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Planning Commission approves 50-foot AT&T stealth eucalyptus at 921 Ventura Blvd.
Summary
The Planning Commission approved a special use permit May 1 for a 50-foot tall stealth wireless facility designed as a eucalyptus tree at 921 Ventura Boulevard; staff said the permanent tower will replace a temporary facility and will occupy about four parking spaces.
The Oxnard City Planning Commission voted May 1 to approve a special use permit for a 50-foot-tall wireless communications facility designed to resemble a eucalyptus tree at 921 Ventura Boulevard.
Staff described the project as a 50-foot tall "mono eucalyptus" stealth facility sited behind an existing commercial building on a 0.96-acre property; the application requested an additional 15 feet above the 35-foot height limit allowed in the general commercial zone through a special use permit. "Last month you approved a temporary facility that will be in place until this permanent facility can be built," the contract planner said during the hearing.
The applicant avid Elliott of Yukon Group, representing AT&T Mobility, said in his experience the fabricated stealth structures can remain in the field more than 20 years and that structural engineers stamp the building plans and manufacturers provide specifications. "AT&T does regular maintenance on these towers... if leaf falls off and it starts to look, you know, not like a tree, my understanding is that they have a contract to replace and upkeep these towers," Elliott said.
Staff noted project-specific conditions on foliage type, foliage density, bark appearance and maintenance. The proposed ground equipment enclosure is an 8-foot chain-link fence with privacy slats colored to match the existing building; staff said the tower and enclosure will occupy approximately four parking spaces and that the temporary facility takes three parking spaces until the permanent facility is built. The site is located within 500 feet of U.S. 101 but staff said the stealth design avoids scenic-highway nonconformance issues.
Commissioners discussed whether the city's 35-foot height band is keeping pace with wireless-industry norms; staff suggested the current code's 35-foot standard was written for buildings and that the commission can increase height through special use permits or pursue a zoning code amendment in the future.
Commissioner Nash moved and Commissioner Lopez seconded a motion to find the project exempt from environmental review under the California Environmental Quality Act Guidelines, Class 3 (new construction), and to adopt a resolution approving Planning and Zoning Permit No. 24-530-4 (special use permit). The motion passed on a 4-0 roll call.
Votes at a glance: Motion to approve passed 4-0 (mover: Commissioner Nash; second: Commissioner Lopez; votes: Chair: aye; Vice Chair Dr. Stewart: aye; Commissioner Lopez: aye; Commissioner Nash: aye).
