HomeMy WebLinkAboutCUP 2021-0010; VERIZON YARROW WCF; Admin Decision Letter(°City of
Carlsbad
September 9, 2021
8FILE COPY
fY/~,te I 'I /10/21
Benjamin Koff
Sequoia Deployment Services
1 Spectrum Pointe Dr., Suite 130
Lake Forest, CA 92630-2283
SUBJECT:
Dear Mr. Koff,
CUP 2021-0010 (DEV08029)-VERIZON YARROW WCF-Request for approval of a Minor
Conditional Use Permit (CUP 2021-0010) to allow the continued use of an existing, stealth
wireless communication facility previously approved through MCUP 08-18(A) (expired
June 22, 2019). The project does not propose modifications to the existing wireless
communication facility and is located at 2192 Palomar Airport Road, in the Industrial Zone
(M) Zone and in Local Facilities Management Zone 5.
The City Planner has completed a review of your application for a Minor Conditional Use Permit CUP 2021-
0010 for an existing, stealth wireless communications facility located at 2192 Palomar Airport Road. 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
September 6, 2021). After careful consideration of the circumstances surrounding this request, the City
Planner has determined that the 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 the use provides a benefit by
helping meet the demand for digital communications and data transmissions for businesses,
individuals, public agencies, and emergency service systems in this area of the city. The use is
consistent with the General Plan in that the Public (P) Land Use designation does not preclude
wireless communication facility (WCF) uses. The WCF has been found to be consistent with City
Council Policy No. 64, Wireless Communication Facilities because it will remain in a preferred
location and will continue to provide a stealth design with antenna screening painted to match the
existing building fa!;ade. The project's location and stealth design complies 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 as listed in Location Guideline A.1 of City Council Policy No. 64. The WCF will remain in the
existing location. The antennas will remain as a stealth design and screened behind the existing
Community Development
Planning Division I 1635 Faraday Avenue Carlsbad, CA 92008-7314 I 760-602-460.0 I 760-602-8560fl www.carlsbadca.gov
CUP 2021-0010 (DEV08029)-VERIZON YARROW WCF
September 9, 2021
Page 2
building fa~ade. Furthermore, the WCF use is not precluded by the project site's Industrial (M)
zoning and Public (P) General Plan Land Use designation. Furthermore, the project has been
conditioned to comply with Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Radiofrequency 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 WCF is located behind the fa~ades of an
existing office building. The site is adequate for the existing WCF because it is in an industrial area
and is not adjacent to residential uses. The project does not propose any modifications to the
existing WCF. The antennas and equipment are in compliance with all applicable development
standards.
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 and unstaffed WCF does not generate traffic other than
during periodic maintenance. Access to the site is provided from Palomar Airport Road, which is
adequate to serve the facility.
5. That the proposed wireless communication facility is consistent with Council Policy No. 64, in that the
project site is in a preferred location as listed in Location Guideline A.l of City Council Policy No. 64.
The existing WCF is screened from view with antenna screening that is painted to match the existing
building facades, ensuring that the WCF remains in a stealth design which is consistent with the
design guidelines contained within City Council Policy No. 64.
General
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. That the request for a Minor Conditional Use Permit was adequately noticed at least ten (10) calendar
days before the date of this decision pursuant to Section 21.54.060 of the Carlsbad Mu_nicipal Code.
8. The City Planner has reviewed each of the exactions imposed on the Developer contained .in this
approval letter, 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 CUP 2021-0010 as shown on Exhibits "A" -"H" dated September 9, 2021 on
file in the Planning Division and incorporated herein by reference. Development shall occur
substantially as shown unless otherwise noted in these conditions.
CUP 2021-0010 (DEV08029)-VERIZON YARROW WCF
September 9, 2021
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 CUP 2021-0010 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. 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.
7. This project shall comply with all conditions and mitigation measures, which are required as part of
the Zone 5 Local Facilities Management Plan and any amendments made to that Plan prior to the
issuance of building permits.
8. CUP 2021-0010 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 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 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 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
CUP 2021-0010 (DEV08029}-VERIZON YARROW WCF
September 9, 2021
Page4
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 conditional use permit in whole or in part,
reaffirm the minor conditional use permit, modify the conditions or impose new conditions.
9. This Minor Conditional Use Permit is granted for a period of 10 years from September 9, 2021,
through September 9, 2031. 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, unless determined otherwise by the
decision-maker per Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 21.42.110, upon written application of the
permittee made no less than 90 days prior to the expiration date. The City Planner/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 City Planner/Planning Commission may grant.
10. The 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 City Planner, 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 City
Planner 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.
11. Developer shall report, in writing, to the City Planner within 30 days, any address change from that
which is shown on the permit ap·plication.
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 §l.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 conditional use permit.
Code Reminders:
13. 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.
CUP 2021-0010 (DEV08029) -VERIZON YARROW WCF
September 9, 2021
Page 5
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 3.32.03.0. 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 $786. 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 to contact Esteban
Danna at (760) 602-4629.
Sincerely,
*~
CLIFF JONES
Principal Planner
CJ:ed:cf
c: Don Neu, City Planner
Jennifer Horodyski, Project Engineer
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