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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMCUP 10-24; SDG&E Communication Facility; Conditional Use Permit (CUP)CITY OF CARLSBAD Planning Division www.carlsbadca.gov March 7, 2011 Sprint Nextel Attn: Denise Scott, Facilities Engineer 6125 Lakeview Road, SuitelOO Charlotte, NC 28269 SUBJECT: MINOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. MCUP 10-24 - SDG&E COMMUNUCATION FACILITY - Request for approval of a Minor Conditional Use Permit (MCUP 10-24 - SDG&E Communication Facility; replaces CUP 95-07x2) to allow the continued operation and maintenance of an existing Wireless Communication Facility (WCF) consisting of six (6) panel antennas located on the 390 foot tall SDG&E tower and an equipment room located within the tower located at 4600 Carlsbad Boulevard, in the Public Utility (P-U) Zone and Local Facilities Management Zone 3. Dear Denise Scott, The Planning Director has completed a review of your application for a Minor Conditional Use Permit MCUP 10-24 - SDG&E COMMUNICATION FACILITY for the continued operation of a wireless communication facility consisting of six panel antennas located on the existing 390' SDG&E tower and an equipment room located within the tower located at 4600 Carlsbad Boulevard. 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 November 30, 2010). 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) there is 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 Public Utility (U) Land Use designation does not preclude the provision of Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) uses. The existing WCF is consistent with City Council Policy No. 64, Wireless Communication Facilities, in that it is in a preferred location (Public Utility zone) 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. 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 existing WCF is located within a preferred location (Public Utility zone) as listed in Location A.1.C. of City Council Policy No. 64 and all aspects of the WCF exhibit stealth design in that the six 1635 Faraday Avenue, Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 T 760-602-4600 F 760-602-8559 © MCUP 10-24 - SDG&E COMMUNICATION FACILITY March?, 2011 Page 2 antennas are painted to match the existing tower and the equipment cabinets are located within the tower. The WCF use is not precluded by the project site's Public Utility (P-U) Zoning or by Specific Plan SP 144(D). Furthermore, the placement of the antennas mounted to the side of the tower and the equipment cabinets located within the existing square footage of the building will not result in any additional building coverage. The project has been conditioned to comply 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 Planning Director in order to integrate the use with other uses in the neighborhood in that all of the existing antennas mounted to the side of the tower are painted to match the tower and the equipment room is located within the tower. As all of the antennas and associated WCF equipment are existing and no additional antennas or equipment are proposed, the appearance of the structure will not change. 4. That the street system serving the proposed use is adequate to properly handle all traffic generated by the proposed use in that the existing WCF requires, on average, only monthly maintenance visits and occasional visits in response to operational problems. 5. That the existing WCF is consistent with City Council Policy No. 64 in that it is located in a preferred non-residential location (Public Utility zone) as listed in Location Guideline A.1.c. of City Council Policy No. 64 and exhibits stealth design, as the panel antennas attached to the side of the tower are painted to match the existing tower. The equipment room located within interior of the tower is existing and also exhibits a stealth design. 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 Facilities), of the state CEQA Guidelines. 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 degree of the exaction is in rough proportionality to the impact caused by the project. Conditions: 1. Approval is granted for MCUP 10-24 as shown on Exhibits "A" - "C" dated March 7, 2011 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 MCUP 10-24 - SDG&E COMMUNICATION FACILITY March?, 2011 Page3 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 10-24 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. Developer shall submit to the City Planner a reproducible 24"x36," mylar copy of the Site Plan reflecting the conditions approved by the final decision-making body. 6. The Developer shall comply with all applicable provisions of federal, state, and local ordinances in effect at the time of building permit issuance. 7. This project shall comply with all conditions and mitigation measures, which are required as part of the Zone 3 Local Facilities Management Plan and any amendments made to that Plan prior to the issuance of building permits. 8. MCUP 10-24 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 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 10 (ten) years from March 7, 2011 through March 6, 2021. 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 (ten) years upon MCUP 10-24-SDG&E COMMUNICATION FACILITY March?, 2011 Page 4 . 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. 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 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. 11. Developer 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 permit application. 13. 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 Planning Director 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)(1); 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 Planning Director 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 conditional use permit. Engineering: 14. 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 10-24 - SDG&E COMMUNICATION FACILITY March?, 2011 Page 5 Code Reminders: 15. 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 Division 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, CHRIS DeCERBO Principal Planner CD:CS:sm c: Don Neu, City Planner Chris DeCerbo, Principal Planner Christer Westman, Senior Planner Mike Peterson, Development Services Manager Glen Van Peski, Senior Civil Engineer David Rick, Project Engineer File Copy Data Entry