Planning Commission approves three zoning modifications for Bakersfield public-safety radio towers amid neighborhood concerns

The Bakersfield Planning Commission on Feb. 19 approved zoning modifications for three proposed public-safety radio towers that are part of a countywide radio-network upgrade, voting to allow taller lattice towers and reduced setbacks at the AgWater site (1000 Buena Vista Road), Panorama Drive (4200 Panorama Drive) and the Sports Village overflow lot (9001 Ash Road).

City staff and project consultants told the commission the current radio system is roughly 30 years old, parts are obsolete and the joint county–city upgrade, led by Motorola with Federal Engineering as the project manager, will replace multiple systems with a six-site city network tied into roughly 60 county sites. "This tower and system will strengthen the radio coverage, improve system reliability, and ensure that we can communicate effectively during incidents and large scale emergencies," Bakersfield Fire Chief Kevin Albertson said in support of the project.

Why it matters: City and county officials said the network must meet public-safety-grade reliability and microwave connectivity constraints that require taller antennas and specific site geometry. Federal Engineering consultant Rajit Javer explained microwave path and Fresnel-zone requirements and said the antenna…