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Use Permit - Metro PCS - Expired - 2011MEMORANDUM `~•~F • Cq~j~ec^ ~~ Community Development Department °~°HA~°~ Planning Division To: Site and Architectural Review Committee Date: December 13, 2011 From: Steve Prosser, Associate Planner Via: Paul Kermoyan, Planning Manager~~, Subject: Conditional Use Permit to allow the installation of new roof mounted MetroPCS wireless telecommunication antennas, equipment cabinets, and panel screening on an existing two-story commercial building. File No.: PLN2011-262 ~ 1700 Winchester Boulevard PROPOSAL This application is for a new MetroPCS Wireless Telecommunication Facility. The applicant is requesting approval for the installation of six rack mounted panel antennas and four mechanical equipment cabinets on the roof of an existing two-story commercial building. Because the project will not result in a "stealth facility", a Conditional Use Permit is required. PROJECT SITE The project site is located on the east side of Winchester Boulevard between E. Hamilton Avenue and Latimer Avenue (reference Attachment 1, Location Map). The property is surrounded by commercial uses on the north, south and west and residential uses to the east. The site is currently developed with atwo-story commercial building (reference Attachment 2, Photo Simulations). The project site is zoned P-D (Planned Development) with a General Plan Land Use designation of Central Commercial. The Wireless Telecommunications Ordinance (CMC 21.34) states that a new installation of a "non-stealth" roof mounted wireless installation within a commercial or industrial zone (including commercial properties zoned Planned Development) requires the application of a Conditional Use Permit. DESCRIPTION The proposed facility involves the placement of six panel antennas on top of aflat-roofed two- story office building. Two panel antennas would be located along the north building elevation and four panel antennas would be located along the south building elevation. The two clusters of antennas would be located behind RF friendly screening material in a "box-like" manner. Additionally, the applicant is proposing the installation of four unscreened roof mounted mechanical equipment cabinets located within the approximate center of the roof (reference Attachment 3, Project Plans). The purpose of the installation is to resolve deficiencies within the coverage area for MetroPCS customers (reference Attachments 4 & 5, Coverage Maps and Applicant's Written Statement). SARC Memorandum -December 13, 2011 PLN2011-262 ~ 1700 Winchester Boulevard ANALYSIS Page 2 Desi :The Wireless Telecommunications Ordinance encourages new wireless facilities to be as visually unobtrusive as possible, preferably by employing stealthing techniques so as not to be visible at all. When this is not possible, the Ordinance encourages hardware installations on existing facilities ("co-locate") or structures (buildings, utility poles, etc.) as opposed to new free-standing facilities ("mono-poles"). Additionally, these facilities are encouraged to utilize installation techniques (such as flush mounting) that minimize their appearance and to incorporate materials and colors that match the structure to which they are attached. As such, the intent of the Ordinance is to encourage projects that satisfy good design expectations. In other words, proposed antenna facilities should be incorporated into the current design of the structure on which the facility is to be located. Unfortunately this project, as proposed, does not reflect this expectation. The introduction of box-like roof screening for the panel antennas would drastically alter the existing modern lines of the flat roof building and the placement of unscreened mechanical equipment cabinets may be visually obtrusive. As seen from Attachment. 2, the installation of the roof screen was specific to the wireless antenna facility, with limited to no consideration regarding how the screen would impact the building's aesthetic. Preferred Siting and Mounting Techniques: The City's Wireless Telecommunication Ordinance identifies preferred siting and mounting techniques for wireless facilities. The preferred technique involves facade-mounted antenna that meets the visual requirements as specified in CMC Section 21.34.090. The "middle-of--the-road" technique (or second preferred) involves monopole antennas that utilize "stealthing" techniques. The last or least preferred mounting technique involves roof-mounted antennas that are not visible to the public. The applicant chose the least preferred mounting technique, placing screening material around the antennas so the public does not see the antenna panels. However, the public will see boxes on top of a flat roof that have no architectural relationship with the building's design. Development Standards: The height of the roof mounted antennas is regulated by two subsections of the Wireless Telecommunication Ordinance. Code Subsection 21.43.150D requires the subject building not exceed the maximum height for buildings within the zoning district. Staff found that proposed project site is within the P-D (Planned Development) Zone District, in which the maximum height approvable is 75 feet. Therefore, the proposed facility complies with the first maximum height requirement. The second, and more significant and restrictive height regulation, Code Subsection 21.43.150H provides an antenna height standard of no more than six feet above the parapet of the roof. As shown on the project plans, the proposed antenna and roof screen heights do not exceed the maximum allowed of six feet above the existing parapet of the roof (reference Attachment 3, Project Plans, Sheet A-1). Therefore, the proposed roof mounted antenna installation also complies with the second maximum height requirement. The remaining development standard under review is found in Subsection 21.43.150E. This subsection provides criteria to minimize visual impacts that include: SARC Memorandum -December 13, 2011 Page 3 PLN2011-262 ~ 1700 Winchester Boulevard 1. Antennas shall be located in an area of the roof where the visual impact is minimized. 2. Equipment shall be setback so they are not viewed from the street. 3. Screening panels shall be designed to blend with the building's architecture. The antennas are located within six feet of the building wall on prominent building elevations. This is due to the fact that Winchester Boulevard is a major north south transit corridor in which the daily travel directions place the antenna and equipment cabinet installations within direct line of site. Additionally, the use of "box-like" screens that have no relationship to the look or feel of the building design creates a situation where the screening becomes more obtrusive than what is being screened. Staff has made the applicant aware of the need to better integrate the facility with the existing building's architecture. The applicant has decided to respectively request SARC review of the original design. The applicant believes that the proposed installation meets the needs of the wireless provider while satisfactorily addressing any aesthetic impact. OPTIONS The following options are intended to facilitate discussion of the project's site and architectural review: o Attach the antennas to the exterior parapet and paint the panels to march the building color. o Integrate the antennas into the existing building parapet. This design approach could be viewed as "stealth" if applied correctly. However, the reduced height could limit the facility's service level. o Install as proposed with a requirement to adequately screen the roof mounted mechanical equipment cabinets from public view. Attachments: 1. Location Map. 2. Photo Simulations. 3. Project Plans. 4. Coverage Maps. 5. Applicant's Written Statement.