.
7. MCUP 11-02(A) shall be reviewed by the City Planner 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 City Planner
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
MCUP 11-02(A)-SD06184A T-MOBILE
July 12, 2016
Page 4
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 City Planner, shall hold an informal public
hearing and after providing the permittee the opportunity to be heard, the City Planner 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.
8. This Conditional Use Permit is granted for a period of 10 years from July 12, 2016 through July 11,
2026. 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 10 years upon written application of the permittee made no less than
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 Planning
Commission may grant.
9. 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 this 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.
10. This approval shall become null and void if building permits are not issued for this project within 24
months from the date of project approval.
11. Developer shall report, in writing, to the City Planner within 30 days, any address change from that
which is shown on the permit application.
12. Developer/Operator shall comply with the Federal Communication Commission's guidelines on
limits for human exposure to radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic fields. Within six (6) months
after the issuance of occupancy, and with any time extension or amendment request, the
Developer/Operator shall submit to the City Planner either (1) verification that the project is
categorically excluded from having to determine compliance with the RF exposure guidelines per 47
CFR §1.1307(b){l); or (2) a project implementation report which provides cumulative field
measurements of RF emissions of all antennas installed at the subject site. The report shall quantify
the RF emissions and compare the results with the exposure limits established by the FCC
guidelines. Said report shall be subject to review and approval by the City Planner for consistency
with the Project's preliminary report on RF exposure submitted with the initial project application
and for consistency with the FCC guidelines. If, on review, the City finds that the Project does not
meet the FCC guidelines, the City may revoke or modify this minor conditional use permit
amendment and minor coastal development permit amendment.
MCUP 11-02{A) -SD06184A T-MOBILE
July 12, 2016
Page 5
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.
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.
15. Premise identification (addresses) shall be provided consistent with Carlsbad Municipal Code
Section 18.04.320.
MCUP 11-02{A) -SD06184A T-MOBILE
July 12, 2016
Page 6
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 Division
at 1635 Faraday Avenue in Carlsbad, along with a payment of $673.00 plus noticing fees. The filing of
such appeal within such time limit shall stay the effective date of the order of the City Planner 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 Garcia at {760) 602-4622.
Sincerely,
VAN LYNCH
Principal Planner
VL:CG:fn
c: Don Neu, City Planner
David Rick, Project Engineer
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