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Modification to CUP No. 2006-21 Variance No. 2009-04 December 14, 2009 Page 2 Project Description AT&T is proposing to increase the height of an existing monopine by three feet for a total of 63 feet to provide increased cellular coverage and call capacity in this area. The existing monopine will be modified accordingly to ensure that the facility adequately stealths the antennas for both carriers. The branches will reach a height of 70 feet to look like a natural tree. AT&T will be the second carrier on this monopine, with T-Mobile currently on the monopine. Additional equipment will be installed in an enlarged equipment enclosure at the base of the tree (Exhibits 3 and 4). The proposed wireless facility will include nine panel antennas, new equipment cabinets and two GPS antennas at ground level, all of which will be camouflaged as a Canary Island Pine Tree or be located within the base enclosure. The monopine and equipment cabinets will continue to be enclosed by an eight-foot high wrought iron fence that will incorporate new shrubs and vines to assist in screening the equipment. Two Canary Island Pines were planted as a condition of the original CUP and will remain on the site (Exhibit 5). The leased site is behind an auto repair business and located approximately 120 feet north of First Street. Analysis of the Issues In July 1998, the 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. Due to compliance with the approved development standards, Conditional Use Permit No. 2006-21 was approved by the Planning Commission in 2006 to allow a 60- foot high monopine at this location. The applicant is proposing to modify the existing conditional use permit and obtain a variance from the height standards to allow an additional carrier on the existing facility at a height of 63 feet. The proposed three-foot increase in the height of the monopole is due to the minimum separation requirements between carrier antennas to avoid cellular interference. The existing T-Mobile antennas will be raised to the 63 foot height and the new AT&T antennas will be placed at approximately 53 feet in height. This will ensure that both carriers provide the necessary coverage and call capacity for their subscribers. An alternative to the proposal would be to permit an additional monopole in this area to provide 31 A-3