On B eh alf o f
John Silverman
Wireless Development
Specialist
3300 Irvine Ave., Suite
#300
Newport Beach, CA
92660
818.823.0631 cellular
john.silverman@smartli
nkgroup.com
AT&T Project Number: CLL01310
AT&T Project Name: HBCC
City of Huntington Beach
Application for a Conditional Use Permit
Project Information and Justification
Letter of Colocation Efforts and Alternative Site Analysis
AT&T Mobility (AT&T) is requesting approval of a Conditional Use Permit for a Wireless Facility application for the construction and operation of an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility (cell site), and presents the following project information for your consideration:
Project Location
Address: 8101 SLATER AVENUE, HUNTINGTON BEACH, CA 92647 APN: 167-312-08
Zoning designation: COMMERCIAL (GENERAL)
Project Representative
John Silverman
Smartlink, LLC
3300 Irvine Ave., Suite #300
Newport Beach, CA 92660
818.823.0631 cellular
[email protected]
AT&T Contact
Ivan Ocegueda, Project Manager
1452 Edinger Ave.
Tustin, CA 92780-6246
[email protected]
562.210.9855
Project Description
AT&T proposes to construct an unmanned wireless telecommunications facility camouflaged as a broadleaf tree on the property. The antennas will be screened between branches of the mono-broadleaf structure. The associated equipment cabinets will be located within an 8-foot-tall CMU wall enclosure with chain-link lid affixed to the top. AT&T will work with the City and the community to install a state-of-the-art stealth site which will provide a benefit to the residents and visitors of the area.
The equipment will consist of: 60-foot mono-broadleaf structure, Emerson power cabinet, Purcell cabinets (stacked), twenty panel antennas (five per sector), forty-eight RRUs at antenna level (12 per sector), one GPS antenna, a 20 kilowatt compact generator on concrete pad, four DC-9 surge suppressors, and four DC- 12 Outdoor units within the walk-in cabinet.
Hours of Operation & Number of Employees
The wireless facility will be in operation 24 hours a day, 7 days a week but is an unmanned facility. A networks operation personnel member will visit the site every 4-6 weeks for general maintenance review.
Project Objectives
There are several reasons why a wireless carrier requires the installation of a cell site within a specified area to close a “significant gap in coverage:”
• The radio signal must be of sufficient strength to achieve consistent, sustainable, and reliable service to customers at a level sufficient for outdoor, in -vehicle, and in-building penetration with good voice quality (Threshold, -76db).
• When nearby other sites become overloaded, and more enhanced voice and data services are used (5G and other high-speed data services) signal contracts and a gap is created. With heavy use it is intensified due to the unique properties of digital radio transmissions.
In this specific case, this location was selected because AT&T’s radio-frequency engineers (RF) have identified a significant gap in coverage in the vicinity of ____ and the surrounding community as demonstrated on the enclosed radio-signal propagation maps.
The proposed use is necessary to close a significant gap in coverage.
The wireless facility is necessary to close a significant gap in coverage, exhibited in the justification package dated November 12, 2020 on slides 3-5. Slide Three shows the significant coverage gap based on analysis of the AT&T system. Slide Four shows the coverage gap addressed by the placement of the proposed wireless facility on the site indicated above. Slide Five shows the signal coverage the proposed wireless facility will provide in a vacuum. As is noted, the placement of the wireless facility proposed will address the significant gap in coverage. The proposed wireless facility is necessary to address the significant gap in coverage as a different placement or proposed antenna structure would cover less geographic area. AT&T is proposing the minimum necessary antenna schedule as is necessary to address the gap in coverage shown in Slide Three.
AT&T’s search area representing significant coverage gap
Alternative Site Analysis
The following locations were evaluated and the reasons why they were not selected for this project are addressed:
• Huntington Beach Assistance League – 8071 Slater Avenue, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (APN: 167-312-07). Location was originally chosen for the project, but due to boundary limits shown on survey, there was not en ough space to build without stretching out into the parking spaces. Landlord considered this proposal, but ultimately decided they did not want to lose any parking, so AT&T moved on to the current proposed site (which has the room to build without sacrificing any parking spaces as is indicated on associated plans).
• Ocean Plaza – 17011 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (APN: 165-364-16). Owners of property were approached concerning the project but expressed they were uninterested in pursuing.
• Lowe's Parking Lot – 8175 Warner Ave, Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (APN: 107-704-05).
The owner was approached with a proposal for this project, but they were uninterested in the project.
• SCE Substation – on the corner of Warner Ave and B Lane, directly opposite the Lowes. This property was considered but rejected due to the lack of space for which to propose the siting of an antenna facility.
• Empty Car Lot – 17262 Beach Blvd., Huntington Beach, CA 92647(APN: 167-311-02). Owner was approached but never responded to inquiries.
• A 1st Impression Full -Service Sign Shop – 17191 Beach Blvd Huntington Beach, CA 92647 (APN: 165-283-17). Owner was approached but never responded to inquiries.
Findings/Burden of Proof
The proposed use is consistent with the adopted General Plan.
AT&T confirms that the plans will conform to the requ irements under the General Plan, specifically those requirements set out for Wireless Facilities.
The proposed us e will not adversely affect the health, peace, comfort, or welfare of persons residing or working in the surrounding area.
The project will not have an adverse effect upon adjacent or abutting properties as it is a stealth design that will blend naturally with the subject property and the surrounding community. The project will provide a public benefit of better wireless telecommunications and data services to the surrounding neighborhoods and community.
