The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutPC Staff Report Royal Street Communications Monopine Cell Tower CITY OF LADE LSIROIkE L DREAM EXTREME- CITY OF LAKE ELSINORE REPORT TO THE PLANNING COMMISSION TO: HONORABLE CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: TOM WEINER, ACTING DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DATE: DECEMBER 16, 2008 PROJECT: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 2008-20 AND A MINOR DESIGN REVIEW - "ROYAL STREET COMMUNICATIONS" CO-LOCATED WIRELESS MONOPINE CELLULAR TOWER FACILITY APPLICANT: ROYAL STREET COMMUNICATIONS, LLC., 2913 EL CAMINO REAL, STE.561, TUSTIN, CA 92782 OWNER: EUGENE M. GABRYCH, GENUS, LP, 2006 HIGHWAY 395, FALLBROOK, CA 92028 Project Request The applicant is requesting a Conditional Use Permit and Minor Design Review for the design and co-location of a new telecommunication tower with an ultimate height of forty five feet (45) for Royal Street Communications. Review is pursuant to the Long Beach Equities Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan and Chapter 17.82 (Design Review), Chapter 17.74 (Conditional Use Permit) of the Lake Elsinore Municipal Code, where applicable. Project Location The project site is located along the 1-15 freeway at Lake Street within the Long Beach Equities Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan, Assessor Parcel Number (APN) 390-120-010. Planning Commission Staff Report Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-20 and a Minor Design Review— Royal Street Communications Monopine Cellular Tower Facility December 16, 2008 Environmental Setting EXISTING ZONING GENERAL PLAN LAND USE Project Existing C-SP (Commercial Specific Specific Plan Site Monopole Plan within the Long Beach Facility Equitites Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan North Water Tank C-SP (Commercial Specific Specific Plan Plan within the Long Beach Equitites Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan South Vacant C-SP (Commercial Specific Specific Plan Plan within the Long Beach Equitites Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan West Vacant C-SP (Commercial Specific Specific Plan Plan within the Long Beach Equitites Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan East Vacant C-SP (Commercial Specific Specific Plan Plan within the Long Beach Equitites Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan Background Royal Street Communications is proposing to construct and a new wireless antenna facility for co-location on the project site so as to provide cellular telephone coverage along the Interstate 15 corridor and Lake Street as well as the residential and commercial communities located to the north, south and west of the proposed site location. The project site has a zoning designation of Commercial Specific Plan within the Long Beach Equities Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan. The Specific Plan recognizes that certain uses may require outdoor operation and/or have the potential to impact surrounding properties and therefore require additional approval and consideration. Such uses shall require a Conditional Use Permit pursuant to Lake Elsinore Municipal Code (LEMC) Section 17.74 (Conditional Use Permits). Project Description The proposed unmanned wireless telecommunication facility will be located adjacent to an existing 2,500 square foot lease area and will consist of the following improvements: Planning Commission Staff Report Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-20 and a Minor Design Review — Royal Street Communications Monopine Cellular Tower Facility December 16, 2008 ■ A 45-foot tall monopole tower disguised as a pine tree with a 40-foot tall self support structure with approximately five feet (5') of faux pine branches. ■ Six (6) antennae panels, divided equally into six (6) sectors located at the top of the monopine tower to be located at a maximum height of thirty eight feet (38') for Royal Street Communications. Also, approximately six (6) antenna panels are proposed at a height of twenty five (25) feet for a future carrier. The potential carrier is unnamed at this time. All antenna panels are proposed within the pine branches so as not to extend out beyond the branches. ■ One two-foot (2') diameter microwave dish to be located on the mono-pine tower which provides linkage to landline telephone service. ■ One (1) GPS antenna to be located on the monopine tower for emergency-911 compliance. ■ Coaxial lines connecting the tower antennas to an equipment shelter. ■ Four (4) equipment cabinets housing electronic equipment are proposed within the within the existing equipment enclosure area. ■ One (1) temporary generator that will provide power during outage periods. The lease area containing the facility equipment will be screened and secured within