PC Resolution 2020-008 CUP 2020-003 AT&T WirelessPLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020 - 008
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF LA QUINTA, CALIFORNIA, APPROVING
A CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR THE
CONSTRUCTION OF WIRELESS
TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY WITHIN THE
HIDEAWAY GOLF CLUB AND FINDING THE PROJECT
EXEMPT FROM THE CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
QUALITY ACT
CASE NUMBER: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFRASTRUCTURE PARTNERS
WHEREAS, the Planning Commission of the City of La Quinta, California did,
on the 27th day of October 2020, hold a duly noticed Public Hearing to consider a
request by J5 Infrastructure Partners, courtesy of AT&T, for approval of a building-
mounted wireless telecommunication tower and mechanical equipment, generally
located at the Hideaway Golf Club’s Clubhouse more particularly described as:
APN: 777-070-043
80440 HIDEAWAY CLUB COURT
WHEREAS, the Design and Development Department published a public
hearing notice in The Desert Sun newspaper on October 16, 2020, as prescribed by
the Municipal Code. Public hearing notices were also mailed to all property owners
within 500 feet of the site; and,
WHEREAS, at said Public Hearing, upon hearing and considering all
testimony and arguments, if any, of all interested persons desiring to be heard, said
Planning Commission did make the following mandatory findings pursuant to
Section 9.170.090 of the Municipal Code to justify approval of said Conditional Use
Permit:
1. Consistency with General Plan
The design of the proposed wireless facility is consistent with La Quinta
General Plan, which requires utilities and communication facilities to be
available, adequate and convenient for all residents. The applicant has
determined that a need for this type of service, in this general area, exists
and providing such a facility will help to ensure that the public has access
to such services. The placement of the telecommunication facility at this
site will have a negligible impact on the surrounding public thoroughfares
and land uses.
Planning Commission Resolution 2020 - 008
Conditional Use Permit 2020-0003
Applicant: J5 Infrastructure
Adopted: October 27, 2020
Page 2 of 3
2. Public Welfare
The proposed wireless facility will not create conditions materially
detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare. The facility
will provide enhanced communication services to the surrounding area,
including emergency and public safety communications. The wireless
facility is required to comply with the American National Standard
Institute (ANSI) standards for professionally acceptable radio frequency
emissions to ensure the antennas will not interfere with the surrounding
land uses.
3. Visual Impacts
The proposed wireless telecommunication facility minimizes adverse
visual impacts through careful design and site placement. The facility
utilizes a small footprint and is proposed as a building-mounted facility
which will blend in with the existing building’s architecture including
colors, materials, and textures. The facility will be camouflaged inside of a
new cupola on the building. Additionally, the associated mechanical
equipment will be installed on the roof of the existing building, shielded
from surrounding view.
4. Tower Design
The proposed wireless telecommunication facility is designed at the
minimal height to achieve the service provider’s objectives for coverage
within this portion of the community. The proposed wireless
communications facility, as conditioned, to be a 55’ foot building-mounted
facility is consistent with City of La Quinta development standards for
wireless telecommunication facilities.
5. Justification
The proposed wireless telecommunication facility is necessary, as shown
in the applicant’s justification letter, to continue and improve community
access to wireless service from the project site. Therefore, this facility is
necessary to improve community access to wireless services.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Planning Commission of the
City of La Quinta, California, as follows:
SECTION 1. That the above recitations are true and constitute the findings of the
Planning Commission in this case.
SECTION 2. That the above project be determined by the Planning Commission to
be exempt from CEQA pursuant to Section 15303 of the CEQA Guidelines.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020-008
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFASTRUCTURE FOR AT&T
ADOPTED: October 27, 2020
Page 1 of 7
GENERAL
1.The applicant agrees to defend, indemnify and hold harmless the City of La Quinta
(“City”), its agents, officers and employees from any claim, action or proceeding to
attack, set aside, void, or annul the approval of this Conditional Use Permit. The
City shall have sole discretion in selecting its defense counsel.
The City shall promptly notify the applicant of any claim, action or proceeding and
shall cooperate fully in the defense.
