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Sunnyvale zoning administrator approves Verizon antennas atop Caltrain parking structure
Summary
Zoning Administrator George Schroeder approved a use permit allowing Centerline Communications to install two 15-foot slimline poles with Verizon antennas on the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station parking structure at 295 West Evelyn Avenue, with conditions on color, conduit painting and an RF safety plan.
Zoning Administrator George Schroeder on Oct. 15 approved a use permit for the installation of two 15-foot wireless telecommunications poles for Verizon Wireless on the roof of the Sunnyvale Caltrain Station parking structure at 295 West Evelyn Avenue (file PLNG20250437). The permit was requested by applicant Centerline Communications.
The decision allows two slimline poles, each carrying three antennas for a single carrier, to be mounted on existing concrete support columns on the parking structure roof. Senior Planner Momo Ishijima corrected a public-notice description by saying the poles are “not light poles. They are designed to mimic the existing light poles,” and confirmed staff received no neighborhood comments on the application.
The zoning administrator said the project would increase cellular service in a downtown area with poor coverage and that existing tree canopy and locating equipment inside the parking structure would help screen visual impacts. He noted that the project’s radio-frequency emissions are compliant with Federal Communications Commission standards and approved the permit with modified conditions requiring (1) the new poles and antennas be painted matte gray or matched to the rooftop light poles as determined by the director of community development, (2) any exterior conduits be painted to match the wall or column on which they are located, and (3) implementation of the radio-frequency safety plan recommended in the project RF study so that service sectors affecting maintenance areas can be deactivated during work on rooftop poles.
Applicant representative Michael Guigu said the site is intended to bring “additional capacity” to the downtown area as residential density increases south of the Caltrain station. Applicant Michelle Torte confirmed there were no further comments beyond the application materials.
Planner Ishijima and the applicants said the poles are not designed for colocation because the structural analysis showed the parking-structure support columns could only carry a single carrier configuration without impacting parking capacity. Conduits will run inside the structure from an electrical room at the southeast corner to the Verizon equipment room at the northwest corner, along the ceiling and then up a center support column to the rooftop; the conduits will not run on the exterior of the building.
George Schroeder said he would review paint samples with staff prior to permit issuance and closed the public hearing before announcing the decision. The zoning administrator’s decision may be appealed within 15 calendar days to the Sunnyvale Planning Commission.
Votes at a glance: Approval of use permit PLNG20250437 — approved by the zoning administrator; no roll-call vote recorded; appealable to the planning commission within 15 calendar days.
