Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutV 378; NTN Communications; Variance (V)STAFF REPORT DATE: DECEMBER 17, 1986 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: PLANNING DIRECTOR SUBJECT:-RO~=I~~~~- CITY OF CARLSBAD - Request for a Planning ' Commission Determination regarding a possible zone code amendment to permit more than one satellite dish on lots in the M and P-M zones. DISCUSSION Recently an application was received from NTN Communications, requesting permission to place five satellite antenna dishes on the roof of Building 1 (2121 Palomar Airport Road) of the four building office complex, located on six legal lots, commonly known as the Graham Business Plaza. This is in addition to the satellite antenna already in place on the westerly border of the property and the satellite antenna in place on the roof of the 2111 building. Satellite dishes are permitted in industrial zones (Section 21.44.220) subject to certain restrictions, one of which states: No more than one satellite television antenna shall be permitted per lot provided, however that additional antennae may be permitted by the Planning Director if there is more than one use on a lot which cannot feasibly be served by a s ingle antenna . The intent of the ordinance is to allow separate uses on a commercial or industrial lot to apply for a separate antenna permit. Often, an industrial or commercial lot has three or four distinct businesses or uses on it. In those cases, the ordinance allows a separate antenna to be considered for each separate use. The problem which arises with the NTN request is that the applicant is proposing seven antennas for one use. This number of antennas is integral to the use proposed by the applicant. Briefly, the applicant is proposing a two-way, interactive television service. First, television signals are received on site. Then the data is transferred over existing telephone lines to Mountain View, CA where signals are transmitted to televisions connected to the system. For more detailed information, please refer to Exhibit "A". As stated in this exhibit, the applicant is presently involved in a football game format but eventually expects to expand to special educational programming. 1 P \ I . ._ After viewing the applicant's operations, staff is of the opinion that the proposed interactive television is a forerunner of a new technology. For this reason, the City is likely to receive similar requests in the future. In addition, according to the applicant's research, Palomar Airport Business Park has the best television reception in the County. Staff proposes the Planning Commission consider a zone code amendment to permit more than one satellite dish per use, with a conditional use permit, in the industrial zones. Other requirements regulating satellite dishes would remain the same. Areas of concern which would need to be addressed during a potential conditional use permit review include: 1) Location and number of cases where this type of use 2) Screening of facility. 3) Height of facility. 4) Aesthetic compatibility with surrounding properties. exists in each area. The P-M and M zones are the most appropriate zones to permit more than one satellite dish per use. The present satellite antenna regulations are still adequate for all other zones in the City and should remain as they are until such time as a change is justified. Staff would appreciate direction from the Planning Commission on whether or not staff should prepare a zone code amendment permitting more than one satellite antenna per use with a conditional use permit, on lots in the P-M and M zones. ATTACHMENTS 1) Resolution of Intention No. 178 2) Exhibit "A", dated December 2, 1986 AML : bn 12/2/86 -2- Exhibit A 12/2/86 COMMUNICATIONS, INC. 2121 Palomar Airport Road, Suite 305 Carlsbad, California 92008 (619) 438-7400 November 19, 1986 Ms. Adrienne Landers COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT 2075 Las Palmas Drive Carlsbad, California 92008 Dear Adrienne : Attached is a summary of NTN's background and a description of its current activities. We hope it will provide you with the necessary information to present our case to the Planning Commission. If there is anything else we can do or if our presence is required, please call. If a video tape would be helpful we will provide that. On behalf of all of us here at NTN, we appreciate the efforts of the Planning Staff to help resolve this matter. Sincerely, BG- Daniel C. Downs Executive Vice President Attachment Creators of The National TV Game of LIVE Football Strategy NTN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES NTN Communications, Inc. ("NTN") was incorporated in April of 1983 and established its corporate headquarters in the Graham International Plaza in Carlsbad, California in September of 1983. Since incorporation, NTN has embarked on a program of research and development, product evaluation, market research, system design and prototype testing of intelligent terminal devices that enables television viewers to interact with live television programming. NTN has established a national entertainment and information services broadcast network, initially providing two way interactive broadcasting and programming to the hospitality industry. In addition, the NTN network will provide the same two way interactive programming to the cable industry much like HBO provides its programming. In the near future NTN will apply its technology and its unique two way network capability to the educational field providing testing and special educational programming. After two years of testing, NTN was granted the exclusive license from the National Football League to broadcast NTN's unique two way interactive football game, QBl. For the first time in network television history, QB1 allows the television viewer to participate and interact with live professional and college football games. NTN broadcasts over 300 QBl football games a year to its national network. On Saturdays and Sundays the television networks televising football games regionalize their coverage. Due to this regional broadcasting, NTN must referee and broadcast as many as six different QB1 games simultaneously. These weekend regional games are carried on multiple satellites, thus creating NTN' s requirement for multiple receivers. Multiple receivers are also required when NTN is covering regional college games and Canadian Football League games as well as when it is covering baseball and football games simultaneously. NTN selected carlsbad as its corporate headquarters after studying many factors NTN COMMUNICATIONS, INC. SUMMARY BACKGROUND AND CURRENT ACTIVITIES November 19, 1986 Page Two Its location in North County provides easier access to Los Angeles and Orange Counties. Housing, schools, and the Carlsbad master plan was an important consideration because of NT"s projected growth and employee requirements. NTN has grown from four (4) to thirty (30) employees, most of whom have purchased homes in Carlsbad. One of the most important considerations was the television reception from our satellite receivers. Carlsbad and in particular the industrial zone has some of the best reception in San Diego County. In fact, NTN was offered tremendous rental incentives to establish its headquarters in Sorrento Valley. NTN contracted with a professional firm to study the reception in all areas of North County. Carlsbad was one of the best! When NTN established its headquarters in Carlsbad there was no ordinance regarding satellite receivers. In fact, when Graham International installed their first receiver there was no code. For NTN to continue in business and honor its commitments to its network affiliates as well as to the NFL, it must have multiple receivers. We respectfully submit that all existing satellite receivers conform in all respects with code requirements as to location, height limitation, screening from adjacent properties and preservation of required parking.