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HomeMy WebLinkAboutInitial Plan; Zoning Review IPZR2005003A - Project DescriptionTHEALARis GROUP 310 COMMERCE Irvine, CA 92602 Conditional Use Permit for a Wireless Telecommunications Facility APN: 107-100-38, SCE Substation Project Narrative Introduction Nextel of California is a registered public utility, licensed and regulated by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). As a public utility, Nextel Communications is licensed by the FCC to provide wireless communication services throughout the Metropolitan Los Angeles area. Efforts are currently underway in Orange County to establish the required infrastructure. Nextel of California has retained the services of The Alaris Group, to facilitate the land use entitlement process. The Alaris Group is currently seeking approval of a Conditional Use Permit for the establishment, use, and maintenance of a wireless telecommunications facility at the intersection of Beach Blvd. and Warner Ave., Huntington Beach California. Background Wireless communications will continue to change the future of telecommunications with easy-to-use, lightweight and highly mobile communications devices including: portable telephones, computers and Personal Digital Assistants (PDAs). Wireless communications will provide voice, e-mail and Internet access capabilities for customer's communications needs virtually anywhere and at any time. The wireless network being developed by Nextel Communications differs from typical cellular networks in that it uses state of the art digital technology instead of analog systems, which have been in use since the early 1980's. The benefits include call privacy and security, improved voice quality, and an expanded menu of affordable products and services for personal and professional communications needs. The Nextel Communications network will eventually feature a locator device that will connect 911 calls to local police and fire departments. In the event of an emergency, specially equipped emergency vehicles will be able to identify a customer's location once a call is received. Beach d Warner, Huntington Beach CA Project Overv iew The existing property is already developed as a Southern California Edison Substation. Nextel Communications is proposing to install a total of fifteen (15) antennae; divided equally into three (3) sectors to be mounted on a proposed fifty-foot tall monopole. The antennas measure approximately 72" high x 10.0" wide x 4.0" in depth. The pole could be designed to resemble a power pole, already existing on property. This could be achieved by installing a slim line pole that would have faux insulators. The shelter would be out of view from the public streets and only visible from a service alley and the residential property to the immediate North. After preliminary discussions with staff (Huntington Beach) it has become clear that even the faux power pole design would require a conditional use permit and possibly a zone change. The current property is zoned RMH and the General Plan is Commercial. After all things considered an alternative needed to be identified. Page 5 of the attached site photos shows a possible alternative across Beach Boulevard. This property also has residential adjacent, to the north and west but there is an opportunity to integrate into the existing parking structure. Overview of Coverage Objective(s) The proposed facility to provide an integral link in Nextel Communications proposed Orange County network and designed to provide coverage around the intersection of Beach Boulevard & Warner Avenue. At present, Nextel Communications is experiencing capacity problems as well as in-building coverage within the commercial and residential community surrounding this area. The proposed site will provide wireless telecommunications services to Nextel Communications customers who live, work and travel throughout the City of Huntington Beach. Overview of Site Design /Location Criteria The network of Nextel Communications cell sites throughout the region is "location dependent," meaning that there is a necessary and logical interrelationship between each proposed site. Eliminating or relocating a single cell site can lead to gaps in the system and prohibit Nextel Communications from providing uninterrupted or reliable service to customers in a defined coverage area. Further, the elimination or relocation of a cell site will most often have a "domino" effect on other cell site locations and necessitate significant design changes or modifications to the network. In identifying the proposed location, Nextel Communications' network deployment personnel have selected a site that not only meets the technical objectives of RF engineering, but concurrently provides the best siting option with regard to other key criteria that include, but are not limited to: accessibility, utility connections, zoning Beach d Warner, Huntington Beach CA Nextel of California Page 2 compatibility, liability and risk assessment, site acquisition, maintenance and construction costs. Compatibili ty with Other Site Development Standards and General Plan The location, size, design, and operating characteristics of the proposed facility will not create unusual noise, traffic or other conditions or situations that may be objectionable, detrimental or incompatible with the surrounding land uses. The proposed use is consistent with this finding in that: 1. The proposed equipment associated with the telecommunication structure operates quietly or virtually noise free. 2. The equipment does not emit fumes, smoke, or odors that could be considered objectionable. 