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Planning commission approves 75-foot AT&T 'monopalm' at Landau Boulevard with art and shade-tree conditions
Summary
The Planning Commission approved Smart Link AT&T’s request for a 75-foot disguised monopalm at 27620 Landau Boulevard, requiring a $3,000 stipend for a mural on the equipment enclosure and the planting of 24-inch box shade trees (replacing two proposed Mexican fan palms). The vote was unanimous.
The Cathedral City Planning Commission on March 18 approved a conditional use permit for Smart Link AT&T to install a 75-foot unmanned telecommunications facility disguised as a monopalm on city-owned property at 27620 Landau Boulevard.
Associate Planner Dom Camps told the commission the applicant proposes a monopalm with 12 panel antennas, an 18-by-20-foot equipment enclosure screened by an eight-foot canopy and a nine-foot masonry wall, and installation in an existing landscape island that will not reduce parking. Camps said the applicant agreed to provide a $3,000 stipend for a local artist to paint the mosaic on the sides of the enclosure that face the public right-of-way. “So the proposed cell tower will be approx 75 ft tall and disguised as a monopom,” Camps said.
The nut of commissioners’ debate was how the enclosure and surrounding landscaping should look. Several commissioners urged replacing two proposed Mexican fan palms with shade trees that will provide cooling in the parking area. Commissioner Malikoff moved to approve the permit as recommended by staff but to amend two conditions: specify the $3,000 mural stipend in condition 3.11 and require shade trees (24-inch-box canopy trees) in the two parking-island locations rather than the proposed palms. Vice Chair Me seconded the amendment. The roll-call vote on the amendment — and on the final, amended motion — was unanimous.
Why it matters: The project places a new wireless facility on city-owned land next to an active municipal building (Cathedral City Fire Station 3) and near residential neighborhoods. The commission weighed community design and neighborhood impacts against a 2010 uncodified city policy that generally limits tower height to 65 feet; staff noted federal communications law may preempt local rules that effectively prohibit wireless service. The commission adopted conditions of approval that address maintenance, landscaping and public art.
What the approval requires: Conditions include: specifying $3,000 for artist outreach and mural funding for the equipment enclosure; requiring maintenance standards for imitation palm fronds (condition 3.13); replacing the two proposed Mexican fan palms with 24-inch box shade trees in the two planter locations; and making minor edits to several condition references (e.g., permit-to-permit language clarified from certificate of occupancy to final building permit language). Staff determined the project was eligible for a Class 3 categorical exemption under CEQA for small structures.
Vote and procedure: The amended approval was moved by Commissioner Malikoff and seconded by Commissioner McFale. The roll-call tally recorded Commissioners Baddard, Malikoff, McFale, Vice Chair Me and Chair Lee voting in favor; the motion carried unanimously.
What comes next: The permit will be implemented according to the approved conditions. The equipment installation and mural selection will be coordinated with the city’s Public Arts Commission as required in the conditions of approval.