2.This Conditional Use Permit shall comply with the requirements and standards of
Government Code §§ 66410 through 66499.58 (the “Subdivision Map Act”), and
Chapter 13 of the La Quinta Municipal Code (“LQMC”).
The City of La Quinta’s Municipal Code can be accessed on the City’s Web Site at
www.laquintaca.gov.
3.This Conditional Use Permit shall expire on October 21, 2022 and shall become null
and void in accordance with Municipal Code Section 9.200.080, unless the use has
been established. A time extension may be requested per LQMC Section
9.200.080.
4.Any expansion or substantial modifications to the approved plan shall require an
amendment of this Conditional Use Permit. Minor modifications to this Conditional
Use Permit shall be considered by the Design and Development Director, and may
require notification of surrounding property owners prior to such approval. All
other amendments shall be processed in accordance with LQMC 9.200.100.
5.Prior to the issuance of any grading, construction, or building permit by the City,
the applicant shall obtain any necessary clearances and/or permits from the
following agencies, if required:
•Riverside County Fire Marshal
•La Quinta Design and Development Department (Grading Permit, Green
Sheet (Public Works Development Clearance) for Building Permits, Water
Quality Management Plan (WQMP) Exemption Form – Whitewater River
Region, Improvement Permit)
•La Quinta Building and Safety Division for Building Permits
•La Quinta Planning Division
•Riverside Co. Environmental Health Department
•Desert Sands Unified School District (DSUSD)
•Coachella Valley Water District (CVWD)
•Imperial Irrigation District (IID)
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020-008
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFASTRUCTURE FOR AT&T
ADOPTED: October 27, 2020
Page 2 of 7
•California Regional Water Quality Control Board (CRWQCB)
•State Water Resources Control Board
•SunLine Transit Agency
•South Coast Air Quality Management District Coachella Valley
•Federal Communication Commission
•Federal Aviation Administration
The applicant is responsible for all requirements of the permits and/or clearances
from the above listed agencies. When the requirements include approval of
improvement plans, the applicant shall furnish proof of such approvals when
submitting those improvements plans for City approval.
6.Developer shall reimburse the City, within thirty (30) days of presentment of the
invoice, all costs and actual attorney’s fees incurred by the City Attorney to review,
negotiate and/or modify any documents or instruments required by these
conditions, if Developer requests that the City modify or revise any documents or
instruments prepared initially by the City to effect these conditions. This obligation
shall be paid in the time noted above without deduction or offset and Developer’s
failure to make such payment shall be a material breach of the Conditions of
Approval.
7.Developer shall reimburse the City, within thirty (30) days of presentment of the
invoice, all costs and actual consultant’s fees incurred by the City for engineering
and/or surveying consultants to review and/or modify any documents or
instruments required by this project. This obligation shall be paid in the time
noted above without deduction or offset and Developer’s failure to make such
payment shall be a material breach of the Conditions of Approval.
PROPERTY RIGHTS
8.Prior to issuance of any permit(s), the applicant shall acquire or confer easements
and other property rights necessary for the construction or proper functioning of
the proposed development. Conferred rights shall include irrevocable offers to
dedicate or grant access easements to the City for emergency services and for
maintenance, construction and reconstruction of essential improvements. Said
conferred rights shall also include grant of access easement to the City of La
Quinta for the purpose of graffiti removal by City staff or assigned agent in
perpetuity and agreement to the method to remove graffiti and to paint over to
best match existing. The applicant shall establish the aforementioned requirements
in agreements for the development.
9.The applicant shall cause no easement to be granted, or recorded in the public
right of way unless such easement is approved by the City Engineer.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020-008
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFASTRUCTURE FOR AT&T
ADOPTED: October 27, 2020
Page 3 of 7
IMPROVEMENT PLANS
As used throughout these Conditions of Approval, professional titles such as “engineer,”
“surveyor,” and “architect,” refer to persons currently certified or licensed to practice
their respective professions in the State of California.
10.Improvement plans shall be prepared by or under the direct supervision of
qualified engineers and/or architects, as appropriate, and shall comply with the
provisions of LQMC Section 13.24.040 (Improvement Plans).
11.The submitted preliminary plans appear to propose no or minimal grading and may
not require a grading permit (see exceptions in Municipal Code Section 8.80.040).
