HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-03-16; Planning Commission; ; CUP 08-22(A) – VERIZON CARLSBAD HS WCF
The City of Carlsbad Planning Division
A REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION
Item No.
Application complete date: December 30, 2015
P.C. AGENDA OF: March 16, 2016 Project Planner: Austin Silva
Project Engineer: Tecla Levy
SUBJECT: CUP 08-22(A) – VERIZON CARLSBAD HS WCF – Request for an amendment to
Conditional Use Permit No. CUP 08-22 to allow for the removal and replacement of six
four foot tall panel antennas with six, eight foot tall antennas, six new Remote Radio
Units (RRU) and one AC power surge suppressor behind the antennas that are located
on an existing light standard at the northwest corner of the athletic field within the
Carlsbad High School campus located at 3557 Monroe Street and in Local Facilities
Management Zone 1. 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 is therefore categorically exempt from the
requirement for the preparation of environmental documents pursuant to Section
15301(e) (Additions to Existing Structures) of the state CEQA guidelines.
I. RECOMMENDATION
That the Planning Commission ADOPT Planning Commission Resolution No. 7150 APPROVING an
amendment to CUP 08-22 based upon the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein.
II. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND
The proposed amendment to CUP 08-22 will allow for the removal of six, four foot tall antennas and the
installation of six, eight foot tall antennas, six new RRU units and one DC power surge suppressor behind
the antennas on an existing light standard located at the northwest corner of the athletic field at
Carlsbad High School. Six of the existing four foot antennas will remain and total number of antennas
(12) will remain the same.
On March 4, 2009, the Planning Commission adopted Planning Commission Resolution No. 6536,
approving CUP 08-22. The approval allowed for the installation, operation, and maintenance of an
unmanned Wireless Communication Facility consisting of three (3) sectors of four antennas (12 total),
and one microwave antenna mounted to a 100 foot tall light standard at the athletic field with an
equipment enclosure near the base of the light pole. The antennas were installed approximately 68 feet
up the light standard to the center of the antennas.
Table A below includes the General Plan designations, zoning and current land uses of the project site
and surrounding properties.
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CUP 08-22(A) – VERIZON CARLSBAD HS WCF
March 16, 2016
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TABLE A
Location General Plan Designation Zoning Current Land Use
Site Public (P) Open Space (OS) Carlsbad High School
North R-4 R-1 Single-family residential
South R-4 R-1 Church
East R-4 R-1 Single-family residential/Women’s Club of
Carlsbad
West R-4 R-1 Single-family residential
III. ANALYSIS
The proposed Wireless Communication Facility continues to be consistent with all applicable plans,
policies and regulations described below:
A. Public (P) General Plan Land Use Designation;
B. Open Space (OS) Zone;
C. Conditional Use Permit Regulations (Chapter 21.42 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code);
D. City Council Policy Statement: Policy No. 64 – Wireless Communication Facilities; and
E. Growth Management Ordinance (Chapter 21.90 of the Zoning Ordinance) and Zone 1 Local
Facilities Management Plan.
The recommendation for approval of this project was developed by analyzing the project’s consistency
with the applicable regulations and policies. The project’s compliance with each of the above
regulations is discussed in the sections below.
A. Public (P) General Plan Land Use Designation
The project site has a General Plan designation of Public. The existing WCF use is consistent with the
Public General Plan designation in that the Public designation does not preclude the provision of WCF
uses. The WCF use serves the residential, business community and region as a whole, including
emergency services. Therefore, the proposed WCF use is consistent with the Public General Plan Land
Use designation.
B. Open Space Zone, Chapter 21.33 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code
The existing WCF is located on the campus of Carlsbad High School, which is in the Open Space (OS)
zone. Wireless Communication Facilities are allowed in the OS zone with approval of a Conditional Use
Permit. The required CUP findings (discussed in Section C below) can be made for the proposed WCF as
it is a desirable public convenience and is compatible with its surroundings.
C. Conditional Use Permit Regulations, Chapter 21.42 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code
Conditional uses such as WCFs possess unique and special characteristics that make it impractical to
include them as permitted uses “by right” in any of the various zones throughout the city. The authority
for the location and operation of these uses is subject to City Council Policy No. 64 – Wireless
Communication Facilities Policy (see Section D below), Planning Commission review, and the issuance of
a CUP. Staff has reviewed the proposed project and found that all the necessary finding can be made to
approve the CUP Amendment. The required findings and satisfaction of these findings are discussed
below in Table B.
CUP 08-22(A) – VERIZON CARLSBAD HS WCF
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TABLE B – CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FINDINGS
FINDINGS PROJECT CONSISTENCY
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.
The requested amended WCF 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, residences, individuals, public agencies and
emergency service systems in this part of the city. The
use is consistent with the General Plan in that the
Public General Plan Land Use designation does not
preclude the provision of Wireless Communication
Facility (WCF) uses, nor is it detrimental to existing
permitted uses in the vicinity in that the WCF is
integrated into a light standard, and is designed so
that the antennas will be three feet apart and attached
as close to the light standard as possible.
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.
The requested addition to the existing WCF to remove
and replace six antennas on the existing light standard
is not detrimental to existing uses, or to uses
permitted in the zone in that the antennas are
proposed to be mounted to an existing 100 foot tall
steel light standard and the antennas are mounted as
close to the light standard as technology will allow,
thus reducing an outward noticeable appearance
thereby minimizing any visual impacts. The project
also complies with the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC) Radio Frequency (RF) Exposure
Guidelines.
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,
Planning Commission or City Council, in order
to integrate the use with other uses in the
neighborhood.
The site for the amended 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 in that the light standard which
the proposed antennas are to be located on, is not
within any of the required front, rear or side yard
setbacks.
That the street system serving the proposed
use is adequate to properly handle all traffic
generated by the proposed use.
The unmanned WCF use requires, on average, only
monthly maintenance visits and occasional visits in
response to operational problems. The existing street
system is adequate to properly handle any traffic
generated by the use.
D. City Council Policy Statement No. 64 – Wireless Communication Facilities
The project is consistent with City Council Policy No. 64 Wireless Communication Facilities in that the
location is considered “preferred” given that the antennas are proposed to be installed on public
property. The new antennas are mounted as close to the light standard as technologically feasible and
will be painted to match the color of the light standard, thereby minimizing impacts. The existing WCF
CUP 08-22(A) – VERIZON CARLSBAD HS WCF
March 16, 2016
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has been designed using “stealth” design techniques to the extent feasible including the screened
equipment enclosure, and is consistent with the Design Guidelines listed in City Council Policy Statement
No. 64.
E. Growth Management
The proposed WCF is located in Local Facilities Management Plan Zone 1. Installation of the facility on
the existing site and monthly facility maintenance visits will not result in increased public facilities
demands; therefore, the proposal will not exceed performance standards for public facilities.
IV. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The City Planner has determined that this project is exempt from the requirements of the California
Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) per Section 15301(e), “Additions to Existing Structures,” of the State
CEQA Guidelines and will not have any adverse significant impact on the environment.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Planning Commission Resolution No. 7150
2. Location Map
3. Disclosure Statement
4. Planning Commission Resolution No. 6536, dated March 4, 2009
5. Reduced Exhibits
6. Full Size Exhibits “A” – “H” dated February 3, 2016
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