Loading...
CVL01280 - ASAAlternative Sites Analysis AT&T Mobility Wireless Telecommunications Facility at 1630 W. Campbell Avenue Campbell, CA Site ID: CVL01280 2 Introduction New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC d/b/a AT&T Mobility (“AT&T”) has a significant gap in its service coverage in the City of Campbell. AT&T proposes colocation at an existing wireless facility (cell tower). AT&T proposes replacing the existing (41) ft. Monopole tower with a new (61)-foot tall wireless communications facility (“WCF”) disguised as a eucalyptus Faux tree on the grounds at the rear of the Kirkwood Plaza, 160 W. Campbell Avenue (“Proposed Facility”) as a means to fill AT&T’s gap in coverage in this portion of the city. This property is located in a C-1 (Neighborhood Commercial) use zoning district in the city of Campbell, Santa Clara County. The Proposed Facility consists of nine panel antennas (three sets of three antennas) mounted on a pole and camouflaged as a eucalyptus tree (“Faux tree”), with related equipment to be housed within an existing 6-foot high CMU wall enclosure adjacent to the Faux tree. The Proposed Facility is designed to minimize visual impacts, blend within the existing environment, and the antennas will be painted green and obscured by the faux branches. The Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means to fill the significant gap of the alternatives investigated by AT&T as explained below. Objective AT&T Mobility has identified a significant gap in its service coverage in the City of Campbell, in an area roughly bordered by W. Campbell Ave. to the north, Whitwood Lane to the south, Fulton street to the west, and San Tomas Aquino rd. to the east. The Proposed Facility will improve coverage to many dozens of homes in several neighborhoods, numerous businesses, (3) schools, offices, and other points of interest in the immediate vicinity. The service coverage in this portion of the City of Campbell is described in the accompanying Radio Frequency Statement. Methodology and Zoning Criteria The location of a WCF to fill a significant gap in coverage is dependent upon topography, zoning, existing structures, collocation opportunities, available utilities, access and a willing landlord. Wireless communication is line-of-sight technology that requires WCFs to be in relatively close proximity to the wireless handsets to be served. AT&T seeks to fill a significant gap in service coverage using the least intrusive means under the values expressed in the City of Campbell Wireless Ordinance. Thus, AT&T is guided by the City’s code (“CMC”) chapter 21.34 (wireless communications facilities) and the Wireless Facility Design Requirements, in particular (Concealed Facilities) of the WF Design Requirements (In that concealed facilities often seek to mimic, recreate, or expand upon existing site or architectural features). AT&T also seeks to meet the Code preferred requirements of colocation and provide the best available design by replacing the existing Monopole tower with a Faux eucalyptus tree design and installing AT&T’s ancillary equipment within the existing compound in a C-1 commercial zone at the minimum height needed to address the significant service coverage gap. 3 Analysis AT&T investigated potential alternative sites for facilities to fill the identified coverage gap in this portion of the City of Campbell. AT&T searched for, but did not find, feasible collocation opportunities in and around the coverage objective. Due to the need for antennas with a centerline height of 52 feet above ground level, AT&T proposed a stealth WCF in the form of a Faux tree. The following map shows the locations of the Proposed Facility and the alternative sites that AT&T investigated. The alternatives are discussed in the analysis which follows. Location of Candidate Sites 4 Proposed Facility – 1630 W. Campbell Ave, Campbell Conclusion: Based upon location, a willing landlord and the superior coverage as shown in the proposed coverage map included in AT&T’s Radio Frequency Statement, the Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means for AT&T to meet its service coverage objective. This C-1 neighborhood commercial Use property is located along W. Campbell Ave between Fulton Street and San Thomas Aquino Rd. in a C-1 Neighborhood Commercial Use zoning district. AT&T proposes colocation by replacing the existing (41) ft. Monopole tower with a New 61 ft. eucalyptus Faux tree tower, to enable AT&T to install and conceal (9) New panel antennas and relocate the (3) existing panel antennas onto the new Faux tree tower. The Proposed Facility is the best available design to minimize visual impacts in the area. The Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means to fill the significant gap of the alternatives investigated by AT&T. 5 Alternative 1 – Kirkwood Plaza rooftop Conclusion: Not available The Kirkwood Plaza is located approximately 300 feet east from the Proposed Facility. The Kirkwood Plaza was not interested in leasing rooftop and or existing structure space to AT&T for a WCF. 6 Alternative 2 – Goodwill Store, 60 San Tomas Aquino rd. Conclusion: Not feasible This Goodwill store is located approximately 0.30 miles to the east from the Proposed Facility. This property is not a feasible alternative for a WCF because (1) all existing structures on the property do Not provide sufficient height for antennas with a centerline height of 52 feet above ground level, and (2) a new faux tower could not meet applicable setback requirements. 7 Alternative 3 – San Tomas Plaza, 100 N. San Tomas Aquino Rd Conclusion: Not available San Tomas Plaza is located approximately 0.36 miles to the northeast from the Proposed Facility. This business was not interested in leasing ground, structure and or rooftop space to AT&T for a WCF. Conclusion The Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means by which AT&T can close its significant service coverage gap in this portion of the City of Campbell. Denial of AT&T’s application would materially inhibit AT&T’s ability to provide and improve service in this portion of the city.