HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRB 2011-11-08 #2 CITY OF
Community Development Department – Planning Division
Meeting Date: November 8, 2011
Case Numbers: ED11-038; UP11-029
Project Planner: Sarjit Dhaliwal – (415) 485-3397
REPORT TO DESIGN REVIEW BOARD
SUBJECT: 3301 Kerner Blvd (AT&T Wireless Facility) – Request for Environmental and Design Review
Permit and Use Permit to construct 12 panel antennas, 9 tower mounted amplifiers, 36 lines of
coax and construct equipment screening walls on the roof of an existing building. The ground
equipment would be located under an existing overhang on the first floor of the building; APN:
008-082-52; Core Canal Industrial/Office District (CCI/O) District; Steve Christenson,
applicant; Dennis A. Gilardi, Tr., owner; Canal Neighborhood.
PROPERTY FACTS
Site Characteristics
General Plan Designation Zoning Designation Existing Land-Use
Project Site: LI/O CCI/O Offices
North: LI/O CCI/O Offices
South: GC GC Retail, restaurants, tire shop
East: MDR MR3 Residential
West: CCI/O, NC CCI/O, NC Offices, coffee shop
Site Development Summary
Height Landscaping
Allowed: 36’
Proposed: 47’-8” screen walls; 52’-2” antennas
Required: 10%
Proposed: Existing 37%, 14,882 sq. ft.; remove 36 sq. ft.
SUMMARY
This particular project is being referred to the Board for review of the proposed design and since the
proposed panels and associated screening walls involve more than a minor addition or modification to
an existing building (SRMC14.16.360.D.2). The approval body for this project is the Planning
Commission due to the proposed project not being a collocation on an existing facility and due to the
quality of the proposed project design.
Staff has identified issues with the project as discussed below:
Architecture
• Whether the proposed roof top equipment screening resulting in 7-foot high screen walls and four
radome antennas visible from the public streets results in a stealth design that is appropriately
integrated into the building architecture.
• Whether the proposed 47’-8” screen wall and/or 52’-2” radome antenna heights can be supported,
as designed.
BACKGROUND
Site Description & Setting:
The proposed project site is an approximately 0.918-acre site, developed with a 3-story, 7,800 sq. ft.
(footprint) office building and associated parking and landscaping. The building was built in 1984 and
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roof solar panels were installed in 2006. AT&T would locate the antennas, coax and amplifiers on the
roof, and associated equipment in an approximately 160 sq. ft. area under an existing overhang on the
first floor level. The equipment area would be accessible from the north side of the building.
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Required Entitlements:
An Environmental and Design Review Permit (ED11-038) and a Use Permit (UP11-029) are required
for new unmanned wireless communication facilities pursuant to Chapter 14.22, Use Permits, and
Chapter 14.25, Environmental and Design Review Permits, and the Wireless Communication section of
the Zoning Ordinance (Section 14.16.360). This particular project requires review and recommendation
by the Design Review Board for a significant modification to an existing building, and for a facility that
exceeds the height limits. The project, as designed, shall require approval by the Planning
Commission.
Use:
AT&T proposes to lease approximately 160 square feet on the ground floor of the building for
equipment cabinets and racks for the new wireless facility containing the following (see project plans):
¾ Antennas. 8 AT&T antennas (7.1”x73.4”), 6 Duplex Tower Mounted Amplifiers (DTMA) (3.9”x11”), 4
Radio Remote Units (RRU) (6.65”x25.04”), 2 surge suppressors, 3 radomes (20”x84”), 2
doghouses, fiber conduit and runs of coax behind 2 7-ft. high Fiberglass–Reinforced Plastic (FRP)
screening walls stacked on existing parapets on the roof of the existing building.
¾ Equipment Cabinets. Associated equipment cabinets would be located in a 160 sq. ft. portion of the
ground floor of the building. The area is currently enclosed with a 7-ft. high wall on its west side.
The existing 7-ft. wall would be extended to the 9.5-ft. ceiling height. The project does not propose
an emergency generator.
The proposed AT&T Wireless facility would be an unmanned facility operating 24 hours per day, 7 days
per week and would require occasional access by company representatives for routine maintenance.
Architecture:
The project proposes to increase the height of an existing ground floor wall from 7 feet to 9.5 feet for
the equipment shelter. The proposal would locate antennas, radomes, etc. on the building roof which
would be screened with two new 7-ft. high fiber-reinforced plastic walls stacked on existing parapets on
the existing roof. Staff requested the screening walls to be minimized in their mass, but was informed
by the applicant that the screening walls are necessary to screen the roof equipment. The proposed
equipment shelter wall extension and the top screening walls would be painted to match the existing.
