PC - Item 4A - Minutes 12-6-10Minutes of the
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING
December 6, 2010
The regular meeting of the Planning Commission was called to order by Chairman Alarcon at 7:00
p.m., in the Council Chambers, 8838 E. Valley Boulevard, Rosemead, California.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Commissioner Ruiz
INVOCATION - Commissioner Hunter
ROLL CALL - Commissioners Herrera, Hunter, Ruiz, Vice- Chairwoman Eng, Chairman Alarcon
ROLL CALL OF OFFICERS PRESENT: City Attorney Greg Murphy, Community Development
Director Wong, City Planner Bermejo, Commission Secretary Lockwood. '
1. EXPLANATION OF HEARING PROCEDURES AND APPEAL RIGHTS
Greg Murphy, City Attorney, presented the procedures �and app'eal`rights of the meeting.
2. PUBLIC COMMENTS FROM THE AUDIENCE
None
3. CONSENT CALENDAR "
A. Approval of Minutes - November 15, 2010
Vice - Chairwoman Eng made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Herrera, to approve the
Minutes - of'November,115, 2010 as presented.
Vote resulted in:
Yes , Alarcon, Eng, Herrera, Hunter, Ruiz
No: ` .. None
Abstain: ''. None'
Absent: None
4. PUBLIC HEARINGS
A. CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 10 -07 - Clearwire has submitted a Conditional Use Permit
application to construct a wireless telecommunications facility at the Rosemead
Community Recreation Center, located at 3936 Muscatel Avenue in the 0 -S (Open
Space) zone. The proposed facility consists of six 4' -0" tall panel antennas and six
26" diameter parabolic microwave dishes mounted on three sectors at a height of 55'-
0" on a new 60' -0" tall cell tower designed to simulate a pine tree. The project also
includes the installation of one new ground- mounted equipment cabinet, totaling 144
square feet, which will be constructed at the southeast corner of the existing
Rosemead Community Recreation Center building.
On November 15, 2010, the Planning Commission continued this public hearing item
to the December 6, 2010 Planning Commission meeting due to resident concern
regarding possible health risks that could be caused by the proposed facility and the
possibility of Clearwire achieving the same service coverage objectives at alternative
sites within the neighborhood vicinity that are less intrusive. The Commission
directed Clearwire to provide service coverage reports for a potential co- location at
an existing monopole located at 8780 East Valley Boulevard and a new facility
location at 3520 Ivar Avenue for the purpose of analyzing service coverage
comparisons.
Staff Recommendation - The Planning Divisioni would like to request that the
Commission continue this public hearing item.to a date uncertain. The continuance
will allow the Planning Division to complete their analysis of the coverage reports
that have been submitted for review, as well research information on,, Antenna RF
Emission Safety from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC):'::''
City Planner Bermejo presented the Memorandum regarding the Continuance of Conditional Use
Permit 10 -07.
Vice - Chairwoman Eng stated that she wou16like'to`recommend to continue this item until a date
uncertain, so as the Planning, Division may complete their analysis of the coverage reports.
City Attorney Murphy suggested that, before the Planning Commission votes on a continuance, we
should open the Public Hearing as there has been a few speaker request submitted for this item.
He also recommended that . anyone wishing to speak on this item should wait until that Planning
Commission. meeting so as pour comments will lie fresh for the Planning Commissioners. He also
stated that, staff will mail,out and post the Public Hearing Notice with the date and time of when this
item will be heard. He al's'o stated that if you will not be able to attend that meeting please feel free
to comment tonight.
Chairman7Alarcon opened the "Public Hearing and read the names of each speaker request and
asked if they would like to speak tonight.
/.
Feng -Lian Hwang, resident, stated she is requesting that the Planning Commission not approve
Conditional Use Permit 10 -07. She expressed concern that the wireless tower is too close to
the residential area and with radiation emissions. She also stated that it has been documented
that radiation may cause cancer and is concerned because this is a residential area. She also
stated that she feels this tower will bring the property value down in the neighborhood. She asked
if the Federal Government has restrictions on how close can wireless facilities be, to residential
areas. She also stated that the notices that the City send out should also be sent out in other
languages. She also asked how much money the City will receive if this project is approved. She
stated we already have a tower and asked why we have to have more. She also stated please
make Rosemead a better City to live in and let's not put anymore wireless towers.
