HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC Reso 10-2642RESOLUTION NO. 10-2642
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DOWNEY ADOPTING A NEGATIVE DECLARATION AND APPROVING
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 09-86 — TO CONSTRUCT AN 24 INCH
DIAMETER, BY 38 FEET TALL CELLULAR MONOPOLE WITH 12 PANEL
ANTENNAS (THREE SECTORS, FOUR ANTENNAS PER SECTOR) AND ONE
PARABOLIC ANTENNA, STEALTHED AS A 45' TALL PINE TREE
(MONOPINE) FOR T -MOBILE ON THE PROPERTY AT 11943 PARAMOUNT
BOULEVARD, ZONED C-1 (NEIGHBORHOOD COMMERCIAL).
THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF DOWNEY DOES RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Planning Commission of the City of Downey does hereby find,
determine and declare that:
A. December 4, 2009, the applicant submitted an application for Conditional Use
Permit No. 09-86, requesting to construct by 38' tall cellular monopole with 12
panel antennas (three sectors, four antennas per sector) and one parabolic
antenna, stealthed as a 45' tall palm tree- (monopalm).This application was
subsequently deemed incomplete by staff due to missing information and
because the Applicant redesigned the monopalm into a monopine on the project
plans; and,
B. On April 23, 2010, staff deemed the application for Conditional Use Permit No.
09-86 complete, thus allowing it to be scheduled for public hearing; and.
C. On May 12 2010, notice of the pending public hearing was sent to all property
owners within 500' of the subject site and the notice was published in the Long
Beach Press Telegram. Additionally, pursuant to the requirements of CEQA, a
Notice of Intent to adopt a Negative Declaration was filed with the Los Angeles
County Recorders office on May 12, 2010; and,
D. The Planning Commission held a duly noticed public hearing on June 2, 2010
and after fully considering all oral and written testimony and facts and opinions
offered at the aforesaid public hearing adopted this resolution, subject to
conditions of approval (Exhibit A).
SECTION 2. The Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares that after
reviewing an Initial Study in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act, which found that there would be no significant environmental impacts created by the
proposed Conditional Use Permit, a Negative Declaration was prepared. Based on its own
independent judgment that the facts stated in the initial study are true, the Planning Commission
hereby finds that the approval of the Conditional Use Permit will not have any potential negative
environmental impacts.
SECTION 3. Having considered all of the oral and written evidence presented to it at
said public hearings, the Planning Commission further finds, determines and declares that:
1. That the requested conditional use permit will not adversely affect the purpose and
intent of this chapter or the City's General Plan or the public convenience or general
welfare of persons residing or working in the neighborhood thereof.
General Plan Policy No 2.7.1 states that the City should "Provide adequate utility and
communications infrastructure." Inasmuch as the proposal will increase the capacity of the
Resolution No. 10-2642
Downey Planning Commission
existing cellular network, staff believes that this approval will help achieve this policy.
Furthermore, the additional network coverage, in staffs opinion, will serve as a convenience
to the public that utilizes T -mobile as it provides them with increased service. Accordingly,
staff feels that this finding can be adopted.
2. That the requested use will not adversely affect the adjoining land uses and the
growth and development of the area in which it is proposed to be located.
The subject site is in a fully developed area of the City, with no vacant properties in the
immediate area. Staffs opinion is that the proposed monopole will not prevent surrounding
properties from being developed further. Notwithstanding this, a common concern with the
construction of monopoles is the aesthetic impact they may have on surrounding properties
and the enjoyment of the properties thereof, particularly residential. To address this concern,
the applicant has designed the monopole as a pine tree (monopine). Staff believes that this
design will avoid any aesthetic impacts on the adjoining properties, thereby avoiding
adverse affects thereto. In addition, the applicant proposes to plant one (1) pine tree within a
proposed planter area. As such, staff feels that this finding can be adopted.