No additional landscaping or lighting is proposed and the project would entail minimal grading. No new
signage is proposed.
ANALYSIS
General Plan 2020 Consistency:
The General Plan Land Use Designation for this site is Light Industrial/Office as identified on the
General Plan 2020 Land Use Map. The proposed installation and operation of an unmanned wireless
communication facility would be subject to the following design related General Plan 2020 policies:
NH-2 (New Development in Residential Neighborhoods): Preserve, enhance and maintain the
residential character of neighborhoods.
CD-10 (Nonresidential Design Guidelines): Recognize, preserve and enhance the design elements
(such as visual compatibility and compatibility of patterns) that contribute to the economic vitality of
commercial areas.
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I-15 (Telecommunication Improvements): Ensure that residents, schools, businesses and
organizations have access to reliable, modern and cost-effective telecommunications.
The project is in a mixed use commercial/industrial district and adjacent to a multi-family residential
neighborhood (across Kerner Blvd). The project would provide telecommunications in the area. The
equipment shelter would be located within the base of the existing building and behind a walled area.
This requires a minimal exterior alteration to the northwestern portion of the ground floor of the building
and would be screened from public view. In order to screen the proposed antennas and radomes, two
new, 7-ft. high, fiber-reinforced plastic walls would be stacked on the existing parapets of the existing
building. The proposed new antennas and radomes would be mounted on the roof of the existing
building behind the two 7-ft. high walls. That would only partially screen the antennas from public view
from the adjoining streets and from the residential area to the east across the street from Kerner Blvd.
The subject building is a well designed and maintained building. The proposed screen walls on the
north elevation appear too massive and inconsistent with the character of the existing building. Further,
the four new radome antennas would be visible from public streets and the adjacent residential area.
Staff requests that the Board comment on the following:
• Whether the proposed roof top equipment screening resulting in 7-foot high screen walls and four
radome antennas visible from the public streets results in a stealth design that is appropriately
integrated into the building architecture.
• Whether the proposed 47’-8” screen wall and/or 52’-2” radome antenna heights can be supported,
as designed.
Zoning Ordinance Consistency:
The subject site is located within the Core Canal Industrial/Office District (CCI/O). Pursuant to Section
14.16.360.D of the San Rafael Municipal Code, the Planning Commission with recommendation by the
Design Review Board has the authority to approve, conditionally approve, or deny Use Permit and
Environmental and Design Review Permit applications for facilities to be located on an existing
structure with major modifications to the structure. In addition, this section establishes standards to
regulate the design and placement of wireless communication facilities on public and private property in
order to minimize the potential safety and aesthetic impacts on neighboring property owners and the
community. The project is subject to the following design and development standards contained in the
Wireless Communication facility section of the Zoning Ordinance:
Chapter 14.16 - Design Requirements:
¾ General Location Standards: The most desirable location for new wireless communication facilities
is co-location on existing facilities or buildings. Other preferred locations are industrial, public or
quasi-public, commercial and office zoning districts.
¾ Co-location: All new wireless communication facilities service providers shall co-locate with other
existing and/or planned new wireless communication facilities whenever feasible. Service providers
are encouraged to co-locate with other existing facilities such as water tanks, light standards, and
other utility structures where the co-location is found to minimize the overall visual impact of the
new facility.
¾ Stealth design: All wireless facilities shall have a stealth design to screen or reduce visual impacts
and blend the facility into the existing environment. Examples of stealth design are façade-mounted
antennas located within architectural features so they are screened from view, or an antenna
design that mimics architectural features so they appear to be a part of the building design, or
facilities with colors and materials to minimize visibility such as a non-reflective finish in a color
compatible with the surrounding area.
¾ Roof and Building-Mounted Facilities. Roof and building-mounted antennas and equipment shall be:
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a. Sited and designed to appear as an integral part of the structure or otherwise minimize their
appearance. Placing roof-mounted antennas in direct line with significant view corridors shall be
avoided. Where appropriate, construction of a rooftop parapet wall to hide the facility may be
required.
b. Integrated architecturally with the style and character of the structure or otherwise made as
unobtrusive as possible. If possible, antennas shall be located entirely within an existing or
newly-created architectural feature so as to be completely screened from view. To the extent
feasible, building-mounted antennas shall not be located on the front, or most prominent facade
of a structure, and shall be located above the pedestrian line-of-sight.
c. Whenever possible, base stations, equipment cabinets, back-up generators, and other
equipment associated with building-mounted antennas shall be installed within the existing
building or underground. If this is not feasible, the equipment shall be painted, screened,
fenced, landscaped or otherwise treated architecturally to minimize its appearance from off-site
locations and to visually blend with the surrounding natural and built environment.
