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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-04-07; Planning Commission; ; CUP 98-19|SUP 99-02 - ALGA ROAD - COX COMMUNICATIONS--The City of Carlsbad Planning Department A REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION P.C. AGENDA OF: April 7, 1999 ItemNo.@ Application complete date: January 11, 1999 Project Planner: Van Lynch Project Engineer: Michele Masterson SUBJECT: CUP 98-19/SUP 99-02 -ALGA ROAD -COX COMMUNICATIONS - Request for a Conditional Use Permit and Special Use Permit to allow the installation of a base transceiver station ( enclosed equipment cabinets) located at- grade on the east side of an existing commercial building and the placement of a total of twelve (12) wall mounted antennas and a proposed architectural dormer element. The site is located at 6994 El Camino Real (West Bluff Plaza Shopping Center) in the C-2-Q Zone in Local Facilities Management Zone 6. I. RECOMMENDATION That the Planning Commission ADOPT Planning Commission Resolutions No. 4475 and 4516 APPROVING CUP 98-19 and SUP 99-02 based on the findings and subject to the conditions contained therein. II. INTRODUCTION This application is a request for a conditional use permit and special use permit to allow a Personal Communication System (PCS) facility consisting of equipment cabinets located at- grade and enclosed by a 6' high wrought iron equipment enclosure, and a total of twelve (12) wall mounted panel antennas on various building elevations on a new architectural dormer element that will be added to an existing building within the West Bluff Plaza Shopping Center. The wall mounted antennas will be located on the south, east, and west elevations of the existing building facade. The new dormer will provide room for a northern elevation for an array of antennas. Quasi-public utility facilities are permitted in the Commercial Zone by conditional use permit, and all required conditional use findings can be made for the proposed PCS facility. III. PROJECT DESCRIPTION AND BACKGROUND Cox Communications is a PCS company licensed to operate in California by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Cox Communications is currently in the process of developing a digital PCS network throughout San Diego County to service its local subscribers. PCS telecommunications technology is emerging as an important emergency ~ervice and business tool, as well as being convenient for personal and family use. The proposed site is within an existing commercial shopping center, West Bluff Plaza Shopping Center, located at 6994 El Camino Real, which is at the northeast comer of the intersection of Alga Road and El Camino Real. The proposed project includes: 1) Seven equipment cabinets CUP 98-19 -ALGA ROAD~ COX COMMUNICATIONS April 7, 1999 Pa e2 arrays of three panel antennas. Three sets of antennas will be mounted on the existing south, east, and west elevations of the existing building. One set will be located on a new vertical element created by a new dormer added to the building. The existing building's roof is sloped to the north and it does not provide a flat vertical facade to accommodate the flat panel antennas. The dormer is proposed to be 35 feet high, which is one foot higher than the present building height. The dormer will be stucco finished to match the existing building finish and will have a gabled roof with barrel style tile to match the existing roofing materials. Each antenna panel would be 6" wide x 3" deep x 72" (maximum) high and painted to match the existing structure. The proposed project is subject to the following regulations: A. General Commercial Zone (C-2) (Chapter 21.28 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code); B. Conditional Use Permit Regulations (Chapter 21.42 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code); C. El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards; D. Qualified Development Overlay Zone (-Q) (Chapter 21.06 of the Carlsbad Municipal Code); E. Growth Management. IV. ANALYSIS Staffs recommendation of approval for this conditional use was developed by analyzing the project's consistency with the applicable City regulations and policies. This analysis will present in text the project's consistency with the applicable regulations listed below: A. General Commercial Zone The proposed development is consistent with all applicable development standards and guidelines required by the C-2 Zone for setbacks, coverage, storage areas and architecture. The equipment cabinets, located at-grade and adjacent to the existing structure, will be four feet from the nearest property line and enclosed by a 6' high wrought iron fence painted to match the existing fencing. The proposed dormer element mounted on the existing building's roof does not increase the lot coverage, floor