Wireless Telecommunication Facility. Project Narrative

Transcription

1 Wireless Telecommunication Facility Project Narrative Applicant: Owner: Rep.: 2785 Mitchell Drive Walnut Creek, CA Southern California Joint Pole Committee 279 E. Arrow Hwy, Ste. 104 San Dimas, CA Sequoia Deployment Services, Inc Aspan Street, Suite 290 Lake Forest, CA Melissa Samarin (562) Site No.: Location: Public ROW across 965 Village Lane Santa Barbara, CA Alternative Site Analysis determines the need for a new wireless telecommunications facility through the collection of network test data, customer comments, projected growth in customer network usage, and the effects of the deployment of new technologies that both improve service and capability of the network. A new site is needed in the area around Vieja Drive in order to maximize the capacity of service to these high-density residential areas of Santa Barbara. The objective of the site is to provide improved capacity to the residential communities nearby to better serve these target communities. In order to fill the gap in the network in this area along Vieja Drive, more coverage needs to come from a new site in the immediate area. The location of this proposed facility was selected based on a variety of technical, practical, and scientific criteria. This is a small cell/microcell site. identified and investigated several candidates in this site acquisition process and is pursuing a solution to the gap in coverage in the neighborhood surrounding the proposed facility. identified other existing utility poles along the streets in this ASPAN STREET, SUITE 290, LAKE FOREST, CA TELEPHONE: FACSIMILE:

2 Page 2 of 8 neighborhood as candidates for the proposed facility, including two to the east of the proposed utility pole, Pole GT Properties within the search ring are zoned DR- 3.5 Residential, DR-1.8 Residential, and REC Recreation. The recreational zoned property is the Hidden Oaks Golf Course. There are no other existing wireless facilities available in the area upon which to collocate this site. The search area includes slight elevation changes and existing tree growth and the location of a facility takes into consideration the need to reach over this existing topography. Due to the fact that the uses in this area are predominantly single family residential, concentrated their efforts in finding a candidate along the public right-of-way in this neighborhood, which avoids having to construct a new freestanding facility on the golf course or a site within a residential lot, while still allowing to serve these target residential users. Several candidates were investigated and those alternate candidates and various processes considered to fill the significant gap in coverage are provided below with discussion. Each is identified by reference name, address or location, assessor parcel number when appropriate, and latitude and longitude coordinates. Pole GT was selected as the proposed candidate for s use. The elevation of this proposed location will achieve radiofrequency objectives for Verizon Wireless s use and will reach target residential users. This proposed pole is a communications only pole that was available for use and is not under high voltage lines, which allows for easier and safer maintenance and use of the wireless facility. The pole is located on the corner of Vieja Drive and Via Docena, adjacent to an existing tree and across the street from dense tree growth that provides additional natural screening to the facility. The pole is also located immediately adjacent to an existing block wall that will fully screen the equipment from view for the homes located directly north of the site in a lower topography. The proposed facility will include a single canister antenna array mounted on top of the existing utility pole, in order to avoid having to construct a new free-standing facility; project the service signal above the surrounding homes, trees, and ground clutter; and minimize the visual impact of the facility upon the public-right-of-way and surrounding area. Antennas will be screened from view within the canister radome and be painted to match the utility pole. Equipment and RRUs will also be located within a cabinet painted to match located at grade level within the public right-ofway beyond the sidewalk abutting the existing block wall behind the proposed pole. This proposed utility pole facility is the least intrusive means to close this gap in network capacity.

3 Page 3 of 8 Alternative Zones: The districts adjacent to the search ring and proposed facility are zoned REC Recreational to the north, PRD-70 Residential to the south, and EX-1 Residential to the east. The nearest commercial zone is over half a mile away to the north, which will not be able to serve this intended objective search ring. Recreation Zone: The Recreation zone to the north encompasses the Hidden Oaks Golf Course and is approximately feet lower in terrain elevation than the proposed site and target area. In order to avoid directly impacting the views of the homes along the fairway, the site would need to be located within the northern part of this property. A technically feasible site at this location would necessitate the construction of a foot new free-standing structure in order to project signal over the terrain blockage and existing lines of trees along the property line to the target communities to the south. A structure here would be within view of the existing homes along the fairway. Due to the increased distance from the intended search ring, a site here would essentially become a macro site with much larger antennas and more power output. A wireless facility here would impact the existing golf course uses of the property, which is privately owned. A wireless site located within this Recreation-zoned golf course would need to be a new freestanding facility that would result in greater ground disturbance, a significantly larger structure, impact to existing recreational uses, and greater visual impact to the surrounding area than the proposed utility pole facility and so is not the least intrusive means to fill the gap in network.

