HomeMy WebLinkAboutCUP 144; Carlsbad Municipal Water District; Conditional Use Permit (CUP) (5)--
MEMORANDUM
October 31, 1977
TO : DCC
FROM: Planning Department
SUBJECT: CUP 144 Carlsbad Municipal Water District
BACKGROUND:
LOCATION AND DESCRIPTION OF PROPERTY
The subject property is located at the end of Sunny Creek Road
about 1-1/2 miles east of El Camino Real between Palomar Airport
Road and Tamarack extended.
The 300 foot tower sits on top of Mt. Evans. There is an adjac- ent block house, about 20' x 25' in size. Except for a dam site and caretaker's trailer, the rest of the.parce1 is vacant.
EXISTING ZONING
Subject Property: Open space & R-A - 10,000
North: R-A (County & Oceanside)
South: R-A - 10,000 & open space
East: R-A (County)
West: A-1 (County)
EXISTING LAND USE
Subject Properties: Road Tower & Dam Site
North: Vacant South: Vacant & Dam Site
East: Vacant & Dam Site West: Vacant & Agriculture
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT INFORMAT ION
CUP 144 meets the reqrirements of the Carlsbad Environmental Protection Ordinance for a Negative Declaration because: The
extreme topography surrounding the project prevents the tower from creating any serious visual impacts on surrounding resi- dential areas.
The tower is in conjunction with existing public services and
there will be no significant grading or disturbance of vegetation.
-2-
HISTORY OF RELATED CASES
CUP'S 50, 119 & 144 - Establishing and regulating a 100 foot radio-tower (offshore navigation) located between Carlsbad Blvd. and the A.T. & S.F. Railroad, just south of Palomer Airport Road.
Conditions were placed on maintenance of landscape, irrigation, lighting, weed abatement and a warning beacon was to be provided on top. The CUP was approved for 4 years with a provision that verified complaints would immediately place the CUP on the Com-
mission agenda for review.
GENERAL PLAN INFORMATION
The Land Use Element of the General Plan indicates an OS (Open
(space) land use.
The General Plan further states that adequate public services
should be available to meet the needs of existing and future
populations of the City.
PUBLIC FACILITIES
No public facilities are required.
MAJOR PLANNING CONSIDERATIONS
Will the radio tower have a significant visual impact on sur-
rounding residential areas?
Does the tower create a hazard for aircraft taking off or landing at Palomar Airport?
Will the broadcast frequencies used for the radio station and for police dispatching interfere with the UCSD research projects
need for a radio quiet environment.
CUP-144 DISCUSSION
The subject site is on the west slope of Mt. Hinton on CMWD Squires Dam property. This is one of the highest points in Carlsbad and is ideal for radio transmitting. This particular
tower will be used by the local radio station KKOS-FM and the City of Carlsbad police and fire communications.
The tower was erected earlier this year by the radio station with an agreement with CMWD. Technically the erection of this tower
-3-
is in violation of the City Code requiring a Conditional Use
Permit for transmitting towers. Before the City will become
a party to this project, the tower must conform to all City
requirements. Therefore the City is requesting a Conditional
Use Permit to make it a conforming land use, complying with
all City requirements.
The tower is so situated that there will be very little detri-
mental effects to surrounding properties or to aircraft. The
tower is on the westerly slope of the mountain, and the only
place it can be seen from future residential areas is from a
valley leading to the west. However, the distance is great
enough that the tower will have very little visual impact on the area.
A possible problem with this transmitting is interference with
the University's research projects which lies to the south.
Conditions have been placed on other projects in this area in
an attempt to safeguard the research projects.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that CUP-144 be approved based on the following findings and subject to the following conditions:
The requested use is necessary and desirable for tnr: develop-
ment of the community, is essentially in harmony with the
various elements and objectives of the General Plan, and is
not detrimental to existing uses or to uses specifically per-
mitted in the zone in which the proposed use is to be located because :
a) The height of this site, along with location in the ap-
proximate geographic center of Carlsbad, will give proper
transmitting to the entire City.
b) Because of the hilly terrain and relative great distance
to the surrounding properties, the tower will have very
little visual impact on the area.
The site for the intended use is adequate in size and shape
to accommodate the use because:
a) The tower will occupy a very small space towards the
center on this large lot, therefore, there will be very
little impact to the surrounding areas.
All yards, setbacks, walls, fences, landscaping and other
features necessary to adjust the requested use to existing
-4-
or permanent future uses in the neighborhood will be provided
and maintained because:
a) The location of the tower meets all of the code require-
ments.
4. The street system serving the proposed use is adequate to properly handle all traffic generated by the proposed use because:
a) There will be no traffic generated by this use.
5. The subject application has complied with the requirements of
the Carlsbad Environmental Protection Ordinance of 1972 because:
a) A Negative Declaration was issued because: The mountain
terrain surrounding the project reduces the towers visual
impact on surrounding residential areas. The tower is in conjunction with existing public services and there will be no significant grading or disturbances of vegetation.
6. The subject application is consistent with applicable City
Public Facilities Policies and Ordinances because:
a) The project will have no demand on the public service
facilities.
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL
1. Approval is granted for the land described in the application and attachments thereto, and as shown on the plot plan sub- mitted labeled Exhibit A, dated 9/29/77. The location of all facilities shall be located substantially as shown on the plot plan except as provided otherwise herein.
2. All electrical lines leading to the tower shall be underground to prevent above ground level electrical arcing (common to above ground level transmission lines) .
CG: BP :nm
Attachments