HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-12; Crown Castle - CUP 2019-0032; |Barberio, Gary| Jackson, Curtis|To the m~mbers of the:
CITY COUNCIL
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Dec. 12,2019
Council Memorandum
To: Honorable Mayor Hall and e bers of the City Council
From: Gary Barberio, Deputy City g
Curtis M. Jackson, Real Estate ~•''"~
Via: Elaine Lu key, Chief Operations Of
Re: Crown Castle -CUP 2019-0032
{city of
Carlsbad
Memo ID# 2019145
This memorandum provides a status report on the Crown Castle Conditional Use Permit
application (CUP 2019-0032) to locate a temporary 75-foot-tall telecommunications facility at the
future Robertson Ranch Park Site on Trailblazer Way, adjacent to Cannon Road and El Camino
Real.
Background
As previously disclosed in the City Council Memorandum dated Oct. 24, 2019 (Attachment A),
Crown Castle has submitted a CUP (CUP 2019-0032) to locate a temporary multicarrier
telecommunications facility (Facilities) at the future Robertson Ranch Park Site on Trailblazer
Way due to their existing lease on the Marja Acres property being terminated on March 31,
2020. Since the Oct. 24, 2019, City Council memorandum, Crown Castle mailed invitations to the
public to attend an open house on Oct. 29, 2019, to discuss the CUP application, and
subsequently held the open house at Sage Creek High School.
Discussion
On Nov. 8, 2019, the city's Planning Division notified Crown Castle that their CUP application was
incomplete due to the proposed Facilities not complying with City Council Policy No. 64, Wireless
Communications Facilities (Policy No. 64). Primarily, the proposed Facilities do not comply with
Policy No. 64 because:
a) The Planning Division does not view this site as temporary (i.e., due to extended time
it will be located on the property);
b) The proposed design and height of the Facilities are inconsistent with Policy No: 64;
and
c) The Facilities are highly visible to the public and are not designed in a stealth manner
that is least disruptive to the surrounding residential communities. Additionally, the
Planning Division has requested that Crown Castle expand their alternative site
analysis to include Sage Creek High School and the water tank to the east of Sage
Creek High School.
City Manager's Office
City Hall 1200 CarlsbadVillage Drivel Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2822 t
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Dec. 12, 2019-
Page 2
On Nov. 14, 2019, city staff met with Crown Castle to discuss the submitted CUP application in an
effort to determine if a design could be submitted to the city that would comply with Policy No.
64. City staff and Crown Castle discussed public comments the city has received pursuant to the
open house held on Oct. 29, 2019, as well as a result of the early public notice mailed to the
community. The aforementioned public comments assisted city staff ih informing Crown Castle
what their amended CUP submittal would need to include in order to be consistent with Policy
64.
The Planning Division requested thclt the amended CUP application relocate the Facilities as far
to the southwest on the future Robertson Ranch Park Site as feasible, thus taking the Facilities
further away from the residential communities and closer to the intersection of El Camino Real
and Cannon Road. The Planning Division further requested that the Facilities be significantly
reduced in height and that these utilize stealth design techniques, such as a faux tree.
Next Steps
Crown Castle is now in the process of redesigning their Facilities. A tentative CUP resubmittal
date with the Planning Division is set for Dec. 20, 2019. The Planning Division has also requested
that the applicant hold an additional public outreach meeting with the adjacent community to
present the revised design of their Facilities. A date has not yet been set for this public outreach
meeting.
Attachment A: Council Memorandum dated Oct. 24, 2019
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Don Neu, City Planner
Council Memorandum
Oct. 24, 2019
To: Honor.able Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
From: Curtis M. Jackson, Real Estate Manager
Gary Barberio, Deputy City Manager, Community Services
Via: Elaine Lukey, Chief Operations Officer
Re: Crown Castle Public Noticing for Submitted CUP
Attachment A
~ityof
·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 has 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 relocate
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, Fire 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, and 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 Road 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 Castle has requested to temporarily relocate their
Facilities onto the Property for a minimum of three years, with a maximum of six years
(depending on when the future park site is developed). Crown Castle cannot permanently locate
City Manager's Office
City Hall 1200 Carlsbad Village Drivel Carlsbad, CA 92008 I 760-434-2822 t
Honorable Mayor Hall and Members of the City Council
Oct. 24, 2019
Page 2
their Facilities on the Property because the future Robertson Ranch Park has not been designed.
