Alternative Sites Analysis
AT&T Mobility
Rooftop Wireless Telecommunications Facility
At
32975 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Union City, CA 94587
Site ID: CBL00155
ATTACHMENT 8
2 Introduction
New Cingular Wireless PCS, LLC d/b/a AT&T Mobility (“AT&T”) has a significant gap in its service coverage in Union City, Alameda County. AT&T proposes to install a new stealth wireless communications facility (“WCF”) on the rooftop of the Southern Alameda County Buddhist Church located at 32975 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Union City, CA (“Proposed Facility”) as a means to fill AT&T’s gap in coverage in this portion of the city. This property is located in an (PI) Private Institutional zoning district within the city of Alameda.
The Proposed Facility consists of installing a “New” rooftop Stealth cupola to house and camouflage AT&T’s proposed (9) panel antennas, and associated equipment on the rooftop.
Additionally, AT&T will install (1) outdoor (WUC) walk up equipment cabinet and emergency backup generator within a new 359 sq. ft. AT&T lease area adjacent to the building, enclosed by a new 9 ft. tall CMU wall textured and finished to match the existing building. The “New” proposed rooftop cupola will be designed in scale and architecturally integrated and camouflaged with the existing church building features, finished, painted and textured to match the existing structure and designed to be visually unobtrusive from the public right of way.
The Proposed Facility is designed to protect the zoning integrity and aesthetic quality of the area, whilst in compliance with the goals of the City’s General Plan. AT&T proposes to use the most feasible means to conceal and minimize the visual impact of the wireless communications facility by integrating the design and camouflage the equipment by completely concealing the equipment within the new stealth cupola on the rooftop of the building.
The Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means to fill the significant gap of the alternatives investigated by AT&T as explained below.
Objective
AT&T Mobility has identified a significant gap in its service coverage in Union City, Alameda County, in an area roughly bordered by Whipple Rd. to the north, Dowe Ave. to the east, Lake Ontario Drive. to the south, and Santa Maria Drive. to the west. The Proposed Facility will improve coverage to many dozens of homes in several neighborhoods, numerous businesses, offices, schools, churches and other points of interest in the immediate vicinity. The service coverage in this portion of the city is described in the accompanying Radio Frequency propagation maps.
Methodology and Zoning Criteria
The location of a WCF to fill a significant gap in coverage is dependent upon topography, zoning, existing structures, collocation opportunities, available utilities, access and a willing landlord. Wireless communication is line-of-sight technology that requires WCFs to be in relatively close proximity to the wireless handsets to be served. AT&T seeks to fill a significant gap in service coverage using the least intrusive means under the values expressed in the City’s code of ordinances chapter 18.114 (wireless communications facilities), AT&T is steered by the City’s code and guidelines to ensure that the proposed wireless facility is in scale and architecturally integrated and camouflaged with the existing building design in such a manner as to be visually unobtrusive, with the Roof-mounted antennas being screened and completely concealed from public view and located the maximum distance from the edge of the roof as 3 technologically feasible. AT&T seeks to meet the Code requirements and provide the best available design by placing this stealth (WCF) on the rooftop of the building in an (PI) Private Institutional Use zone property at the minimum height needed to address the significant service coverage gap.
Analysis
AT&T investigated potential alternative sites for facilities to fill the identified coverage gap in this portion of the city. AT&T searched for, but did not find, feasible collocation opportunities in and around the coverage objective. Due to the need for antennas with a centerline height of Approx. (40) feet above ground level, AT&T proposed a stealth WCF in the form of a “New” rooftop Stealth cupola in the center of the rooftop to house, conceal and camouflage AT&Ts proposed panel antennas, and associated equipment. The following map shows the locations of the Proposed Facility and the alternative sites that AT&T investigated. The alternatives are discussed in the analysis which follows.
Location of Candidate Sites
4 Proposed Rooftop Facility – 32975 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Union City, CA 94587 Conclusion: Based upon location, a willing landlord and the superior coverage as shown in the AT&T Radio Frequency coverage service maps, the Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means for AT&T to meet its service coverage objective.