4 Page 4 of 8 PRD Residential Zone: The PRD-70 Residential zone to the south encompasses undeveloped planned residential land and is approximately feet higher in terrain elevation than the proposed site and target area. A facility at this location would be able to achieve radiofrequency objectives. A technically feasible site here would necessitate the construction of a 50 foot new free-standing structure in order to project signal over the existing line of approximately 30 foot trees along the property line to the target communities to the northeast. A 50 foot structure would be fairly exposed and visible to the surrounding area, including to the existing homes to the northeast. Due to the increased scope of work that a facility here would require, a site at this location would essentially become a macro site with much larger antennas and more power output. Constructing a facility upon this undeveloped land would require additional ground disturbance to the property, as power and fiber would need to be routed to the site as well as establishing new access routes to the facility. The County of Santa Barbara Wireless Code discourages development of new structures upon Residential zoned parcels. In addition, this land is also privately owned by a real estate developer. These parcels are zone targeted for residential development and placing a facility on this land could potentially be inconsistent to the planned uses and development and would likely not be favorable to the property owner. A wireless site located within this PRD-zone would need to be a new freestanding facility that would result in greater ground disturbance, a significantly larger structure, and potentially impact future residential uses and development, with less screening and more visual impact of the site to the surrounding area than the proposed utility pole facility and so is not the least intrusive means to fill the gap in network. EX-1 Residential Zone: The EX-1 zone to the east encompasses Hope Ranch and is approximately 2000 feet away from the proposed site and target area. A facility at this location would not be able to achieve radiofrequency objectives, as its distance, terrain, and elevation will not allow signal to reach the intended target search area. There are no existing sites in this immediate area upon which to collocate a facility. In order to avoid constructing a new free-standing facility upon a privately owned residential parcel, a facility here would also necessitate constructing a pole-top design located within the public right-of-way within residentially zoned areas, identical in scope to the current proposed project and facility location. A wireless site located within EX-zoned Hope Ranch would not meet target radiofrequency objectives and so is not the least intrusive means to fill the gap in network.

5 Page 5 of 8 The aerial map below shows the locations of the candidates considered within the search ring and for proposed facility.

6 Page 6 of 8 The aerial map below shows the zoning map and locations of the candidates considered for proposed facility.

7 Page 7 of 8 Alternative candidates include: Pole E public ROW near 4777 Vieja Drive Santa Barbara, CA 93110; APN: near ; , This alternate site would be located off of Vieja Drive south of Hidden Oaks Golf Course. Placement of a facility here would involve mounting antennas upon the existing utility pole with equipment placed at the base of the facility. Placing a facility here would require significant trimming and potential removal of existing trees. The communications space of the utility pole is buried in existing trees. There is already a street light on the pole and the pole is congested with risers, limiting the available space for a wireless facility. SCE restricts any wireless facility from being located above the conductor and will not allow pole-top collocation upon the pole. A wireless facility would not be able to maintain clearances from the existing power and telco lines and would interfere with the existing light. Collocating upon the pole would not be feasible per SCE standards. The pole is also highly visible to surrounding homes. This facility is not the least obtrusive means to fill the gap in network coverage.

8 Page 8 of 8 Pole E public ROW near 926 Via Brocha 9 Santa Barbara, CA 93110; APN: public ROW near ; , This alternate site would be located off of Vieja Drive. Placement of a facility here would involve mounting antennas upon the existing utility pole with equipment placed at the base of the facility. SCE restricts any wireless facility from being located above the conductor and will not allow pole-top collocation upon the pole. The pole is congested with primary risers and high voltage lines, limiting the available space for a wireless facility. A wireless facility would not be able to maintain clearances from the existing power and telco lines. Collocating upon the pole would not be feasible per SCE standards. The pole is also highly visible from homes across the street. This facility is not the least obtrusive means to fill the gap in network coverage.