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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1/16/1995CITY OF DIAMOND BAR MINUTES OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE DEVELOPMENT REVIEW JANUARY 16, 1995 CALL TO ORDER Community Development Director James DeStefano called the meeting to order at 5:10 p.m. at the South Coast Air Quality management District Auditorium, 21865 E. Copley Drive, Diamond Bar, California. ROLL CALL Present: Community Development Director James DeStefano and Assistant Planner Ann Lungu. PUBLIC HEARING: 1. Administrative Development Review No. 94-15 (formerly advertised as Conditional Use Permit No. 94-5). A request to install an unmanned public utility substation for cellular telecommunications on the roof top of the Radisson Hotel, 21725 E. Gateway Center Drive. AstP/Lungu reported the purpose is- to obtain a permanent cellular service within Diamond Bar. The site is developed within Gateway Corporate Center as a six story, 180 room hotel that was approved by Los Angeles County in November 9, 1988. The site is within and surrounded by the Commercial - Manufacturing -Billboard Exclusion -Unilateral Contract(C-M-BE- U/C) Zone and borders the SR -57 and SR -60 interchange. The equipment for this project includes two arrays of antennae, (approximately 12 feet wide and 4 feet deep) each with a maximum of four antennae, approximately nine feet in height, extending five feet above the existing parapet. The antennae will be located on the northeast and northwest end of the hotel's roof, pointing both north and south along the freeway. All antennae will be painted a light gray which tends to blend with the environment. The radio equipment for the facility will be placed in a compact modular unit. The unit, approximately six feet high, 12 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, will be located on the north side of the hotel's roof, behind a 13 foot high parapet, which faces the freeway. The City has several sites such as the one recently approved at Diamond Bar High School for AirTouch Cellular. There is one proposed by L.A. Cellular on Brea Canyon Road and L.A. Cellular currently has a temporary site on Pathfinder Road -- which will be removed if this permanent site is approved. In addition, PacTel currently enjoys a site on Golden Springs Drive. L.A. Cellular has a second site on Prospectors Road and Smart has a site at Diamond Bar High School. Ilk 11!A IIIc !li I January 16, 1995 Page,2 ADR Architectural approval has not been obtained from Gateway Corporate Center. However, they have indicated approval. There will be no traffic impact upon the site and maintenance occurs once every four to six weeks. The proposed project is compatible with the land use. Since this is a commercial site, the project requires Administrative Development Review. Staff recommends that the Community Development Director approve Negative Declaration No. 94-7 and Administrative Development Review No. 94-15, Findings of Fact, and conditions as listed within the resolution. Responding to CDD/DeStefano, AstP/Lungu indicated the project originated as a Conditional Use Permit. The zoning allows this type of use by -right and because of minor alterations to a commercial site, it requires Administrative Development Review I CDD/DeStefano asked if the applicant had reviewed the staff report,'and understands the conditions and the recommendation for approval. CDD/DeStefano declared the public hearing open. Dan Hare, L.A. Cellular, responded that he does have one concern that upon approval of this project, the temporary site on Pathfinder Road would be eliminated. CDD/DeStefano asked what happens in the event this project is not approved. Mr. Hare responded the hearing for the proposed Brea Canyon site is postponed until February 17, 1995. L.A. Cellular is attempting to reach an agreement to locate to a site owned by Diamond Bar High School which is 30 feet higher than the current proposed site and is hidden in the trees. CDD/DeStefano asked what happens if there is no antenna at the school location. Mr. Hare responded there would be a hole in the system. AstP/Lungu stated she had been told numerous times by Linda Paul of L.A. Cellular that the temporary Pathfinder Road site would come down once the Radisson site is approved. i January 16, 1995 Page 3 ADR Mr. Hare indicated that if the school site is not approved, he has a problem with the removal of the temporary site. Responding to CDD/DeStefano, Mr. Hare stated the screening material used for the Radisson Hotel site will not effect the reception or transmission. In response to CDD/DeStefano, AstP/Lungu indicated the public notice was mailed to nine property owners within a 300 foot radius of the site. CDD/DeStefano declared the public hearing closed. CDD/DeStefano stated there are two issues with the project. The first issue for the community is the aesthetics (i.e. what will the equipment on top of the hotel look like and who will see it?). There are a number of business and residences with full view of the top of the hotel. The second issue for the community is all of the existing and proposed applications and where this project fits. Does it eliminate other cell sites, and is it part of the overall network which needs to be achieved through the SR -57 corridor and the SR -60 corridor. The issues before the City with respect to other sites are primarily related to aesthetics. CDD/DeStefano referred to a facility recently approved at the Diamond Bar High School. The Planning Commission approved this project and postponed the 90 foot tower which has a great deal to do with City policies dealing with aesthetics and the SR -57 being a local scenic highway and corridor. The clear representation from the prior agent was, with this facility, the temporary Pathfinder Road facility would be eliminated. The temporary Pathfinder Road facility has just recently received an extension at that location and has at least one recorded voice of opposition to having any facility at that location. CDD/DeStefano stated he has no problems with respect to land use, site planning and architectural review. Staff's suggestion for the additional condition concerning screening appears to be appropriate for this project. CDD/Destefano asked if the applicant had any further questions regarding the review of the project. Mr. Hare replied, "no, it is clear." CDD/DeStefano approved Resolution No. ADR 95-1 which is for I'llll IIII I f' January 16, 1995 Page 4 ADR Administrative Development Review No. 94-15'with the Findings of Fact and conditions as listed and the addition of staff's suggestion of a condition which states: "30 days after the installation of said telecommunications equipment, the City shall decide whether or not screening shall be utilized to mitigate any visual impacts created by the equipment, If the City decides that the screening shall be utilized, the Applicant shall install the City approved screening within 45 days of the City's decision." AstP/Lungu indicated to Mr. Hare that a check for $25.00 payable to the Los Angeles County Recorders office is required to record the Environmental Determination which must be to the County within five working days of the approval. ADJOURNMENT: With no further business to conduct, CDD/DeStefano adjourned the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Respective , Ja s DeStefano Community Development Director �J . 0 I