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Community Development Department — Planning Division
Meeting Date: September 7, 2016
Case Numbers: ED16-055 & UP16-026
Project Planner: Raffi Boloyan (415) 485-3095
Agenda Item:
REPORT TO DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
SUBJECT: 454 Du Bois Street (Verizon Wireless Antenna Facility) — Environmental and Design
Review Permit and Use Permit requests to install an unmanned wireless communications
antenna facility consisting of a tower extension to an existing 98 -foot tall PG&E lattice
transmission tower in Andersen Drive right of way supporting six new 6 -foot tall antenna
panels and overall height of 103 -feet, and related equipment and cable run to a new at grade
equipment enclosure in an existing paved front parking lot adjacent to the road frontage; APN:
018-014-46; 1 Zone; Verizon, Applicant; PG&E and Stephen Industrial Partners, Owner;
Francisco Boulevard West, Neighborhood.
PROPERTY FACTS
The site is in an industrially developed area, located along Andersen Drive in east San Rafael. The site
and surrounding uses and designations are as follows:
Location
General Plan Designation
Zoning Designation
Existing Land -Use
Project Site:
Industrial
Industrial (1)
Industrial/Warehouse
North:
Public/Quasi-Public
P/QP
SMART ROW
South:
Industrial
I
Warehouse
East:
Industrial
I
Warehouse
West:
Industrial
I
Warehouse
The Industrial (1) zoning district has a 36 foot height limit and 10 percent landscape coverage with no
minimum setback requirements.
SUMMARY
The project proposes a co -located wireless facility on a PG&E transmission tower in an industrial
district. In general, co -locations in industrial areas are considered to be preferred solutions for wireless
facilities providing service coverage within the City of San Rafael. However, this location is also a
prominent traffic corridor subject to additional design considerations. Staff asks the DRB to comment on
the design solution for this preferred co -location option, to ensure compatibility with the standards is
maximized, particularly with respect to the following:
® Whether the colors and placement of antenna and RRH units, and design of cable runs would
adequately integrate the facility with the existing transmission tower to successfully minimize its
visual impacts. Staff recommends design details to show the cables could be neatly organized and
more preferably through solid conduit running the full length of the cable run(s) (to avoid a series of
having multiple exposed black cables threaded down the tower).
® Whether the proposed equipment enclosure construction, with gray colored "Trex" composite
fencing design solution and exterior trellis covering, would be compatible with the existing industrial
site improvements. Color choices for variation in the proposed fencing color will be presented at the
meeting. Staff questions whether the enclosure should include a cap element detail and/or whether
the enclosure should consider horizontal siding rather than accentuating vertical height with upright
fence boards. A concrete block wall is apparently discouraged by PG&E, because of the need for
steel rebar reinforcement, which is undesirable for improvements placed in close proximity to the
high voltage towers.
® Whether proposed landscaping enhancements should be further revised. Staff recommends an
alternative shrub(s) to the Oleander shrubs be identified, that would enhance and be compatible
with existing shrub and planting treatments.
BACKGROUND
The site is an industrially developed property in the Francisco Boulevard West Area of San Rafael,
located at Du Bois Street and Andersen Drive. The project site consists of a PG&E tower in the
Andersen Drive right of way and private property at 454 Du Bois Street that is developed with multiple
one-story industrial warehouse buildings.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
The project proposes a new unmanned wireless facility of a tower extension to an existing 98 -foot tall
PG&E lattice transmission tower in Andersen Drive right of way supporting six new 6 -foot tall antenna
panels with an overall height of 103 -feet, and three related equipment boxes (RRH Units, approx. 20"
by 20" by 10" deep) placed mid structure, and cable run through four split duct conduit risers to a new
at grade equipment enclosure in an existing paved front parking lot, adjacent to the landscaped road
frontage. The enclosure would measure 10 feet by 17 feet by 6 feet high. The enclosure would be
constructed of gray "Trex" composite fencing, with an exterior trellis to allow for vines to grow along its
exterior. Landscape enhancement is proposed in the planter area along the street frontage directly in
front of the enclosure.
The facility would owned by Verizon Wireless to significantly increase its service coverage within San
Rafael. Service areas would primarily be improved on the east and west sides of Highway 101 from
downtown to the 101/580 interchange. Alternative monopole and transmission tower sites were
considered for this request. Building mounted facilities were not considered as options that could meet
the coverage objectives of the carrier, due to the limited availability of tall buildings in the service
coverage area. Plans and photo -simulations of the proposed facility are attached, along with a Project
Support Statement. The applicant has also provided an RF emissions report and noise analysis.
ANALYSIS
This proposal would result in placement of a highly visible telecommunications facility and related
equipment onto an existing PG&E utility transmission tower and that would exceed of the 36 foot
building height limit established for the area, and an equipment enclosure. Such facilities and
improvements require review and recommendation from the City of San Rafael Design Review Board
(DRB), regarding design compliance with San Rafael Municipal Code (SRNIC) Section 14.16.360.G
thru N. The DRB recommendation would be considered by the Zoning Administrator before taking an
action on the request. Staff requested photo -simulations showing close-up views of the facility and
more specific details on specific cabling options for the facility.