If a grading permit is required, a precise grading plan prepared by a Civil Engineer
registered in California and a Soils Report prepared by a professional registered in
California must be approved by the City Engineer prior to the commencement of
grading.
Other engineered improvement plans prepared for City approval that are not listed
shall be prepared in formats approved by the City Engineer prior to commencing
plan preparation.
“On-Site Precise Grading” plans shall normally include all on-site surface
improvements including but not necessarily limited to finish grades for curbs &
gutters, building floor elevations, parking lot improvements and accessibility
requirements.
Building plans and structural calculations shall be submitted for review and
approval by the Building and Safety Division.
PRECISE GRADING
12.If a grading permit is required, the applicant shall comply with the provisions of
LQMC Section 8.80 (Grading).
13.To obtain an approved grading permit, the applicant shall submit and obtain
approval of all of the following:
A.A grading plan prepared by a qualified engineer,
B.A preliminary geotechnical (“soils”) report prepared by a qualified engineer,
All grading shall conform to the recommendations contained in the Preliminary
Soils Report, and shall be certified as being adequate by a soils engineer, or by an
engineering geologist.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020-008
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFASTRUCTURE FOR AT&T
ADOPTED: October 27, 2020
Page 4 of 7
The applicant shall furnish security, in a form acceptable to the City, and in an
amount sufficient to guarantee compliance with the approved Fugitive Dust Control
Plan provisions as submitted with its application for a grading permit.
UTILITIES
14.The applicant shall comply with the provisions of LQMC Section 13.24.110
(Utilities).
15.The applicant shall obtain the approval of the City Engineer for the location of all
utility lines within any right-of-way, and all above-ground utility structures
including, but not limited to electric vaults, water valves, and telephone stands, to
ensure optimum placement for safety, practical and aesthetic purposes.
16.Underground utilities shall be installed prior to overlaying hardscape. For
installation of utilities in existing improved streets, the applicant shall comply with
trench restoration requirements as required by the City Engineer.
The applicant shall provide certified reports of all utility trench compaction for
approval by the City Engineer.
MAINTENANCE
17.The applicant shall protect existing hardscape along the proposed construction
area to include but not be limited to garden walls, landscaping, irrigation systems,
curb and gutter, sidewalk and pavement, and existing building structures.
Restoration to any damaged hardscape shall be to the satisfaction of the City of La
Quinta. Any disturbed areas including landscaping shall be replaced in-kind.
FEES AND DEPOSITS
18.The applicant shall comply with the provisions of LQMC Section 13.24.180 (Fees
and Deposits). These fees include all deposits and fees required by the City for
plan checking and construction inspection. Deposits and fee amounts shall be
those in effect when the applicant makes application for plan check and permits.
19.Permits issued under this approval shall be subject to the provisions of the
Development Impact Fee and Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee programs in
effect at the time of issuance of building permit(s).
PLANNING
20.The proposed telecommunication facility shall comply with all federal and state
statutes, including, but not limited to, FCC licensing, NIER levels, and FAA
requirements. No wireless telecommunication facility or combination of facilities
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020-008
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFASTRUCTURE FOR AT&T
ADOPTED: October 27, 2020
Page 5 of 7
shall produce, at any time; power densities that exceed current FCC adopted
standards for human exposure for RF (Radio Frequency Radiation Exposure
Standards) fields. Failure to comply with FCC Standards will result in the
immediate cessation of operation of the wireless telecommunication facility.
21.All wireless telecommunication facilities shall be installed and maintained in
compliance with the requirements of the Uniform Building Code, National Electrical
Code, the City’s noise ordinance, and other applicable codes, as well as other
restrictions specified in the permit and the La Quinta Municipal Code. The facility
operator and the property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the facility in
good condition, which shall include, but not be limited to, regular cleaning,
painting, and general upkeep and maintenance of the site consistent with the
facility’s original approval.
22.The panel antennas shall be mounted securely. All antennas and antenna arrays
shall be painted to blend into structure and be screened to the maximum extent
possible. The final design of the screening material shall be approved by the
Design and Department Director.
23.The proposed facility is approved within a building’s architectural feature, to be
expanded (cupola).
