Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Wireless Siting topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Planning commission adopts independent third‑party review for wireless siting submissions
Summary
Following appeals of recent AT&T conditional use approvals, the commission adopted a staff resolution requiring an independent, licensed professional engineer to evaluate coverage and capacity maps and data submitted with wireless conditional use applications; the vote was 5–1.
The Planning Commission adopted an amendment to the wireless telecommunication service (WTS) facility siting guidelines to require that conditional‑use applications include a coverage and capacity data evaluation performed by a professional engineer licensed in California and selected from a department‑provided list.
Staff said the change reflects Board of Supervisors direction after appeals to approvals at Larkin and Mission Streets, where community reviewers questioned carrier‑submitted maps and conclusions. The amendment transposes the requirement from a post‑approval condition into an upfront submittal requirement for conditional use review; the intent is to ensure third‑party validation of technical claims about coverage and capacity prior to commission action.
Neighborhood groups asked that the scope be broadened to require independent review of alternative‑site analyses and to include evaluation of FCC radio‑frequency exposure reports; carriers and industry counsel supported third‑party review but urged a limited scope tied to available submittal materials and a city‑maintained list of qualified evaluators to prevent delays.
The commission discussed whether the requirement should be applied retroactively to pipeline projects; the consensus was to add the condition to approvals as they come forward while implementing the new submittal process for future applications. On the motion to approve the staff resolution as read into the record, the commission voted 5–1 (Commissioner Seguin opposed).
What this means: Applicants must include a stamped independent coverage/capacity evaluation as part of their application checklist going forward; planning staff will prepare and maintain a list of qualified engineers. The commission also asked staff to work with City Attorney and other agencies to refine scoping guidance for the independent evaluation.