The subject property is located at 32975 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Union City, CA in a (PI) Private Institutional zone district. AT&T proposes to install a “New” rooftop Stealth cupola to house and camouflage AT&Ts proposed (9) panel antennas, and associated equipment. Additionally, AT&T will install a (WUC) outdoor equipment cabinet and emergency back-up generator within a new 359 sq. ft. AT&T lease area adjacent to the building, enclosed by a new 9 ft tall CMU wall finished and textured to match the existing building. The new proposed rooftop cupola will be designed in scale and architecturally integrated and camouflaged with the existing church building features, finished, painted and textured to match the existing structure and designed to be visually unobtrusive from the public right of way.
The Proposed Facility is designed to protect the zoning integrity and aesthetic quality of the area, whilst in compliance with the goals of the City’s General Plan. AT&T proposes to use the most feasible means to conceal and minimize the visual impact of the wireless communications facility by integrating the design and camouflage the equipment by completely concealing the equipment within the new stealth cupola on the rooftop. Effectively the new stealth cupola installed in the center of the rooftop will completely screen and conceal the facility from travelers along Alvarado-Niles Rd. The Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means to fill the significant gap of the alternatives investigated by AT&T. 5 Alternative 1 – Omni Logistics (5G LLC) 33201 Dowe Ave, Union City Conclusion: Not Available
This property is located approximately 0.47 miles north of the Proposed Facility. After considerable time of working with the leasing agents (5G LLC) for the property. The owners decided that they were Not willing to enter a long-term lease with AT&T for a telecom facility at this location.
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6 Alternative 2 - Rooftop site @ Farmers Ins. building 32145 Alvarado-Niles, Union City Conclusion: Not Available
This property is located approximately 0.61 miles northwest of the Proposed Facility. There is an existing rooftop wireless provider at this location. Unfortunately, the property owners informed AT&T that there is not any additional space for colocation on the property. Therefore, the property is not viable to lease space to AT&T for a WCF. 7 Alternative 3 - Rooftop site @ Crown Plaza Hotel 32083 Alvarado-Niles Rd, Union City Conclusion: Not Available
This property is located approximately 0.73 miles northwest of the Proposed Facility. There is an existing rooftop wireless provider at this location. However, the property Mgr./representative informed AT&T that they were not interested in leasing additional rooftop space to AT&T and or another carrier for a WCF.
8 Alternative 4 – Slimline Monopole Cesar Chavez Middle School 2801 Hop Ranch Rd, Union City
Conclusion: Not Viable or available
The Existing Slimline Monopole tower is located approximately 0.20 miles southwest from the Proposed Facility. The existing Slimline Monopole tower is owned by Crown Castle Corporation and is Not viable due to unavailable tower space and structural capacity for AT&T’s proposed equipment. Additionally, the school district is not interested in leasing additional ground space to AT&T for a WCF.
9 Alternative 5 – 33210 Transit Ave, Union City, CA
Conclusion: Not available
This property is located approximately 0.49 miles northeast from the Proposed Facility. The property owners were not interested in leasing space to AT&T for a WCF. 10 Alternative 6 - Batory Foods 1604 Whipple Rd, Union City Conclusion: Not available
This property is located approximately 0.72 miles northwest from the Proposed Facility. The property owners were not interested in leasing space to AT&T for a WCF. 11 Alternative 7- 33200 Dowe Ave, Union City, CA 94587
Conclusion: Not available
This property is located approximately 0.48 miles northeast from the Proposed Facility. The property owners were not interested in leasing space to AT&T for a WCF. 12 Alternative 8- church of Latter Rain 33115 Central Ave, Union City CA Conclusion: Not available
This property is located approximately 0.65 miles northeast from the Proposed Facility. The church board/representatives were not interested in leasing space to AT&T for a WCF. 13 Alternative 9- Existing lattice tower 33467 Western Ave, Union City Conclusion: Not viable or available
This property is located approximately 0.57 miles west of the Proposed Facility. The existing lattice tower is owned by (ATC) American tower Corporation and is Not viable due to unavailable tower space, structural capacity and insufficient ground lease space within the existing ATC leased premises for AT&T’s proposed equipment.
Conclusion
The Proposed Facility is the least intrusive means by which AT&T can close its significant service coverage gap in this portion of Union City, Alameda County. Denial of AT&T’s application would materially inhibit AT&T’s ability to provide and improve service in this portion of the city.