a proposed 8' — 0" tall masonry wall. Access gates will be located along the south side of the lease area. It should be noted that the area does not have water irrigation service. Typically staff would condition the project to provide landscaping to the site. Since no irrigation exists or is available, staff has did not believe such a condition was appropriate. However, it should be noted that native vegetation and large eucalyptus trees do surround the project site. Analysis 1. Facility Site: The proposed site plan meets all applicable development standards and criteria outlined in the Long Beach Equities Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan Commercial Specific Plan zoning district including setbacks. 2. Transmission/Calling Coverage: After extensive research regarding potential site placement and opportunity for co-location, Royal Street Communications has concluded that due to the height requirements and the coverage objective of the Planning Commission Staff Report Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-20 and a Minor Design Review — Royal Street Communications Monopine Cellular Tower Facility December 16, 2008 selected search ring, there are no other practical locations for the telecommunications facility within the immediate area. 3. Tower Height: The applicant has indicated that in order to provide the desirable service and co-location, the height of the antennas must be a minimum of thirty eight feet (38') with the faux pine branches extending as high as forty five feet (45'). The Development Standards subsection `Building Height' of the Long Beach Equities Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan allows a maximum building/structure height of forty five feet (45). Staff believes the proposed tower height and stealth design meets the intent of the Long Beach Equities Alberhill Ranch Specific Plan and will not result in incompatibility issues with surrounding properties and planned land uses given the location of the proposed facility and that sufficient setbacks have been achieved from surrounding properties. 4. Stealthing Improvements: The proposed faux monopine tower which resembles a pine tree in design, appearance and character will serve to conceal the antennas from view as much as possible. 5. Decorative Fencing: The proposed equipment will be housed within a proposed 8' — 0" tall masonry wall. The wall and material will match the existing wall in the immediate location. 6. Landscaping: As previously noted, water and irrigation are not available to the site. However, as previously noted, the project site is surrounded by native vegetation and large eucalyptus trees. 7. Operation and Maintenance: There will be virtually no increase in traffic in the area as a result of this project. After construction, Royal Street Communications technicians visit the facility approximately once every four (4) weeks. Additionally, no increase in ambient noise level is anticipated as there are no external air conditioning units needed or proposed for this facility. The applicant is proposing to place a backup power generator onsite which would only be utilized during power outages. Staff has added a recommended condition of approval requiring that the generator comply with City Noise Ordinance provisions. Environmental Determination Pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), Section 15303 (New Construction or Conversion of Small Structures), staff has determined that the proposed project will not have a significant effect on the environment and shall therefore be exempt from the provisions of CEQA. Therefore no additional environmental clearance is necessary. Planning Commission Staff Report Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-20 and a Minor Design Review — Royal Street Communications Monopine Cellular Tower Facility December 16, 2008 Recommendation It is recommended that the Planning Commission adopt Resolution No. 2008-_ approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-20 and Resolution No. 2008- approving a Minor Design Review for a co-located Wireless Monopine Cellular Tower Facility. This recommendation is based on the findings, exhibits and conditions of approval attached to this Staff Report. Prepared By: Kirt A. Coury, Project Planner Approved By: Tom Weiner, Acting Director of Community Development Attachments 1. Vicinity Map 2. Resolution No. 2008-_ approving Conditional Use Permit No. 2008-20 3. Resolution No. 2008-_ approving a Minor Design Review for a co-located Wireless Monopine Cellular Tower Facility 4. Conditions of Approval 5. Acknowledgement of Conditions Form (signed copy to be provided at the Planning Commission meeting) 6. Exhibits: `A': Site Plan (reduction) `B': Enlarged Site Plan (reduction) `C': Elevations (reduction) D': Color Photo Simulations E': Full Size Plans