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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-10-24; Crown Castle Public Noticing for Submitted CUP; | Jackson, Curtis| Barberio, Gary|J,· To the members of the: Cl1YCOUNOL Date 10~4 )i9 CA 1--CC ---1::. CM ..1::. COO_:!:::._ DCM (3) ~ Council Memorandum Oct. 24, ?019 To: Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council From: Curtis M. Jackson, Real Estate Manager Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Co~, unity Services Via: Elaine Lu key, Chief Operations Officer . Re: Crown Castle, Public Noticing for Submi ed CUP {city of Carlsbad Memo ID# 2019123 . This memorandum provides an update to the City Council regarding Crown Castle's mailed notice for a public open house regarding their submitted Conditional Use Permit (CUP). Crown Castle's intent is to locate a temporary multicarrier telecommunications facility at the future Robertson Ranch Park site on Trailblazer Way, adjacent to Cannon Road and El Camino Real. . Background Crown Castle currently h.as three wireless communication facility towers (Facilities) that support Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile, and AT&T on the nearby _Marja Acres property. Marja Acres is planned to be developed with new homes, and the towers are anticipated to be decommissioned by March 31, 2020. Upon commencement of the MarJa Acres residential project, Crown Castle will no longer be able to maintain and operate their existing Facilities,which will adversely impact approximately 10;000 customers. As such, Crown Castle desires to temporarily re16cate their Facilities to the city-owned future Robertson Ranch Community Park site (Property). Crown Castle first approached the city about relocating their Facilities onto the Property in December 2016. Initially, the preferred location was on the hose tower of the new Fire Station No. 3. Due to numerous factors, Fir~ Station No. 3 was determined not suitable, and the adjacent future park site location was then considered by the city and Crown Castle. In May 2018, the city and Crown Castle formally started negotiating a new temporary license agreement to relocate their Facilities to the Property, arid in August 2019, Crown Castle formally submitted their CUP application for the temporary_ relocation of their Facilities. Discussion Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T are located on the existing Facilities at Marja Acres that provide coverage to the high-traffic intersection of Cannon Roaq and El Camino Real, as well as the surrounding residences in all directions. To prevent a significant coverage and capacity gap, Crown Castle, and the respective carriers, are proposing the temporary location at the Property, which is a high-traffic intersection. For purposes of maintaining coverage in the Robertson Ranch area, and adjacent communities, Crown Castte has requested to temporarily relocate their Facilities onto the Prop(;:!rty for'a minimum of three years, with a maximum of six years City Manager's Office· City Hall 1200 Carlsbad Village Drive I Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2822 t Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council Oct. 24, 2019 Page 2 (depending on when the future park site is developed). Crown Castle cannot permanently locate their Facilities on the Property because the future Robertson Ranch Park has not been de'signed. Crown Castle1s temporary Facilities include a 75-foot-tall monopole telecommunications tower and associated equipment building, and would require the approval of a CUP by the Planning Commission. Last week~ as a part of their CUP application, Crown Castle mailed invitations to the public to attend an open house concerning their temporary wireless site application (CUP 2019-0032) located on the Property. The Public Notice is an invitation to attend an ORen house at which information about the project will be provided by the applicant. The open house is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 7 p.in. in the cafeteria at Sage Creek High School (3900 C_annon Road, Carlsbad, CA 92010). Next Steps Crown Castle will host an open house to provide information about the project, which is scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 29, from 6 to 7 p.m. in the cafeteria at Sage Creek High School (3900 Cannon Road, Carlsbad, CA 92010). Attachment: A. Open House Public Notice B. City1s Project Description cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager Celia Brewer, City Attorney Don Neu, City Planner Attachment A (( CROWN X . ,_ CASTLE October 10, 2019 . Subject: Notice of Application# CUP 2019-0032-Crown Site 831227 Trailblazer Park, Temporary Wrreless Telecommunications Facility Dear Neighbors. and Interested Stakeholders: · Per City Council Policy No. 84, this is to inform you that Crown Castle has submitted the following development application to the City of Carlsbad: Project Number: Project Name: Project Address: Assessor Parcel Number: Date of Application: Project Description: Applicant Name: City Project Planner: CUP 2019-0032 Crown Site 831227 Trailblazer Park . n/a-vacant land (corner of Cannon and El Camino Real Road) 208-010-38, -39 and-42 9 September 2019 Installation and operation of a t.em.po.rary multi-carrier wireless communication facility as a short-term replacement of three neighboring sites (AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon Wireless) coming off-air in early 2020. Tom Hanna, Ph.D. (858) 602-6253 tom.hanna@cmhcg.com Crown Castle 2055 S. Stearman Dr, Chandler, AZ 85286 Shannon Harker, Associate Planner (760) 602-4621 Shannon.Harker@carlsbadca.gov · If you would like more infonnation or would like to provide input on the project, please do not hesitate to contact me. Additionally, frown will he holding an open-house forum on Tuesday, October 2!1', from 6:00p to 7:00p at Sage Creek High School (3900 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad, CA 92010) in th.e cafeteria,, where we will · have Crown representatives available to answer any questions or address any concerns. The project is currently under review by the City and your input is welcome. A decision to approve or deny this application will be made by the City at a future public heaiing and you will be notified of the heaiing in advance. Sincerely, Tom Hanna, Ph.D. Crown Castle Representative Attachments: Site Plan and Building Elevations , I / / I j I ,·~ ', I I ; ~, •·.t I.