Crown Castle's temporary Fadlities include a 75-foot-tall monopole telecommunications tower
and associated equipment building, and would require the approval of a CUP by the Plannirg
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 open 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.m. in the cafeteria at Sage Creek High School (3900 Cannon 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. City's Project Description
cc: Scott Chadwick, City Manager
Celia Brewer, City Attorney
Don Neu, City Planner
Attacl1i11ent A ·
rocF·· "·~i) . . CROWN ct . '\,_,.,, ~ 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 1hat dwwn Casile has submitted the following
development application to the City of Carlsbad:
Project Number:
Project Name:
Project Address:
Assessor Parcel Nw:nber:
Date ofApplication:
Project Description:
Applicant Name: .
Ciqr _Project Planner:
cw 2019-0032
Crown Site 831227 Trailblazer Park
n/a-vci.cant land (comer of Cannon .and EI Camino Real Road)
208-010-38, .39 and-42
9 September 2019
Installation and operation of a· temporary multi-carrier wireless
communication facility as a short-tenn replacement of three neighboring
sites (AT&T, T-Mobile ,md Verizon Wireless) corning off..airin early 2020.
Tom Hanna, Ph.D.
(858) 602-6253
tom.hanna@cmhcg.com
Crown Castle
2055 S. Steannan Dr, Chandler, AZ 85~_86
Shannon Harker, Associate Planner .
(760) 602-4621
Shann:on.Harl,er@carlsbadca.gov
If you would like more hlfonnation or would• like to provide input on the project, please do not hesitate to
contact me. AdditioI1i1lly, CJ-ow.a wi1l beholcling an open-house rorum on Tuesday, October .2!/", from 6:00p
to 7:00p at Sage O;eekHigh. School(3900 Cannon Rd, Carlsbad, CA 9.2010) Jn the cafeteria; where we will
· have Crown representatives available to answer any questions or address any concerns. . The project is
currently unde1' re,~ew 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 heiuing: and you will be notified of !:he hearing in advance.
Sincerely,
Tom Hanna, Ph.D.
Crown Castle Representative
' Attachments: Site Plan.allCl Buil(ling Elevations
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Carlsbad
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
P-1(8)
· .Attachment·B
Development Services
. Planning Division
1635 Faraday Avenue
(760) 602-4610
www.carlsbadca.gov
PROJECT NAME: BUN 824560 Trailblaz_er Park
APPLICANT NAME: Tom Hanna ~------------------------'---
· 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 inforri,ation 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 tempora1y 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 ~o support the
surrounding neighborhoods. · . .
The proposed WCF is a 75' moriopol~, 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 capa,_ble 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 illustn::itive o_nly; 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 th~ need for the 75' overall height of the tower); and c) construction feasibility, including
utilities required to service the site.
Please see the-attached addendum for additional information.
P-1(B) Page 1 of 1 Revised 07 /10
Introduction
P1(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
Castle's extensive infi:astructure serves as the backbone of1he nation's telephone network. This
project serves to provide a temporary relocation of two of its towers-both of which are scheduled
to be decom~ssioned in early 2020-located near the intersection of Cannon and El Camino
Road.
History
")
There are two existing Crovvn.. Wireless Communication Facilities ("WCF") lo~ated south of
Bobby's Hideaway Cafe (4901 El CaminoReal).ona-hill. Verizon Wireless,AT&Tand T-¥obile
are located on these existing towers, providing•coverage to the high-traffic int~rsection of Cannon
Road and El Camino Ro_ad, as well as 1he s~mounding residences in all directions.
The two tow~is a:re situated on a parcel that is being redeveloped and convert~d. by the underlying
owner into a residential planned community, Marja Acres. As such, Crown facilitated
collaboration between the owner and all tlu'ee carriers to :find a location on the new development.
that would. work both for· the owner and for the cani.ers' _ 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
caniers.
· Site Location and Selection
. To fill this significant gap, the ·primary objective for each caiTier is the intersection of Cannon
Road and El Camino Road-a high:-traffic intersection-as well as in-building coverage for the
sun:ounding residences.
