Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Telecom topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission approves Verizon’s 30‑to‑35‑foot ‘stealth’ water‑tower cell site on Perris hillside
Summary
Commissioners approved a Major Wireless Telecommunications permit for a 30‑foot faux‑wood water tower housing Verizon antennas, adding a condition allowing staff to increase the approved height up to 35 feet for proportional design; vote 4‑0.
The Perris Planning Commission voted 4‑0 Wednesday to approve a Major Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Permit for a Verizon Wireless facility disguised as a 30‑foot‑tall faux‑wood water tower on a 20‑acre hillside southeast of Goetz Road and Sotelo Drive.
Project overview: The proposed structure would be a radio‑frequency‑transparent fiberglass tower with a faux‑wood outer surface, a 16‑foot diameter shell and a steel base. The plan calls for three sectors with four concealed panel antennas per sector (12 total) and nine radio remote units mounted behind the panels; equipment cabinets would be enclosed in a 308‑square‑foot equipment compound protected by an 8‑foot CMU wall topped with security features.
Applicant and justification: SmartLink represented Verizon and said the facility would improve coverage and reliability for residents and businesses northeast of Goetz Road. City planners said the site lies in an R‑20,000 residential zone and the application requests an “exception” under the city wireless ordinance because the facility is located in a residential zone. Staff concluded the proposal meets ordinance findings and recommended approval under CEQA’s small‑structure exemption (Guidelines §15303).
Commission deliberations and edits: Commissioners asked about siting distances to nearby residences and confirmation that the equipment compound and antennas would be concealed; staff confirmed the tower would be about 714 feet from the nearest eastern property line and 594 feet from the equipment enclosure to the eastern property line. During the hearing commissioners directed staff to work with the applicant to adjust the tower’s proportions; the applicant asked staff to allow a modest increase in height for aesthetic proportion. The commission approved the permit and added a condition directing staff, during plan‑check, to approve an increase in height from 30 feet up to 35 feet if necessary to achieve better visual proportion without revealing antennas or equipment.
Outcome: The commission approved Major Wireless Telecommunications Permit 24‑0170 by a 4‑0 vote and added an administrative condition to allow planning staff to finalize a proportional design (up to 35 feet) that preserves concealment and complies with safety and stealthing requirements.
