- Denise Rockenstein
- Posted On
Clearlake Planning Commission approves upgrade to wireless telecommunications tower
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Approvals were granted Tuesday allowing AT&T Mobility to proceed with a project to upgrade its telecommunication facility on Woods Avenue in Clearlake.
The Clearlake Planning Commission granted a setback and height variance as well as approved a mitigated negative declaration concerning the project.
AT&T Mobility plans to upgrade its existing wireless telecommunication facility, which is currently located on the water towers belonging to Konocti Water District.
The facility provides wireless communication services to residential and commercial customers throughout the entire city.
The approved variance allows for the reduction of the front yard setback from the required 20 feet to 10 feet as well as an increase in the height limitation from the maximum 35 feet to 80 feet for installation of a mono-pine.
A mono-pine is a steel utility pole that accommodates telecommunication antennas. It is camouflaged in such a way that it resembles a pine tree.
"It is a steel pole covered with textured concrete that is painted to resemble bark, with branches that look like pine," David Snypes, AT&T site acquisition representative, told the commission.
Snypes added that the mono-pine will be designed to fit the local terrain and placed near an existing stand of trees.
Additionally, there is to be no lighting on the pole, he said.
The facility is to be designed to allow for accommodation of equipment for use in public safety communication such as for police or fire dispatch services. Conditions concerning subleasing details and equipment placement are in place.
Commissioner Bill Perkins questioned possible hazards related to emissions generated by the antenna tower.
Preston Dickinson, AT&T external affairs representative, said the tower meets and exceeds all Federal Communication Commission requirements.
The use permit for the project includes installation of a 50 kilowatt emergency backup generator, which Snypes said has a 500 gallon-capacity and is self-contained in response to Commissioner Mike Vandiver's concern for on-site fuel storage and possible spillage.
Snypes said installation of the generator requires a permit from the Environmental Health Department, which he said has already been successfully processed and obtained.
The mitigated negative declaration addresses and mitigates concerns to less than a significant level in seven areas: aesthetics, air quality, biological resources, cultural resources, geology and soils; hazards and hazardous materials; and noise.
Property owners within a 300-foot radius of the project site were noticed when the project application was originally process.
According to staff, no comments were received from among the 27 property owners who received the notices.
According to Dickinson, the upgrade project will take about two years to complete and will result in better wireless service throughout the community.
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