Zoning Ordinance Consistency:
Chapter 14.16.360 — Site and Use Regulations
The pertinent regulations for this wireless facility are identified and discussed as follows:
➢ General Location Standards (Section 14.16.360.G).
Industrial locations are identified as being "preferred" for the placement of wireless antenna facilities;
per SRMC 14.16.360.G.1. However, this particular location is on a significant transportation corridor
(Andersen Drive). Thus, the facility should be designed so that it does not detract from the corridors
character and its visual improvement (per SRMC 14.16.360.G.4). Andersen Drive has been designed
and improved with consistent walls, sidewalk and median strip improvements and with landscaping
enhancement along its edges. The transmission towers though substantial in size are uniform and
consistent in appearance. The equipment on the antenna can be painted to match the existing
galvanized steel color. The cable run also may be concealed to the extent deemed required and
painted to match the facility as well. Finally, landscape enhancement is proposed that would help
conceal the new equipment cabinet. In general, if the facility improvements are implemented with the
least possible visual change to the site, the facility should not substantially alter the Andersen Drive
corridor design aesthetic. The following standards are applicable to review for compliance with the
Wireless Facility standards of the zoning code:
➢ Design Requirements (Section 14.16.360. H).
o SRMC Section 14.16.360. H.1 encourages a co -location of new wireless facilities with
existing utility improvements, where this is found to minimize the visual impact of the facility.
While this is a more sensitive location, being along a significant transportation corridor, the
project would appear to meet this standard. The
o Section 14.16.360.H.2 & 3 calls for stealth design solutions for new equipment and
enclosures. It is not possible to conceal the antenna and equipment on the existing
transmission tower, which may only be made to match the tower appearance through
painting. The equipment enclosure on the site and the related landscaping along its walls
would help to conceal this facility and tie it in with the existing landscape planter on the
street frontage. The project proposes use of a gray colored "Trex" enclosure to be
compatible with the industrial character of the site, with a landscaped lattice structure over
the exterior. The materials appear to be high quality and durable. There would be no new
visible light sources associated with the use. However, staff has issues with the proposal to
plant Oleander shrubs, which would not match the existing shrubs in the landscape strip and
would not be complementary with landscaping in the area. An alternate enhancement
planting is recommended.
o Section 14.16.360.H.5 requires concealment of signage. The FCC requires signage posted
where access to antennas may occur. In this case, the antennas would be on an existing
tower and above existing transmission lines. There would be no public exposure or
accessibility by unauthorized personnel. No signs or RF public exposure issues would result
from this facility as designed.
o Section 14.16.360.H.6 requires compliance with City noise standards. The cabinets in the
enclosure would generate a 60 dB noise level, which is similar to an air conditioning unit and
compatible with the industrial land uses in the area.
Staff asks the DRB to comment on the design solution for this preferred co -location option, to ensure
compatibility with the standards is maximized, and particularly the following:
• Whether the colors and placement of antenna and RRH units, and design of cable runs would
adequately integrate the facility with the existing transmission tower to successfully minimize its
visual impacts. Staff recommends design details to show the cables could be neatly organized and
more preferably through solid conduit running the full length of the cable run(s) (to avoid a series of
having multiple exposed black cables threaded down the tower).
® Whether the proposed equipment enclosure construction, with gray colored "Trex" composite
fencing design solution and exterior trellis covering, would be compatible with the existing industrial
3
site improvements. Color choices for variation in the proposed fencing color will be presented at the
meeting. Staff questions whether the enclosure should include a cap element detail and/or whether
the enclosure should consider horizontal siding rather than accentuating vertical height with upright
fence boards. A concrete block wall is apparently discouraged by PG&E, because of the need for
steel rebar reinforcement, which is undesirable for improvements placed in close proximity to the
high voltage towers.
® Recommendations on the proposed landscaping enhancements. Staff recommends an alternative
shrub(s) to the Oleander shrubs be identified, that would enhance and be compatible with existing
shrub and planting treatments.
NEIGHBORHOOD CORRESPONDENCE
Notice was mailed to surrounding owners and occupants within 300 feet of the site and posted on the
property at least 15 days prior to the DRB hearing. No comments have been received at the time of
publication of this staff report.
CONCLUSION
The facility co -location with an existing utility structure in an industrial area is encouraged for wireless
facilities, to minimize visual impacts. However, given that this particular location is also on a significant
transportation corridor, staff is particularly concerned that the enclosure and equipment details, as well
as site landscaping, should be developed so that it would have a minimal effect on the visual character
of Andersen Drive. Therefore, staff is requesting that the DRB review the plans and provide
recommendations on any further refinement that is deemed appropriate for the proposed cable run
details, the equipment painting and placement on the structure, the at grade equipment enclosure
detail, and the landscaping enhancement plan.
EXHIBITS
1. Vicinity Map
2. Project Plans and Materials (Project Support Statement, Alternative Sites Analysis, Coverage
Maps, Photo -simulation of Antenna, & Photo -simulation of enclosure)
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