3. The telecommunications facility is unmanned and only requires periodic maintenance, which equates to approximately one trip per month. The proposed communication facility will not result in conditions or circumstances contrary to the public health, safety and the general welfare. The proposed use is consistent with this finding in that: System Description Nextel has been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to construct and operate the first dual-purpose digital mobile radio system in the United States. The system provides superior service to the public by upgrading the current analog Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) system (used primarily as a dispatch communications system for fleet users) to state-of-the-art digital technology. This service is offered to local public safety entities as well as to the general public. In the event of a natural disaster, Nextel has the ability to provide emergency communications within the City of El Segundo area, as was done for the American Red Cross during the recent No rthridge Earthquake. The new Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR) system offers two-way radio service, including a dispatch function for fleet vehicle users, while also providing telephone, data transmission, paging, short message functions, and voice mail services. The system provides the ability to create user "talkgroups" within specific geographic areas, wherein a dispatcher can contact only the closest units to a given location rather than the entire fleet. This streamlines the dispatching process while allowing faster response to customer demand. Beach d Warner, Huntington Beach CA Akxtel of California Page 3 The advantages of a fully digital system are many-fold compared to the analog/digital hybrid systems currently in existence. The system is more efficient, requiring fewer sites to serve the same number of customers. Additionally, digital transmissions are nearly indecipherable for any potential eavesdropping devices. The service area is divided into a grid of theoretically hexagonal geographic areas. At the center of each area is a low power, unmanned radio repeater station that handles the calls to and from mobile customers within the area. As a mobile unit moves from one area to another with a call in progress, the call is automatically "handed off' to the next repeater station without interruption. Telephone line connections between repeater sites and the switching office, and from the switching office to the telephone company central office, permit mobile customers within the service area to utilize their phones, with direct dialing, no operator, and with superior audio quality. Users may opt for one or more of the following services: • Dispatch only - handles communications between a mobile unit and a dispatcher. • Telephone Interconnect only - similar to mobile cellular phones that allow only one- to-one communications through mobile and land based telephone lines. • Multi-Function - provides users with the advantages of all functions. Transmit and Receive Transmit power is adjusted to provide adequate coverage and typically is within the range of 100-500 watts ERP (effective radiated power) per sector. Mobile units transmit at 851-866 MHz and receive at 806-821 MHz. Regulating Agencies Nextel is regulated by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and is authorized to operate in the frequencies established for Specialized Mobile Radio operators. Nextel's wireless telecommunication facilities operate at the lowest possible power levels and are well below established standards used by the FCC for safe human exposure to radio frequency electromagnetic fields. These standards have been tested and proved safe by the American National standards Institute (ANSI) and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE). 1. The proposed communications facility will operate in full compliance with the U.S. standards for radiofrequency emissions as published by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). The ANSI was developed by the committee composed of 125 scientists from universities, non-profit laboratories and Federal Health Laboratories (FDA, NIOSH, EPA): 13: are from the industry and consultants to the Beach d Warner, Huntington Beach CA Alextel of California Page 4 industry: and 15% are from the military and other federal agencies. In 1992, the ANSI established, as a public safety standard, a maximum exposure level to radiofrequency emissions of 1000 microwatts per centimeter squared (1,000 uW/cm2). 2. The radiofrequency emissions emitted by the proposed Nextel Communications facility will fall within the portion of the electromagnetic spectrum which transmits non-ionizing electromagnetic emissions, at the low levels associated with this type of wireless technology, are not harmful to living cells. Among the items which result in non-ionizing electromagnetic emissions are radios, television broadcasts, CB radios, microwave ovens, and a variety of common security systems. Conversely, items which transmit ionizing electromagnetic emissions include ultraviolet light, medical x- rays and gamma rays. 3. Data currently available on the effects of electromagnetic transmission on public health indicate that there is no likelihood of negative impacts to public health and safety. Project Benefits The proposed project will provide the following community benefits. • An improved Enhanced Specialized Mobile Radio (ESMR) system providing two- way radio service, including a dispatch function for fleet vehicle users, while also providing telephone, data transmission, paging, short message functions, and voice mail services. • Enhanced emergency response communications for police, fire, paramedics and other emergency services. • Better voice and reception quality through use of the all-digital technology. • Higher security and privacy for mobile dispatch and telephone users. • More affordable service due to increased competition in the market area. Beach d Warner, Huntington Beach CA Nextel of California Page 5