3. That the size and shape of the subject property proposed for the use is adequate to
allow the full development of the proposed use in a manner not detrimental to the
particular area.
The subject site is a square shaped lot approximately 21,000 square feet. It is a square
shaped lot that is located on the northwest corner of Paramount Boulevard and Cole Street.
The subject site is improved with an approximate 7,292 square foot commercial building and
twenty-eight (28) parking spaces. The proposed project will be located west of the existing
building. The location of the monopole, and all related equipment, will not reduce the
amount of available parking or conflict with driveway circulations. Thus, staff believes that
the subject site has sufficient shape and size to accommodate the proposed use and that
this finding can be adopted.
4. That the traffic generated by the proposed use will not impose an undue burden upon
the streets and highways in the area.
The proposed project is an unmanned wireless communications facility (cellular monopole),
which typically only requires a single site visit once a month for maintenance. It is staffs
opinion that this is not a significant increase in vehicle trips and the adjoining streets have
sufficient capacity to absorb this de minimis amount of vehicles. As such, staff feels that the
proposed use will not impose an undue burden upon the streets and highways in the area
and that this finding can be adopted.
SECTION 4. Based upon the findings set forth in Sections 1 through 3 of this
Resolution, the Planning Commission of the City of Downey hereby adopts a Negative
Declaration and approves Conditional Use Permit No. 09-86, subject to conditions of approval
attached hereto as Exhibit A, which are necessary to preserve the health, safety and general
welfare of the community and enable the Planning Commission to make the findings set forth in
the previous sections. The conditions are fair and reasonable for the accomplishment of these
purposes.
Conditional Use Permit No. 09-86- 11943 Paramount Boulevard
June 2, 2010 - Page 2
Resolution No. 10-2642
Downey Planning Commission
SECTION 5. The Secretary shall certify the adoption of this Resolution.
PASSED, APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2"d day of June 010.
f'
' Irouis Moraleg, Chairman
City Planning Commission
HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of a Resolution adopted by the
Planning Commission of the City of Downey at a regular meeting thereof, held on the 2nd day of
June, 2010 by the fallowing vote, to wit:
AYES: COMMISSIONERS: Kiefer, Vasquez, Lambros, Murray, Morales
NOES: COMMISSIONERS: None
kcakt
Theresa Donahue, Secretary
City Planning Commission
Conditional Use Permit No. 09-86- 11943 Paramount Boulevard
June 2, 2010 - Page 3
Resolution No. 10-2642
Downey Planning -Commission
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT NO. 09-86
EXHIBIT A - CONDITIONS
PLANNING
1) The approval of Conditional Use Permit No. 09-86 permits T -Mobile to install and
operate of a 38' tall cellular monopole that is stealthed as a 45' tall pine tree with a
maximum of 12 panel antennas (three sectors, four antennas per sector) and 1 parabolic
antenna, up to 4 related equipment cabinets.
2) Approval of this Conditional Use Permit shall not be construed to mean any waiver of
applicable and appropriate zoning regulations, or any Federal, State, County, and City
laws and regulations. Unless otherwise expressly specified, all other requirements of
the City of Downey Municipal Code shall apply.
3) The City Planner is authorized to make minor modifications to the approved preliminary
plans or any of the conditions if such modifications shall achieve substantially the same
results as would strict compliance with said plans and conditions.
4) All conditions of approval for Conditional Use Permit 09-86 shall be complied with before
the Conditional Use Permit becomes valid.
5) The owner/applicant shall incorporate a copy of this Resolution No. 10-2642 (including
Exhibit A — Conditions), into the approved set of building plans.
6) There shall be no more than three (3) sectors with a maximum of four (4) panel
antennas per sector, and one (1) parabolic antenna. The maximum height of the
antennas shall not exceed a height of 38' above the adjacent grade. This condition of
approval shall not be interpreted to prohibit revisions to this Conditional Use Permit to
allow collocations on the monopine.
