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Port Hueneme council approves 45‑foot ‘stealth’ Wi‑Fi tower to serve Waimee Bay residents
Summary
The City Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit to install a 45‑foot stealth wireless pole at the Waimee Bay homeowners association, finding the project categorically exempt from CEQA; supporters said it will improve broadband speeds, while at least one nearby resident objected to notice and local impact.
The Port Hueneme City Council unanimously approved a conditional use permit on Nov. 4, 2024, to allow installation of a 45‑foot “stealth” wireless communications pole inside the Waimee Bay homeowners association common area near 193 West Garden Green, and found the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
The council’s decision implements staff’s recommendation to permit the pole and associated equipment to provide broadband to homes in the Waimee Bay complex. Staff said the tower will be powder‑coated light gray, include a decorative concealment cap, use underground fiber and conduit, and be sited in a landscaped common area so it is not typically visible from public streets.
“Over the past nine years we have provided service in Hueneme Bay and we currently service more than half of the residents there,” WiFi Harbor owner Michael Taylor said in support of the permit, adding the company will provide secured routers and per‑household setup so users have individual passwords. “We’re looking forward to be able to enhance that through this new location.”
A written letter from a nearby resident, Robert Young, said the tower had been in the complex’s common area for about two months and that several neighbors received little advance notice; Young said he would meet with the city clerk to gather more information and reserved the right to lodge further concerns. At the hearing two in‑person residents offered contrasting views: Betsy Stobin said she has had Wi‑Fi service there for nine years and praised the reliability, while Robert Walker, vice president of the Carefree Living Association board, said the new pole will provide the “broadband which Waimee Bay desperately needs.”
Council members asked staff and the project representative technical questions about siting and emissions. The project representative (WiFi Harbor) said the sector used for the development emits about 4 watts of power, compared with roughly 30 watts from large multipurpose cell sectors, and noted the applicant must submit an RF report from a licensed engineer certifying compliance with Federal Communications Commission standards.
Staff told council the HOA of Hueneme Bay had unanimously approved the project and that the applicant entered into a lease with the HOA; staff also said the project is a limited utility‑type facility in an R‑2 zone and that no fiscal impact was expected. Staff cited a CEQA categorical exemption for small utility structures (section 15.303) in recommending approval.
Motion and vote: A council motion to adopt the resolution approving conditional use permit PHCU‑24‑1 passed unanimously on a roll call vote. Voting members recorded as voting yes were Councilmember Steven Gama, Councilmember Hernandez, Councilmember Martinez, Mayor Pro Tem McQueen LaShawn and Mayor Misty Perez.
What happens next: The permit approval includes the city’s standard conditions (including submission of the RF report and required lease exhibits). Neighbors wishing to challenge the approval may pursue administrative remedies or other legal options outlined in the city’s noticing materials; staff noted the applicant will be required to comply with FCC and California Public Utilities Commission regulations.
The council closed the hearing immediately after the vote and moved on to subsequent agenda items.