Each of the carriers have similar coverage parametei·s (the busy intersection of Cannon Road and
El Camino Real Road, emanating out from ther~), with AT&T having the additional objective qf ·
covering residential properties farther to the north of the intersection. The included alternative site
analysis summarizes candidates pmsued 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 w110 rely on ~1eir cellular services, whtle Crown Castle mid the caniers ·firid a more
peimanent solution.
The undeveloped parcel that will ultimately become Trailblazer pai1c was selected after meeting
with City of Carlsbad representatives.
Confo1'mance to Codes/Ordinances
The intersection of Cannon and El Gamino have the following make-up of zoning_ designations: .
North: P-C Planned Conununity
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 21.42.140(B)(l 65), WCF' s ar~ allowed in all zones with the
. approval of a conditional use permit (CUP): Crown perfo1med due diligence in finclip.g a location .
that would ptovid~ the least-intrusive means to the surrounding area, especially givi::n that the area
is replete :with residential-zoned areas and planned communities. Sites are .detennined on a variety
of factors: a) willing landlord; b) sufficient ground elevation and favorable topography (i•elatively .
flat areas for antenna signals to propagate fa.r1:h(;lr distances); c) constmction viability, inchlding
· ease of installation, nearby utilities and ongoing maintenance access; ~1d d) as permitted by state
and local ordinances. Of the loc1ttions reviewed"(as nott:d 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 exactlocation; ·
1. A location that did not encroach upon any sensitiv~ 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 adjicep.t fire station (Carlsbad Fire 'station
#3; located to the northeast).
4. A location near other vertical elements (buildings that would somewhat limit visual
impact).
5. A location that would be out of the way of future park constmction.
6. A location that was viable in teru1s of installation, utilities and cove!age needs for each
canier.
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
confumiug viability, team members.met with Fire Station and City representatives on October 15,
2018 with a preliminaiy plan to incorporate a WCF into existing :infrastructure at the station.
Discussions and work continued for sevei·al months to move forward on this location. Howev~r,
in a subsequentmeeting With the acting fire chief, Josh Clmk, on March 21, the fire station declined
interest :in proceeding. Multiple difficulties had been noted over time including lintlted space on
site and the need to prevent any hn~drai1ce to the work <?f the firefighters that may be caused. by
constmction and·maintenance.
Due to the loss of Station Number 03, Crown and Cai-Is bad representatives including members of
the Pai-Ics Depmtment met again on May 29 to find a location on the adjacent vacant parcel, ·which
is to be the.future home of a PaJ:k.. A consensus was reached. to be as close to the EI Camino Real .
as possible, while also avoiding any potential sensitive habitat areas on ihe vacant pai·cel. The·
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closeness to El Camino Real is needed as the hills adjacent to the park can prevent cellular signal
. from effectively reaching signjficant parts of the road. A location was selected to -meet these
objectives whil~ also staying close to Cannon Road.to be nearer to existiilg trees and farther out of
the _way of park development. This new iocation was plotted, and drawings anq. photosims were.
sent in July to Carlsbad Planning staff for preliminmy feedback. · After reviewing, Planning
responded that the proposed location was too high in visibility and would not be suppmted.
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 foe station and the taller trees along Cannon Road to mitigate
the visual impact. This compromise would be further out of the way of fut1Jre park constmction,
remains distant :from residences, is fm.ther 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 axe limits to what can_ be d~ne to mitigate visual impact of temporary towers,
Crovvn Castle added several elements to the design after· our August meeting with the City of
· Carlsbad. Ih addition to moving closer to the fire station, several above ground temporary planters
were added to soften the iook of the site. The site design was also updated to be :rainted brown ~o
better blend with nearby wooden utility poles can:y:ing power lines. ·
As noted in Policy 64 of Carlsbad's Council Policy Statement the site selected is in a "prefen-ed.
location": the proposed location is on public :eroperty 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 a,nd be setback the height oftlwtower fron1.property lines. Fi.nilly, all utilities will
be installed underground.. Due lo the temporary·nature of the tower, the proposed project will not
interfeJ;e ·with the city's plan to develop the parcel into a connmmity pm.-k. .
Once the site is installed, foot traffic to the site will be IDinnnal; only for ongoing monthly
. · maintenance by each carrier save for emergency maintenance. All .equipment will be operated
witltln noise stq11dards consistent with the city's guideJines.
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.