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Neighbors oppose AT&T rooftop antennas; Planning Commission continues 590 Second Ave application to Nov. 19
Summary
After neighbors raised health, sunlight and visual-impact concerns, the Planning Commission continued AT&T’s conditional-use application for 10 rooftop panel antennas at 590 Second Ave to Nov. 19 to allow the sponsor to search for higher-preference alternate sites and do follow-up outreach.
The San Francisco Planning Commission on Sept. 17 continued AT&T’s application to install 10 panel antennas at 590 Second Avenue, asking the company to pursue additional outreach and demonstrate that higher-preference sites were not viable.
Planning staff (Ashley Lindsay) presented a conditional-use authorization request for an 18T Mobility macro wireless facility consisting of 10 panel antennas and ancillary equipment, and said the department received roughly 30 letters opposing the project, citing radio-frequency exposure, design and noise. Staff concluded the project would be "necessary, desirable and compatible" and noted public-safety benefits, including support for FirstNet band 14 for first responders.
Cammie Blackstone of AT&T said the site fills an existing coverage gap, particularly given a spike in network use during shelter-in-place, and stated the company had reviewed alternatives including the Rossi Pool roof but concluded it was not structurally viable. "This site would expand coverage and capacity as needed by the residents and the visitors and the workers in the area," Blackstone said.
Neighbors provided strong pushback at public comment. Anne Green, who lives next door at 580 Second Avenue, described the installation as looming over decks and bedrooms and said nearby property values could decline. "They're 23 feet long, 6 feet high at the very edge overlooking our house, our deck," Green said, and asked the commission to reject the application or require AT&T to find a more suitable location.
Commissioners said they were troubled by the applicant's preference-site showing and motioned to continue the matter to allow more exhaustive outreach to neighboring property owners and exploration of higher-preference locations. AT&T offered to re-contact nearby building owners by FedEx and to follow up by phone; the sponsor estimated the additional outreach and responses could take about one to two months. Commissioner Diamond moved to continue for two months to Nov. 19 to allow that work; the motion was seconded and passed on a roll call (the chair announced the motion passes unanimously 6 to 0).
Why it matters: The application implicates competing priorities — improved telecommunications coverage and emergency-responder capacity versus neighborhood character, sunlight access and health concerns. The commission required additional outreach and higher-preference-site exploration—procedural steps commonly used to test whether a less intrusive alternative is feasible.
What happens next: AT&T will perform additional outreach and report back; the commission will revisit the project on Nov. 19, 2020, unless the applicant withdraws or locates an acceptable alternate site.
