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Case
Number: UP 00-013 Location/Zone: 2632
Lincoln Boulevard /C4 (Highway Commercial District) Legal Description: Lot 66; Copeland Square Tract Applicant: Sprint
PCS CEQA Status: The project is categorically exempt from the
provisions of CEQA pursuant Section 15303, Class 3 of the State CEQA
Guidelines, which exempts the installation of small new equipment and
facilities. |
DESCRIPTION: Use Permit
to allow the placement of twelve (12) directional antennas and one (1) Global
Positioning System (GPS) antenna on the roof of an existing 2-story (25’)
building. The radio equipment (e.g.
the base transceiver station or BTS units)
necessary to operate the proposed facility would be placed underground,
below the surface parking to the rear of the commercial building. A second wireless communications provider
(Nextel) has also applied for antennas at this location. The site is located west of Lincoln
Boulevard and south of Hill Place North.
Santa Monica Municipal Code Section 9.04.10.06.110(b) allows
the Zoning Administrator to approve a Use Permit to modify the regulations and
design standards of nonparabolic commercial antennas, such as the proposed
antennas.
An
application for the above was filed on August 14, 2000, and public hearings
were held on December 12, 2000, per the requirements of Chapter 1, Article IX
of the Santa Monica Municipal Code.
Having followed appropriate due process, the Zoning Administrator of the
City of Santa Monica hereby denies
the use permit to allow twelve directional antennas and one GPS antenna to be
located upon the roof of an existing 2-story commercial building, based upon
the following findings:
FINDINGS:
1.
At the public hearing held by the Zoning Administrator on
December 12, 2000 six persons voiced opposition and expressed their concerns
regarding safety and visual impacts from the proposed antennas and
screens. In addition staff received one
letter of support and one letter of opposition prior to the public
hearing.
2. The existing building is a 2-story structure
located within a predominantly 1 and 2 story commercial corridor. The proposed antenna screen would increase
the height of the building by 10 feet, creating a 3-story appearance. Given the scale of the surrounding area,
this height increase would be visually incompatible with neighboring
structures. No substantial evidence was
provided at the hearing, or in the submitted application materials, to justify
the need for the proposed equipment.
Additionally the applicant has not provided site alternatives or
substantial evidence to justify the proposed number, height, capacity and
location of these antennas. The Zoning
Administrator has reviewed the application, and evaluated the visual impacts of
the proposed antennas and screening.
Based upon this review the Zoning Administrator has determined that the
proposed application does not warrant modification from the applicable antenna
standards. Therefore Section
9.04.10.06.110(a)(3) is not modified for the subject application.
3.
The applicant must demonstrate that the proposed height of
the equipment and subsequent screen are necessary and are designed such that
they would minimize the potential visual impacts to surrounding properties as
well as to the public rights-of-way.
Where the Antenna Ordinance (SMMC 9.04.10.06) recognizes the special
need for antenna placement, other equipment, including, but not limited to the
BTS units, can comply with Zoning Ordinance requirements for setbacks, height,
Floor Area Ratio, etc. Since the
proposed antenna screen increases the height of the building for equipment that
is not directly related to the function of the subject building, the applicant
has not demonstrated a conclusive need for the screen nor the antennas
themselves.
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Determination
Prepared by: Gina Szilak, Assistant
Planner Determination Approved by: _________________________ Jay M. Trevino, AICP Zoning Administrator Determination Date:
February 15, 2001 |
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Effective Date of Action if not
appealed: |
March
1, 2001 |
All decisions of the
Zoning Administrator are appealable to the Planning Commission during a
14-calendar day appeal period following the decision date. Such an appeal may be made by filing an
appeal letter with the City Planning Division, 1685 Main Street, Room 111,
Santa Monica, CA 90401, accompanied by a filing fee of $108.89.
F:\PLAN\SHARE\ZONE\USE\00UP013ANT.doc