7) The canopy shall have a minimum branch density of 2.5 branches per foot. - The base of
the canopy shall be no higher than 15' above the grade and shall extend 7' above the
top of the antennas.
8) The trunk of the monopine shall be wrapped in a material that resembles bark.
9) The antennas and their support structures shall be covered in a material to resemble
branches and pine needles.
10) The equipment cabinets shall be located west of the existing building. The equipment
area shall be enclosed with a 7' tall decorative block wall with a solid metal gate.
11) The new block wall and gate shall be coated with an anti -graffiti coating. Furthermore,
the property owner shall remove any graffiti within 72 hours of application.
12) The applicant shall construct a new trash enclosure with a roof cover and a new
enclosure for the recycling bin.
13) All existing trees on the site shall remain. During construction the applicant shall take all
necessary and reasonable steps, as determined by the Building Official, to ensure the
trees on the property are not damaged during construction.
Conditional Use Permit No. 09-86- 11943 Paramount Boulevard
June 2, 2010 - Page 4
Resolution No. 10-2642
Downey Planning Commission
14) Prior to the issuance of the building permit final, the applicant shall plant one (1) live
Canary Island Pine (Pinus canariensis), or similar subject to the approval of the City
Planner. Said pine shall be planted just south of the monopine and within a proposed
296.71 square foot landscape planter. Additional live plant materials shall be planted in
the proposed planter. The Canary Island Pine shall have a minimum height of 25' at time
of planting. Should the Canary Island Pine grow to exceed a height of 40', the applicant
is authorized to trim said tree in order to reduce the height back to 40'.
15) The applicant shall plant live plant materials in the existing planters along Paramount
Boulevard and along Cole Street.
16) Prior to issuance of building permits, the applicant shall provide a landscape plan
approval by the City Planner.
17) (Added) Noise generated from the equipments and antennas shall comply with Municipal
Code Section 4600 et. seq. In any case, noise shall not exceed 65 dBA, as measured at
the property line. Should any noise complaints be formally submitted to the Police
Department/ Code Enforcement, the applicant/owner shall be responsible to hire a noise
consultant to measure the dBA, and provide the evidence to the City Planner.
BUILDING
18) All construction shall comply with the 2007 California Building Code and Title 24 of the
California Energy Code.
19) Prior to the commencement of construction, the applicant shall obtain all required
permits. Additionally, the applicant shall obtain all necessary inspections and permit
final prior to beginning operation of the site.
PUBLIC WORKS
20) The applicant shall install all new utilities associated with this project underground.
21) Utility plans shall be submitted to and approved by the Department of Public Works prior
to the issuance of the grading plan permit.
22) All areas within the scope of work of this project shall comply with the National Pollutant
Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) requirements of the Federal Clean Water Act;
the General Construction Activities Stormwater Permit (GCASP) of the State, the
Stormwater Quality Management Plan (SQMP) of the Los Angeles County Department
of Public Works, and Ordinance 1142 of the Downey Municipal Code.
23) Prior to final of building permits, the applicant shall remove all construction graffiti
created as part of this project from the public right of way and on the subject site.
24) The owner/applicant shall provide that vehicular and pedestrian right of ingress and
egress to T -Mobile shall be relinquished and recorded with the Los Angeles County
Recorder, and a copy with the Engineering and Planning Divisions.
Conditional Use Permit No. 09-86- 11943 Paramount Boulevard
June 2, 2010 - Page 5
Resolution No. 10-2642
Downey Planning Commission
25) The owner/applicant shall dedicate (Irrevocable offer of dedication) ten feet (10') for
right-of-way purposes along Cole Street property frontage to the standards of the City
Engineering Division.
H:\PLANNING\SHORI\CASES\CUP\09-86 Paramount Blvd. (freestanding wireless)\09-86 reso.doc
Conditional Use Permit No. 09-86-11943 Paramount Boulevard
June 2, 2010 - Page 6