Planning Commission approves 85-foot San Jose Water antenna at 12329 Mabry Road over resident objections

The San Jose Planning Commission on an evening consent vote approved a conditional use permit (CP24-022; ER24-159) to allow construction of an approximately 85-foot lattice tower and antenna for San Jose Water’s remote meter network at 12329 Mabry Road, passing 6–1 with two members absent.

The project manager, Rina Shah of the city’s Planning Division, described the proposal as: "This project consists of a conditional use permit to allow the construction of a utility facility, including an approximately 85 foot high lattice tower with an antenna used for remote water meter data collection." Shah said the tower would sit on a triangular parcel bounded by Penitencia Creek to the north and residential development on the other sides, that it meets the site's public/quasi-public general plan designation and applicable development standards, and that the site would be screened by existing trees and fencing.

Shah also stated the proposed radio transmitters operate at about 1.9 milliwatts, compared with an FCC maximum transmit power of 25 milliwatts, and said the project is required to follow Federal Communications Commission radio-frequency safety criteria. Staff determined the project is categorically…