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Planning commission approves backup diesel generator at existing telecom site with noise and safety conditions
Summary
The commission approved a special use permit to add a diesel backup generator and associated equipment at an existing telecommunications lease area on Sierra Highlands Drive, after staff described screening, limited construction hours and noise mitigation; applicant said routine weekly tests would start at 8 a.m.
The Planning Commission approved a special use permit allowing a diesel backup generator and associated ground‑mounted equipment at an existing telecommunications site on Sierra Highlands Drive (APN 007051‑66).
Planner Heather Manzo described the proposal and recommended conditions that mirror those used for similar ground‑mounted telecom equipment: limited lighting, restricted construction hours because the site is in a single‑family residential zone, and screening requirements. Manzo said the equipment would be contained within the existing enclosure and staff recommended approval with the listed conditions.
A nearby resident, Jared Hellstone, asked how often the generator would be exercised and at what time. The applicant’s representative said routine weekly exercises are typically conducted on Tuesday or Thursday and would start at about 8 a.m. The representative described a Level‑2 acoustic enclosure and said at roughly 10 feet the noise would be comparable to a vacuum cleaner and at about 25 feet similar to a conversation between two people. He added the 190‑gallon fuel tank would be double‑walled with leak alarms tied to the operator’s remote monitoring.
A commissioner moved to approve the special use permit (LU‑2025‑0324) subject to the conditions in the staff report; the motion was seconded, commissioners voted in favor and the motion carried.
Why it matters: The decision allows the telecom operator to add backup power intended to maintain service during outages; conditions limit potential neighborhood impacts by restricting construction hours, requiring screening and prescribing noise and fuel‑storage protections.
What’s next: The operator must follow the permit conditions, including any testing schedule and site‑monitoring obligations, and staff will review compliance as part of permit implementation.
