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Conditional Use Permit No. 2002-18 February 26, 2007 Page 2 existing 99-foot high tower was removed and a new 75-foot high wireless facility was constructed as a monopine. Two wireless carriers, Cingular Wireless and T-Mobile, are currently located on the monopine. The property improvements installed in 2002 included a new 10-foot high split face block wall around portions of the property and vine pockets with Boston Ivy every 10 feet along the new block wall facing the Santa Ana River Bikeway Trail. In addition, a block wall replaced an existing chain link fence along the north property line. Two pine trees were also planted near the area where the new 75-foot high monopine was constructed. Metro PCS is proposing to install a six panel antenna array on the existing wireless facility and lease 119 square feet for equipment cabinets (Exhibit 3). The equipment cabinets will be enclosed by a 10- foot high block wall that will match the existing exterior property wall. The enclosure will be screened on the south side by two metal mesh doors for access to the equipment (Exhibit 4). Two Canary Island pines were planted on site under Conditional Use Permit 2002-18 and are existing; therefore, additional pine trees have not been conditioned. The third carrier, Metro PCS, is colocating below the two existing carriers and the new antennas will be camouflaged within the branches of the existing monopine (Exhibits 5 and 6) . Analysis of the Issues In July 1998, the Planning Commission and City Council adopted an ordinance that regulates Wireless Communication Facilities throughout the City. Major wireless facilities are required to have a stealth design and be located on a building or in an area that provides the greatest amount of visual screening and requires the approval of a conditional use permit. The existing wireless facility is located within an enclosed leased area and the equipment cabinets are screened by a solid wall along the exterior property. Adequate screening is provided for Metro PCS, the third wireless carrier, by locating the new antenna array within the braches of the monopine. The applicant has explored alternatives to the monopine structure such as locating the cellular antenna on the roof of an existing building in the area. Structures in the area, however, are not tall enough to meet the coverage needs for Metro PCS. A 75-foot tall facility is needed in order to improve cellular coverage and increase call capacity and quality because it is located in an area with limited access for wireless facilities. The proposed cellular antenna will provide a benefit to Santa 31A-3