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Commission approves AT&T and T‑Mobile rooftop antenna installations after health and coverage debate
Summary
The Planning Commission granted conditional use authorizations for an AT&T site at 1799 Nineteenth Avenue and two T‑Mobile rooftop sites (3438 Mission, 650 Fifth). Department of Public Health reviewed RF reports and staff found proposals consistent with WTS guidelines; neighbors raised health and property‑value concerns that engineers addressed with FCC‑compliance explanations. Votes were 6–1 for each approval.
The Planning Commission approved three wireless transmission facility applications on March 24 after staff presentations and public comment. The projects replaced or added panel antennas at existing commercial rooftops with concealment measures (cupola or faux vents) and associated ground‑level equipment cabinets.
At 1799 Nineteenth Avenue, AT&T proposed to replace two Omni antennas with 12 panel antennas concealed within a raised cupola and five replacement equipment cabinets. Planning staff said the site met preferred location criteria under the Wireless Transmission Siting (WTS) guidelines and the Department of Public Health reviewed the ARPA RF report and found values within FCC guidelines. Mark Blake, AT&T regional vice president, noted the announced AT&T/T‑Mobile merger and said carriers must operate independently pending regulatory review. The commission approved the conditional use authorization 6–1 (Commissioner Moore opposed).
T‑Mobile proposed rooftop installations at 3438 Mission Street (five panel antennas) and 650 Fifth Street (panel antennas mounted to penthouses). Staff classified both locations as preferred sites under the WTS policy and recommended approval with standard conditions. At 3438 Mission a tenant objected on health and property‑value grounds; T‑Mobile and an RF engineer explained the emissions calculations, mounting height (radiation centers 11 feet above roof), and that FCC general‑population limits would be exceeded only within a few feet of the antenna center (engineers reported a three‑foot exclusion around the antenna in 3‑D space), which would not include street‑level exposure. Commissioners asked technical questions about RF decay and coverage; both T‑Mobile items were approved 6–1 with Commissioner Moore voting no on each.
Staff noted the approvals include conditions addressing concealment, noise, equipment screening and compliance with FCC and Department of Public Health standards. The decisions allow the applicants to proceed to permitting subject to those conditions; opponents retain procedural appeal rights.