> I.• I ,f I ; I / \ti14"'l-.:r~rR:a"-~ .., ..... r.;,,;;;rjl{•~=~ .... , !II el . ~ . Ccityof Carlsbad PROJECT DESCRIPTION P-1(8) PROJECT NAME: BUN 824560 Trailblazer Park APPLICANT NAME: Tom Hanna Attachment B Development Services Planning Division 1635 Faraday Avenue (760} 602-4610 www.carlsbadca.gov --------------------------- Please describe fully the proposed project by application type. include any details necessary to adequately explain the scope and/or operation of the proposed project. You may also include any background information and supporting statements regarding the reasons for, or appropriateness of, the application. Use an addendum sheet if necessary. Description/Explanation: This project is for the . proposed installation and operation of a temporary wireless telecommunications facility ("WCF") by Crown Castle Towers 06-2 LLC ("Crown"), to be located on city property at the corner of Cannon Road and El Camino Real. The current use of the city parcel is vacant land, but · the intent is . to develop the acreage into a park to support the surrounding neighborhoods. The proposed WCF is a 75' monopole, to relocate two existing Crown WCF's located nearby that will be decommissioned in early 2020, that currently support Verizon Wireless, T-Mobile and AT&T: For AT&T, this site will_ capable of supporting their FirstNet coverage, a dedicated interoperable public safety broadband network for emergency first responders. Due to its temporary nature, the 75' tower will be_ installed on cell blocks rather than a traditional foundation. Information on cell blocks are attached hereto (note: informational sell-sheet is illustrative only; ultimate manufacturer to be determined). The location chosen on the parcel was selected by way of consensus of all interested parties (Crown Castle, the respective carriers, and City of Carlsbad representatives from various · departments, including Parks & Recreation), and incorporated the following concerns or requirements: a) a location that had minimal disturbance to the habitat and indigenous species located therein;. b) a location that met the respective coverage objectives of the carriers (including height requirements, necessitating the need for the 75' overall height of the tower); and c) construction feasibility, including utilities required to seNice the site. Please see the-attached addendum for additional information. P-1 (B) Page 1 of 1 Revised 07/10 Introduction Pl(B) Addendum: Project Description BUN#831227 Trailblazer Park Crown Castle is one of the largest providers of shared communications infrastructure in the United States, with approximately 40,000 cell towers comprising approximately 91,000 installations. Together with its small cell networks and approximately 60,000 miles of fiber optic cable, Crown l . Castle's extensive infrastructure serves as the backbone of the nation's telephone network. This project serves to provide a temporary relocation of two of its towers-both of which are scheduled to be decommissioned in early 2020-located near the intersection of Cannon and El Camino Road. History There are two existing Crown Wireless Communication Facilities ("WCF") located south of Bobby's Hideaway Cafe (4901 El Camino Real) on a hill. Verizon Wireless, AT&T and T-Mobile are located on these existing towers, providing coverage to the.high-traffic intersection of Cannon · Road and El Camino Road, as well as the surrounding residences in all directions. Tue two tow~rs are situated on a parcel that is being redeveloped and convertied. by the underlying owner into a residential planned community? Marja Acres. As such, Crown facilitated collaboration between the owner and all three carriers to find a location on the new development · that would work both for the owner and for the carriers' respective coverage objectives. No location could be identified that would be effective for any of these carriers after multiple reviews over several years including at least three on site meetings. As such, the existing towers will be decommissioned in early 2020, creating a significant gap in coverage to . this area for all three earners. Site Location and Selection . To fill this significant gap, the primary objective for each carrier is the intersection of Cannon Road and El Camino Road-a high-traffic intersection-as well as in-building coverage for the surrounding residences. Each of the ca.triers have similar coverage parameters (the busy intersection of Cannon Road and El Camino Real Road, emanating out from there), with AT&T having the additional objective of covering residential properties farther to the north of the intersection. Tue included alternative site · analysis summarizes candidates pursued and why each was not chosen as a suitable candidate. The impetus falls to finding a location for a temporary site to maintain cellular and data coverage for customers who rely on ~eir cellular services, while Crown Castle and the carriers 'rmd a more permanent solution. The undeveloped parcel that will ultimately become Trailblazer park was selected after meeting with City of Carlsbad representatives. Conformance to Codes/Ordinances The intersection of Cannon