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Karl Dannemann, resident, thanked the Planning Commission for taking what was said previously
into consideration. He also requested that the Planning Commission ask more questions and
please look into some of the representatives responses to questions, such as why the pole
at Rosemead High School could not handle this equipment. He stated that the representative
referred to "they" would not let them and he would like the Commission to ask who "they" were. He
also stated that the representative was able to answer some engineering questions but there were
times that she replied that she could not answer because she was not an engineer.
Chairman Alarcon replied that the representative referred to the RF Engineers as "they ", and the
representative stated that she is not an engineer. Chairman Alarcon also stated that is why the
Planning Commission requested that the RF Engineers be present at the next scheduled Planning
Commission meeting for this item, so as they can answer all the questions that the representative
could not.
Elisco Martinez, resident, stated that he has been a resider:. for over 30 years and he would like to
thank the Planning Commission for letting the residents speak. He also requested that the
Planning Commission please take our strong motions into consideration and please find another
location to build this cell tower.
Chairman Alarcon asked if there was anyone else wishing to speak for or against this project.
None
Chairman Alarcon closed the Public Hearing.
Vice - Chairwoman Eng`made a motic'n, seconded by Commissioner Hunter, to CONTINUE this
public hearing item to a date uncertain.
Vote resulted in:.
Yes: t Alarcon, Eng, Herrera, Hunter, Ruiz
No: None
" Abstain: None ,
Absent: None
Chairman Alarcon thanked fhe audience for their input and told them staff will inform you when this
item will be re- scheduletl fora Planning Commission meeting.
5. MATTERS FROM THE CHAIRMAN & COMMISSIONERS
None
6. MATTERS FROM STAFF
A. 8855 Valley Boulevard (Universal Bank) • Revised Building Paint Colors
City Planner Bermejo presented the Memorandum regarding the Revised Building Colors for
Universal Bank located at 8855 Valley Boulevard.
The Planning Commission and applicant agreed upon the color renderings of Proposal 1. These
colors include Sedona at Sunset (DE5272) for the cornice trim, Precious Nectar (DE5317) for the
building exterior, and Buttermilk (DE5308) for the window trims. The Planning Commission also
agreed to have Planning Division staff work with the property ownerIto test the paint colors on a
small portion of the building prior to repainting the entire building,.,
B. Zoning Code Workshop: Review of Commercial Uses
City Planner Bermejo presented the workshop.
The Planning Commission reviewed and discussed,the matrix of proposed uses for the P -0, C -1,
C -3, and CBD zones. k 1
The following is summary of the Commission's comments.
• Remove Automobile auctions from the matrix. Allow the use in the M -1 or C -M Mixed zone
with a Conditional Use Permit.
• Staff recommended that the'Commission consider eliminating auto repair uses from all
commercial' districts and only allow them in the M -1 or C -M mixed zone. Several
Commissioners. were condemed.-about the `number of potential businesses that could
becomeJegal- nonconforming by this action, and therefore, requested further consideration.
Staff is open; o proposing, smaller auto - related businesses (oil and tube, etc) in commercial
'"zones.
• The Commission does'•not wantto see Hydroponic Stores in commercial stores. The City
Attomey, believes that we may have to permit the use in some zone, possibly M -1.
• Staff proposed, allowing internet cafes in the C -3 zone and CBD zone with an
administrative':use "permit. Commissioner Victor Ruiz expressed concern about gambling
being associated with such cafes.
• Clubs, lodges, meeting halls need to have the same permitting procedures as places of
worship according to City Attorney.
• The Commission directed staff to omit the cogeneration plant use from the C -1 zone.
• The Commission directed staff to omit the equestrian establishment from the matrix.
• Nancy Eng commented that small tutoring facilities should not have to go through the CUP
process. Perhaps small tutoring schools could be permitted by right.
• The Commission directed staff to eliminate all residential uses from the Professional Office
zone, including condominium projects and senior congregate care.
7. ADJOURNMENT
The next regular Planning Commission meeting will be held on Monday, December 20,
2010, at 7:00 p.m.
ATTEST:
Rachel Lockwood
Commission Secretary
William Alarcon
Chairman
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