Residents urge county to revise or relocate telecom tower near Santa Monica College

Public commenters and a commissioner raised concerns at the April 7 Planning Commission meeting about a telecommunications tower sited next to the Santa Monica College area, saying the tower is taller and more visually intrusive than approved and that the county should revisit its design.

Norm Haney, addressing the commission during public comment, said the tower was “built illegally” and that it is taller than permitted and painted red-and-white to the top, creating an eyesore. “It is ugly. It is terrible,” Haney said, and urged commissioners to use any influence they have with officials who appointed them to press the county for changes.

Joe Drummond, speaking by Zoom, agreed and said the county had promised modifications months earlier; he asked the county to move or shorten the tower and to refrain from profiting by leasing additional telecommunications space on the structure.

Commissioner Kamens told the meeting that the commission has a hearing scheduled on that tower on April 17 — roughly two years after a prior hearing on the matter — and said the county was asked previously to return with a redesign. Kamens noted the timeline and urged the county to move more quickly to address the design and siting concerns.

No formal action on the tower was taken by the commission at the meeting; speakers asked the city and the county to pursue a redesign and relocation to reduce visual impacts and ensure the structure meets applicable approvals.

The tower discussion arose during the public comment portion of the agenda and was not part of a scheduled agenda item before the commission.