24.The cupola is approved at a maximum height of 55’, with the top of the panel
antennas approved at a height of 51’-9”.
25.The cupola’s materials shall be consistent with the existing cupola and consistent
and architecturally compatible with the rest of the building.
26.Antennas, equipment, and all ancillary components shall be stealth to the
maximum extent feasible.
27.The applicant shall negotiate in good faith for shared use by third parties; an
owner generally will negotiate in the order in which requests for information are
received, except an owner generally will negotiate with a party who has received
an FCC license or permit before doing so with other parties.
28.AT&T, or successor, shall have a continuing obligation to respond to and resolve
any and all complaints associated with any potential interference with frequencies
related to residential and/or life safety communications and operations. Response
shall be within 48 hours of receipt of notice of any such complaints.
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020-008
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFASTRUCTURE FOR AT&T
ADOPTED: October 27, 2020
Page 6 of 7
29.AT&T, or successor, shall provide the Planning Division with the name and contact
information of the maintenance representation who shall be available 24 hours a
day, seven days a week to receive calls regarding facility maintenance. Response
shall be within 48 hours of receipt of such notice of complaints.
30.The wireless telecommunication facility operators are required to notify the City of
La Quinta’s Planning Division within sixty (60) days of any change of ownership of
the facility.
31.This telecommunication facility is subject to a ten-year review by the Planning
Commission. The review will determine whether or not the originally approved
telecommunication facility and accessory equipment are still in compliance with the
conditions of approval, and that all radio frequencies are in compliance with FCC
OET Bulletin 65. This report shall be prepared by a qualified licensed engineer.
32.The entire facility shall be maintained in a condition consistent with the conditions
of this approval and, if the facility is not so maintained this approval is subject to
revocation or other correcting actions as determined appropriate by the City.
33.No cables, conduit or other equipment associated with the facility shall be visible.
All electrical work for the proposed antennas shall be contained within the cupola.
34.The entire facility shall be maintained in a condition consistent with the conditions
of this approval with no visible deterioration of the antennas or building it is within.
If the facility is not so maintained, this approval is subject to revocation or other
correcting actions as determined appropriate by the City.
FIRE
35.The fire access road shall extend to within 150-feet of all portions of the facility.
The road shall be maintained to be all-weather hard-surfaced and able to support
the weight of the fire apparatus. Minimum (90% compacted) 4-inch deep gravel
over compacted native base shall be considered as adequate. Existing approved
access points shall be identified.
36.Install a minimum size 2A10BC portable fire extinguisher located in the
extinguisher cabinet.
37.NFPA 704 placarding is required to be displayed on the exterior of the facility of the
specific hazard element. Ensure the correct NFPA hazard values are provided in
the required sections (for facilities with fuel-fired generators).
PLANNING COMMISSION RESOLUTION 2020-008
CONDITIONS OF APPROVAL - APPROVED
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT 2020-0003
APPLICANT: J5 INFASTRUCTURE FOR AT&T
ADOPTED: October 27, 2020
Page 7 of 7
38.Install an approved Knox Box on the exterior of the gate with a supply of tagged
access keys to be stored within the Knox Box.
39.Provide site addressing by means of 6” numbers and letters completing the entire
numeric and street name address. Characters shall be contrasting and
reflectorized.
40. Office of the Fire Marshal shall review the new installation construction documents
for compliance with these conditions along with applicable codes and standards.
41.Fuel storage for fuel-powered generators require separate and deferred submittal
to the Office of the Fire Marshall.
42.Electrical energy storage systems in quantities exceeding levels identified in CFC
Table 1206.2 require separate/deferred submittal to the Office of the Fire Marshal.
BUILDING
43.The proposed structure including miscellaneous site support facility construction will
require permitting based on the applicable code at time of submittal for
construction.
44.The applicant shall obtain facility addressing from the building division prior to
submittal of plans for construction permitting and electrical service from Imperial
Irrigation District.
45.The cable tray equipment shall be moved out of view from the public by
moving it further west, behind the cupola. This shall be reflected on final
building plans and confirmed during inspection(s).
46.The base of the cupola shall be smooth stucco all the way to its base. No
additional materials are approved to be installed on the base of the cupola.