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Planning Commission approves AT&T wireless facility on SCE transmission tower
Summary
The Cerritos Planning Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution PC2025-8 approving a wireless telecommunication permit that will place AT&T antennas and equipment on an existing Southern California Edison transmission tower; staff said the project is CEQA-exempt and is intended to improve local coverage.
The Cerritos Planning Commission voted 5-0 to adopt Resolution PC2025-8 approving Wireless Telecommunication Permit 2025-1 to install a new AT&T Mobility wireless facility on an existing Southern California Edison transmission tower.
Staff presentation said the permit would place new antennas at roughly 60 feet above ground and remote radio units at about 48 feet, with an equipment enclosure beneath the tower. Associate Planner Wyman Wong told the commission the applicant is Coastal Business Group on behalf of AT&T Mobility and that "staff has determined that the facility is categorically exempt from CEQA." Wong said the enclosure will contain five support cabinets and a GPS antenna and added that a project-specific condition requires the enclosure exterior to be built of decorative slump block subject to Department of Community Development review.
The application site is on property used for vehicle storage north of Artesia Boulevard and east of the San Gabriel River Channel in a zone identified in staff materials as Open Space Overlay OS-1. Staff displayed photo-simulations and coverage maps; Wong said the map with the proposed facility shows increased outdoor coverage where the existing map shows weak signal colors.
Commissioners asked about collocation and code compliance. Commissioner Chauhan asked whether the installation served only AT&T; Wong replied, "Currently, this is for AT&T only." Commissioner Au asked about a municipal-code setbacks criterion and whether proximity to Artesia Boulevard would disqualify the project; Wong explained the city's point-based wireless facilities checklist and said being within 200 feet of an arterial is scored in the ranking but does not automatically disqualify the application. Wong pointed commissioners to the wireless criteria checklist in the agenda packet (Exhibit 20).
No members of the public spoke during the public hearing. Commissioner Jabari made the motion to approve; Commissioner Au seconded. After a brief technical issue with electronic voting, the commission conducted a roll-call verbal vote: Au, Chauhan, Jabari, Vice Chair Reyes and Chair Polito voted yes. The chair announced, "Motion carries by a vote of 5 to 0." Staff noted that, if the permit is approved, the applicant must still submit construction plans and obtain subsequent administrative reviews before beginning work.
Why it matters: Planning staff said the facility will fill a gap in AT&T coverage in the area and that the permit’s design and placement meet the city’s wireless ordinance criteria and FCC guidelines. The commission’s action authorizes the design-review resolution but does not substitute for later construction-plan reviews required for building and electrical permits.