area, or parking demand for the site. The antenna panels, which would be mounted to the exterior facade of the existing and proposed building elevations, would be painted to match the dormer and existing structure and therefore integrated into the architecture. The commercial zone has conditions and limitations which require that all uses be conducted wholly within an enclosed building except for such uses as electrical transformers which are customarily outdoors. The PCS equipment cabinets would have the appearance of and function similar to an electrical transformer. B. Conditional Use Permit Regulations Conditional land uses such as PCS communication facilities possess unique and special characteristics which make it impractical to include them as permitted uses "by right" in any of the various zoning classifications (i.e., residential, commercial, and industrial). The authority for CUP 98-19 -ALGA ROAD~ COX COMMUNICATIONS April 7, 1999 Pae 3 the location and operation of these uses is subject to Planning Commission review and the issuance of conditional use permits. The following required conditional use permit findings for the proposed PCS facility can be made: 1. The proposed use is: a) necessary and desirable for the development of the community in that the community benefits of wireless communications include improved telecommunications service for emergency services and individuals; b) consistent with the General Plan in that the Commercial land use designation does not preclude the provision of quasi-public utility uses; and c) not detrimental to permitted uses in the Commercial zone in that the use is integrated into the existing commercial building and requires no significant changes to the site design or function; 2. The proposed site is adequate in size and shape to accommodate the use in that the antennas would be mounted on the existing building's elevations and an added architectural dormer element and the equipment enclosure is located adjacent to the structure within the buildable envelope and complies with the commercial zone development standards; 3. All features necessary to adjust the requested use to the existing use are provided in that the architectural dormer element and wall mounted antenna are painted to match the existing building facade to reduce their visibility to the greatest extent possible; and 4. The street system serving the proposed use would not be impacted by the proposed conditional use in that additional vehicle trips are limited to occasional equipment maintenance by service personnel. C. El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards The project site falls within Area Five of the El Camino Real Corridor Development Standards. This area is dominated by the La Costa development, which includes various residential, commercial, office, and visitor serving land uses. The topography offers views of the surrounding hills and valleys. Batiquitos Lagoon is a prominent physical feature along a major portion of the roadway. Much of the existing development reflects an architecture theme. The project complies with the design theme in that the proposed architectural dormer will maintain the existing "Old California/Hispanic" design theme by using similar building materials as the existing buildings such as stucco and barrel tile roofing. The dormer will be at the 35 foot building height limit, one foot higher than the existing building height of 34 feet. Since the building height will not be significantly increased, there is not a loss of views from the El Camino Real roadway. The project has been conditioned to amend the sign program for the site to not allow any signs to be placed on the new dormer feature. D. Qualified Development Overlay Zone The project site has been zoned with the Qualified Development Overlay Zone (Q) designation, however Section 21.06.040 exempts the enlargement of less than one thousand square feet of any existing commercial building on any commercially zoned lot. Since the project does not involve CUP 98-19 -ALGA RO, COX COMMUNICATIONS April 7, 1999 Pa e4 the addition of useable square footage to the existing project and the existing lot is commercially zoned, a Site Development plan is not required for this project. E. Growth Management The proposed site is located within Local Facilities Management Plan Zone 6. The installation of the antennas on the building walls and the equipment cabinets on the ground of the existing commercial building will not result in increased public facilities demands and therefore, the project will not exceed performance standards for public facilities. V. ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW The installation of small new equipment is a Class 3 Categorical Exemption under the California Environmental Quality Act (Guidelines Section 15303). Pacific Bell Mobile Services is licensed by the FCC to receive and transmit by radio waves operating in the 1850-1990 MHz frequency block. The FCC requires compliance with radio frequency power density standards (ANSI/IEEE C95.1-1992) for the general public, therefore, the project would not have a significant impact on the environment. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Planning Commission Resolution No. 4475 (CUP) 2. Planning Commission Resolution No. 4516 (SUP) 3. Location Map 4. Background Data Sheet 5. Disclosure Statement 6. Reduced Exhibits 7. Exhibits "A" -"C" dated April 7, 1999. VL:eh • SITE ALGA RD ALGA ROAD -COX COMMUNICATIONS CUP 98-19/SUP 99-02 ( --BACKGROUND DATA SHEET CASE NO: CUP 98-19/SUP 99-02 CASE NAME: ALGA ROAD -COX COMMUNICATIONS APPLICANT: COX COMMUNICATIONS PCS, LP REQUEST AND LOCATION: PERSONAL COMMUNICATION FACILITY AT 6994 EL CAMINO REAL (WEST BLUFF PLAZA) LEGAL DESCRIPTION: A portion of Parcel 2 of Parcel Map No. 9043, in the City of Carlsbad, County of San Diego, State of California, filed in the Office of the County Recorder of San Diego County, August 14, 1979, as file no. 79-304715 of official records. APN: 215-052-07-00 Acres: 4.3 Proposed No. of Lots/Units: =-'N,,._,/A'-"----------- GENERAL PLAN AND ZONING Land Use Designation: =C--""O'"""'MM==E=R,.,.C=IA~L __________________ _ Density Allowed: N......,_,___,./ A....______ Density Proposed: N......,_,___,./ A...._ ________ _ Existing Zone: =C_.,-2._-Q _______ Proposed Zone: -=C'-'-2=---...,.Q~--------- Surrounding Zoning and Land Use: (See attached for information on Carlsbad's Zoning Requirements) Zoning General Plan (Land Use) Site C-2-Q Community Commercial (C) (Commercial) North RDM-Q Residential Medium High (RMH) (Residential) South RDM Residential Medium High (RMH) (Residential) East PC Residential Medium (RM) (Vacant) West C-2-Q Community Commercial (C) (Commercial) PUBLIC FACILITIES School District: Carlsbad Water District: Carlsbad Sewer District: _,..C""'ar....,ls=b=ad=------- Equivalent Dwelling Units (Sewer Capacity): '"""'N""""/ A--"------------------ Public Facilities Fee Agreement, dated: "'--'N"""/ A....._ ________________ _ ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT ASSESSMENT D Negative Declaration, issued ___________________ _ D Certified Environmental Impact Report, dated _____________ _ C8J Other, Class 3 Categorical Exemption, Section 15303 tity of ,,-·--Carlsbad ■::. &i ,i ,ii,i•l ·U' •Ei; i, ,i§ ,\1 DISCLOSURE ST A TEMENT Applicant's statement or disclosure of certain ownership interests on all applications which will require discretionary action on the part of the City ~ouncil or any appointed Board, Commission or Committee. The following information must be disclosed: 1. APPLICANT List the names and addresses of all persons having a financial interest in the application. (ox ~,,-,,c-n,cc:rfio>-1f ?d 2. OWNER List the names and addresses of all persons having any ownership interest in the prop-~>~~ C/ _____________ _ E~ & ,·11/4 ;:;"rlqr104( 6~1> ?"~ &I/ /1/v-rr~ 'Z'/1~ Q. S...!l-/4ke C~~ 1/-.<4 ?.t/117 3. If any person identified pursuant to (1) or (2) above is a corporation or partnership, list the names and addresses of all individuals owning more than 10% of the shares in the corporation or owning any partnership interest in the partnership. 4. If any person identified pursuant to ( 1) or (2) above is a non-profit organization or a trust, list the names and addresses of any person serving as officer or director of the non-profit organization or as trustee or beneficiary of the trust. 2075 Las Palmas Dr. • Carlsbad, CA 92009-1576'• (619) 438-1161 • FAX (619) 438-0894 5. Have you had 'a than $250 worth of business tr.~ .;ted with any member of City staff, BoarW Commissions, Committees and/or ncil within the past twelve ( 1 2) months? D Yes rRJ No If yes, please indicate person(s): ___________ _ Person is defined as "Any individual, firm, co-partnership, joint venture, association, social club, fraternal organization, corporation, estate, trust, receiver, syndicate, this and any other county, city and county, city municipality, district or other political subdivision or any other group or combination acting as a unit." NOTE: Attach additional sheets if necessary. Signatu7ec;f o Disclosure Statement 10/96 ,£:Lo~#f Signature of appli~/date Afr./1/-/J.,,-/l;>p /,·(',:::;A/- Print or type name of applicant Page 2 of 2 __) )14'PIWP.UIU.l!4. DETAL -LEASE AREA • 110111>< ~--~-- D ... O .. 0 .... SITE PLAN @ICAL.a,I" ....... • ROOF PLAN talH @,c:.1U,..-.r-r ¥"'',. =t. -, Ill N,,...,.. PACI,:,,~ EQUIPMENT LAYOUT ©ac:.&U,W'•f ... • 110111>< -----r--~~r :::== .... _JJ ----· -· ..... I. I d I I I I I I I I ' I I ' I ' !PARKING AREAi ELEVATION (COURTYARD I . . .~·. ELEVATION (OPEN FIELD) @!.~.~_} ELEV AT ION IE L CAMINO REAL I ---M'l'll~--· ~--U. UM 1u .u-noe r.tJHMl-7111 I A-2