and El Camino have the following make-up of zoning designations: North: P-C Planned Community South: OS Open Space and R-1 East:· RMHP Mobile Home Park West: OS Open Space and R-A Residential Agriculture Per Carlsbad Municipal Code Section 21.42. l 40(B)(l 65), WCF' s are allowed in all zones with the approval of a conditional use permit (CUP). Crown performed due diligence in finding a location that would provide the least-intrusive means to the surrounding area, especially given that the area is replete with residential-zoned areas and planned communities. Sites are determined on a variety of factors: a) willing landlord; b) sufficient ground elevation and favorable topography (relatively flat areas for antenna signals to propagate farthe,r distances); c) construction viability, including · ease of installation, nearby utilities and ongoing maintenance access; ap.d d) as permitted by state and local ordinances. Of the loc;:ttions reviewed{as noted in the attached alternative site analysis), to date, the subject parcel is the only location that meets the above parameters. In addition, after multiple field visits with city personnel, the following factors were considered before a consensus on the exact location; 1. A location that did not encroach upon any sensitive habitat areas on the parcel. 2. A location that is of substantial distance from nearby residences. 3. A location that would not interfere with the adjacent fire station (Carlsbad Fire Station #3; located to the northeast). 4. A location near other vertical el_ements (buildings that would somewhat limit visual impact). 5. A location that would be out of the way of future park construction. 6. A location that was viable in terms of installation, utilities and coverage needs for each carrier. Crown and its carrier partners have been investigating alternative candidates since before a first viability walk on August 24, 2018 to Carlsbad Fire Station Number 03 off Trailblazer Way. After confirming viability, team members met with Fire Station and City representatives on October 15, 2018 with a preliminary plan to incorporate a WCF into existing infrastructure at the station. Discussions• and work continued for several months to move forward on this location. However, in a subsequent meeting with the acting fire chief, Josh Clark, on March 21, the fire station declined interest in proceeding. Multiple difficulties had been noted over time including limited space on site and the need to prevent any hindrance to the work of the :firefighters that may be caused by construction and maintenance. Due to the loss of Station Number 03, Crown and Carlsbad representatives including members of the Parks Department met again on May 29 to find a location on the adjacent vacant parcel, which is to be the future home of a Park. A consensus was reached to be as close to the El Camino Real as possible, while. also avoiding any potential sensitive habitat areas on the vacant parcel. The closeness to El Camino Real is needed as the hills adjacent to the park can prevent cellular signal from effectively reaching significant parts of the road. A location was selected to-meet these objectives while also staying close to Cari.non Road to be nearer to existing trees and farther out of - the way of park development. This new location was plotted, and drawings and photosims were sent in July to_ Carlsbad Planning staff for preliminary feedback. · After reviewing, Pl8IJiling responded that the proposed location was too high in visibility and would not be supported. On August 20, Crown representatives met at the City of Carlsbad with Teri Delcamp and Curtis Jackson to review Planning' s concerns. While there wasn't much that could be done on the design _ of the tower ( as a temporary tower, there are limited stealth options), there was a general agreement in relocating the tower closer to the fire station and the taller trees along Cannon Road to mitigate the visual impact. This compromise would be further out of the way of future park construction, remains distant from residences, is farther from possible habitats, and was approved by all carriers as a best alternative despite coverage losses on El Camino Real. This new location is the location being proposed for this submittal. Although there are limits to what can be done to mitigate visual impact of temporary towers, Crown Castle added several elements to the design after our August meeting with the City of Carlsbad. In addition to moving closer to the fire station, several above ground temporary planters were added to soften the look of the site. The site design was also updated to be painted brown to better blend with nearby wooden utility poles carrying power lines. As noted in Policy 64 of Carlsbad's Council Policy Statement the site selected is in a "preferred location": the proposed location is on public property that will be a future park. In addition, the· project conforms to Item 4 Collocation, as the proposed location will be a collocation for all three displaced carriers, instead of three individual towers. The site will also conform to the setback requirements and be set back the height ofth1/ tower froin property lip_es. Finally, all utilities will be installed underground. Due to the temporary nature of the tower, the proposed project will not interfere with the city's plan to develop the parcel into a community park. Once the site is installed, foot traffic_ to the site will be minimal; only for ongoing monthly · maintenance by each carrier save for emergency maintenance. All equipment will be operated within noise standards consistent with the city's guidelines. Once on-air, the WCF will comply with FCC guidelines for human exposure to RF electromagnetic fields, and cumulative exposure from all the facilities will meet FCC guidelines.