¾ Height: The maximum height of building-mounted antennas shall be in compliance with the height
limitations for the zoning district in which they are located. An exception to antenna height may be
granted by the planning commission or zoning administrator if the RFR exposures and aesthetic
quality of the proposed facility are found to be acceptable.
¾ Noise: Wireless communication facilities (and backup generators) shall be constructed and
operated in a manner that minimizes noise.
¾ Radio Frequency Radiation (RFR): Wireless communication facilities operating alone and in
conjunction with other telecommunication facilities shall not produce RFR in excess of the
standards for permissible human exposure as adopted by the FCC; application for a wireless
communication facility shall include an RFR report.
The proposed building mount facility is encouraged to result in a stealth facility design that would
achieve the carrier’s coverage objectives. However, this design solution achieves only partial screening
of the equipment and also would significantly modify the building design, inconsistent with the current
building architecture. Staff has concluded that the roof mounted equipment and the proposed addition
of screen walls on the roof is not an architecturally integrated part of the structure
The maximum allowed building height within the CCI/O District is 36 ft. Existing height of the subject
building is 41’-1” (roof top) and 47’-1” (parapet top). The proposed project would result in 48’-1” parapet
height and 52’-2” antenna/radome height. SRMC Section 14.16.120 Exclusions to the maximum height
requirements, exempts architectural features such as screening for mechanical equipment from height
calculations. However, the proposed antennas/radomes still protrude 4’-1” above the proposed parapet
level. As stated in the paragraph above, an exception to antenna height may be granted if the RFR
exposure and aesthetic quality of the proposed facility are found to be acceptable.
Hammett & Edison, Inc. provided the Radio Frequency (RF) Study for the proposed project. According
to the study, the maximum existing RF exposure at the site (without the proposed project), was
measured to be a maximum of 0.5% of the most restrictive public limit. The maximum RF exposure
level due to the proposed operation is calculated to be 0.013 mW/cm2, which is 2.4% of the applicable
public exposure limit. Therefore, RF exposure conditions at the site are projected to be less than 3% of
the applicable public limit. The maximum calculated level at the second-floor of any nearby building
would be 4.4% of the public exposure limit. Levels may exceed the applicable public exposure limit on
the roof of the subject building, near the antennas. Therefore, the proposed project alone and in
conjunction with other telecommunication facilities, would not produce RFR in excess of the standards
for permissible human exposure. The proposed project does not include a backup generator or any
other form of noise generating equipment.
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Staff requests that the Board provide its comments and recommendation on the stealth design solution
and requested exception to the building height limit for the proposed rooftop building mounted antenna
facility.
San Rafael Design Guidelines:
The purpose of the Non-Residential Guidelines is to provide a framework of design principles that build
on the strength of the existing character of an area, and strives to improve the visual unity of the area.
The proposed project is in keeping with one standard in that the accessory ground equipment would be
located within the existing building. The project does not meet the following standards:
1) The project does not propose a stealth panel antenna design which would blend in with the existing
character of the building.
2) The project would not screen the roof top equipment.
Staff requests the Board to comment on whether the project proposes a stealth design and whether the
roof top equipment is appropriately screened and integrated into the building architecture.
NEIGHBORHOOD CORRESPONDENCE
A courtesy notice was mailed to all property owners and occupants within a 300-foot radius of the
subject site and two homeowners associations in the vicinity. In addition a public notice sign was
posted at the site identifying the meeting time, date, location, and scope of the project within fifteen (15)
days prior to the Board’s meeting. To date, staff has not heard from anyone regarding this project.
CONCLUSION
Staff is not supportive of the project since it does not meet the applicable design criteria for a building
mounted wireless facility at this location. Specifically, the project does not result in a stealth design. The
roof mounted equipment and screen walls are not an architecturally integrated part of the structure, and
the antenna/radome height exceeds the maximum allowed building height. Staff requests that the
Board provide its professional design advice on the project, including responses to the issues identified
by staff. Continuance for redesign to address the identified design issues may be appropriate. The
Board’s recommendation will be used by the decision-making body prior to taking action on the project.
EXHIBITS
A: Vicinity Map
B: Existing and Proposed Project Photosimulations
Full Size Project Plans and 11”x 17” Reductions Distributed to DRB members only
cc: Steve Christenson
AT&T Mobility
4430 Rosewood Drive, Building 3, 5th Floor
Pleasanton, CA 94508
Dennis Gilardi
3301 Kerner Blvd
San Rafael, CA 94901
