Planning commission continues AT&T monopine upgrade hearing after Zoom outage

The South Gate Planning Commission recessed its July 7 meeting and continued the public hearing on a proposed upgrade to an existing "monopine" wireless telecommunications facility at 9611 Pinehurst Avenue to Monday, July 13, after technical problems with the meeting’s Zoom connection prevented remote participants from joining.

Joshua Valdez, associate planner for the City of South Gate, presented staff’s recommendation to reclassify Unclassified Use Permit (UUP) 46 as Conditional Use Permit (CUP) 26-04 to allow replacement and reconfiguration of antennas, remote radio heads and associated equipment within the existing monopine footprint. Valdez said the work includes upgrades to power and battery systems but would not increase the monopine’s height or expand the lease area. “Tonight, I’m here to present to you the amendment and reclassification of unclassified use permit number 46 to conditional use permit 26-04 to allow the modifications of an existing monopine wireless facility located at 9611 Pinehurst Avenue,” Valdez said.

Valdez reviewed the site’s zoning in the Tweedy Boulevard Specific Plan and recounted the facility’s regulatory history: the original authorization in 2005 (resolution approving UUP 46) and a 2010 colocation approval; he said the 2015 zoning code update removed the former UUP process, which prompted staff to seek a CUP as the closest current entitlement. Staff recommended that the commission find the project exempt from the California Environmental Quality Act under CEQA Guidelines section 15301 (Class 1 — existing facilities) and adopt Resolution No. 2026-08 approving CUP 26-04.

John McDonald, representing AT&T, told commissioners the company had no additional presentation beyond staff’s materials and described the proposal as a modest equipment swap to improve network capacity and reliability. “We’re not really changing much — swapping out some antennas and radios. It’s mostly a capacity and performance upgrade for the site,” McDonald said.

A commissioner who said they frequent the area raised two issues during questioning: whether any work had already been done at the site and whether lease revenue from the facility is restricted to park enhancements. McDonald said AT&T had not begun work and that a second provider on the pole could account for recent activity. The commissioner said they had spoken with Parks Director Tina de la Rosa, who indicated lease proceeds go to the parks department for park improvements; a staff member said lease-term specifics were not on the agenda and could not be discussed at length.

Because the commission lost the Zoom connection and remote participants could not see or hear the proceedings, staff recommended recessing and continuing the hearing. A staff member told the commission: “We are going to be unable to continue the meeting tonight because of this issue and the inability of the folks on the Zoom to both see and hear what’s going on… We are recommending that this meeting be continued until next Monday night,” and the board agreed. The hearing was continued to Monday, July 13 at 6:30 p.m., to be renoticed.

Votes at a glance: - Approval of minutes (June 2): motion made and seconded; roll call vote passed (Yes: Commissioners Saeta, Reese, Vice Chair Valenzuela, Chair Ferriero). - Item 7A (CUP 26-04): continued to July 13, 2026; no decision taken on the CUP at this meeting.

The commission adjourned the meeting after scheduling the continuation. The July 13 meeting will resume the public hearing on CUP 26-04 and any additional public comment or deliberation.