Description of surrounding uses to the North, South, East and West:
The project is proposed on a piece of property designated as Commercial General. To the west is a piece of property designated as Commercial General. The property to the North is Single Family Residential. The property to the east is Single Family Residential.
Description of population served by the proposed use or project.
AT&T intends to serve the surrounding community near the project, with the increased wireless signal available with addition of this facility and the inclusion of First Net which prioritizes calls going to emergency responders. Further information on the spread of signal added with the proposed facility associated with this project is available on the Justification Package dated 1 -27-2023 (power point docu ment) submitted in association with this narrative.
The proposed use will not be materially detrimental to the use, enjoyment, or valuation of property of other persons located in the vicinity of the site.
The project will not have an adverse effect upon adjacent or abutting properties as it is a stealth design that will blend naturally with the subject property and the surrounding community.
The proposed us will not jeopardize, endanger, or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health, safety, or general welfare.
The proposed use is a Wireless Facility, in the form of a mono -broadleaf with required equipment area. There is no aspect of this project which will jeopardize, endanger, or otherwise constitute a menace to the public health, s afety, or general welfare. In point of fact, the project will serve the public safety and general welfare with additional wireless signal and First Net support for first responder services.
The site for the proposed use is adequate in size and shape.
AT&T is proposing a mono-broadleaf design for this project which is considered a stealth design in accordance with the Huntington Beach general code. The requested height of the mono - broadleaf design is the minimum height necessary in order to fill the sign ificant gap in coverage for this project. AT&T uses the most advanced technology and design when constructing the mono-pine so as to blend the facility with the surrounding community and landscaping and thereby minimizing the visual impact of the site.
GENERAL INFORMATION
Site Selection
Customer demand drives the need for new cell sites. Drive-tests to gauge wireless signals in the area are conducted, and scientific modeling using sophisticated software is evaluated. Once the area requiring a new site is identified, a target ring on a map is provided to a real estate professional to begin a search for a suitable location.
During an initial reconnaissance, properties for consideration for the installation of a cell site must be located in the general vicinity of the ring, with an appropriate zoning designation, and appear to have enough space to accommodate an antenna struct ure and the supporting radio equipment. The size of this space will vary depending on the objective of the site. The owners of each prospective location are notified to assess their interest in partnering with AT&T.
Four key elements are considered in the selection process:
• Leasing: The property must have an owner who is willing to enter into a long-term lease agreement under very specific terms and conditions.
• Zoning: It must be suitably zoned in accordance with local land-use codes to allow for a successful permitting process.
• Construction: Construction constraints and costs must be reasonable from a business perspective, and the proposed project must be capable of being constructed in accordance with local building codes and safety standards.
• RF: It must be strategically located to be able to achieve the RF engineer’s objective to close the significant gap with antennas at a height to clear nearby obstructions.
The Benefits to the Community
Approximately 90-percent of American adults subscribe to cell phone service. People of all ages rely increasingly on their cell phones to talk, text, send media, and search the Internet for both personal and business reasons. More and more, they are doing these things in their homes, therefore, becoming relia nt on adequate service within residential neighborhoods. In fact, 50 -percent of people relocating are not signing up for landline service at their new location and are using their cell phone as their primary communication method.
The installation and operation of the proposed facility will offer improved:
• Communications for local, state, and federal emergency services providers, such as police, fire, paramedics, and other first-responders.
• Personal safety and security for community members in an emergency, or when there is an urgent need to reach family members or friends. Safety is the primary reason parents provide cell phones to their children. Currently 25% of all preteens, ages 9 to 12, and 75% of all teens, aged 13 to 19, have cell phones.
• Capability of local businesses to better serve their customers. • Opportunity for a city or county to attract businesses to their community for greater economic development.
• Enhanced 911 Services (E911) – The FCC mandates that all cell sites have location capabili ty.
Effective site geometry within the overall network is needed to achieve accurate location information for mobile users through triangulation with active cell sites. (Over half of all 911 calls are made using mobile phones.)
Safety – RF is Radio
The FCC regulates RF emissions to ensure public safety. Standards have been set based on peer-reviewed scientific studies and recommendations from a variety of oversight organizations, including the National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements (NC RP), American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Federal Drug Administration (FDA), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), and National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH).
Although the purview of the public safety of RF emissions by the FCC was established by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, these standards remain under constant scrutiny. All AT&T cell sites operate well below these standards, and the typical urban cell site operates hundreds or even thousands of times below the FCC’s limits for safe exposure.
AT&T Company Information
AT&T is one of the fastest growing nationwide service providers offering all digital voice, messaging and high-speed data services to nearly 30 million customers in the United States.
AT&T is a “telephone corporation”, licensed by the Federal Communicat ions Commission (FCC) to operate in the 1950.2-1964.8, 1965.2-1969.8 MHz and 1870.2-1884.8-1889.8 MHz frequencies, and a state- regulated Public Utility subject to the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC). The CPUC has established that the term “t elephone corporation” can be extended to wireless carriers, even though they transmit signals without the use of telephone lines.
AT&T will operate this facility in full compliance with the regulations and licensing requirements of the FCC, Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the CPUC, as governed by the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and other applicable laws.
Conclusion
The Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means by which AT&T can close its significant service coverage gap. Denial of the site or a reduction in height will materially inhibit AT&T from providing and improving wireless service in this portion of Huntington Beach.
The enclosed application is presented for your consideration. AT&T requests a favorable determination and approval of this Conditional Use Permit application to build the proposed facility. Please contact me at (818) 823 -0631 or [email protected] for any questions or requests for additional information.
Respectfully submitted,
___________________
John Silverman
Real Estate Project Manager
Smartlink, on behalf of AT&T