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Planning commission approves 75‑foot monopole on Enterprise Way, extends decommissioning window to one year
Summary
The Taft Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit on Nov. 25 for a 75‑foot wireless monopole on city property at the end of Enterprise Way, and extended the period before required demolition from six months to one year if the site goes unused.
The Taft Planning Commission approved a conditional use permit (CUP 2025‑13) on Nov. 25 for a 75‑foot monopole wireless telecommunications facility on city property near the dead end of Enterprise Way (APN 20220‑290‑07). The resolution approves a 50‑by‑50‑foot lease area for a monopole designed to provide improved in‑building cell coverage and support additional carriers.
Staff reviewed the application against Chapter 12, Section 33 (wireless facility standards) and found the project meets Tier 2 conditional use standards with conditions. The planning director said the monopole’s 75‑foot height exceeded the zone’s maximum of 45 feet but noted the applicant provided FAA verification that the facility does not create an aviation hazard and provided an alternatives analysis explaining why co‑location was infeasible.
Assurance Development representatives said the proposal is designed to “allow Verizon to fill a service need by providing in‑building wireless coverage to the city of Taft” and that the structure is designed to accommodate additional carriers and comply with FCC EME limits. The applicant provided coverage maps and photo simulations and proposed shrouding (radome/shroud) and a desert‑tan paint color; staff’s recommended conditions require radome/shrouding and painting and require underground utilities and full‑width screening slots on the lease area fencing.
Applicant representatives requested that the condition requiring demolition and site restoration after a six‑month discontinuation be modified to allow a one‑year window to secure a replacement tenant. The commission approved the CUP and adopted the requested change—amending Planning Condition 2 so that the discontinuation period before mandatory demolition is one year rather than six months. The motion passed with one abstention.
Conditions require radome/shrouding, desert‑tan color, undergrounding of utilities, full‑width screening on the chain‑link fence, and other standard building and safety compliance. The lease approved by the council (previously) provides an initial five‑year term with up to nine five‑year renewals.
