The City Council is scheduled to take the cell tower matter up at its regular meeting on October 2, 2017, at City Hall starting at 7:30 p.m.  A previously scheduled City Council public hearing had to be postponed when the applicant submitted revised plans after the public hearing notice had been posted and mailed to property owners and residents.

Latest documents provided by the Planning Department –

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications – Attachments A – H (35MB File)

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications – Attachment I (45MB File)

10/02/17 – Crown Castle Distributed Antenna System Applications – Attachments J-O

Crown Castle Wireless Distributed Antenna System – Application Documents

Click to view a map of the proposed locations. Application materials for each of the proposed installations are below:

1. 340 – 370 Highland Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

2. 505 Blair Avenue & 150 Highland Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

3. 799 Magnolia Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

4. 358 Hillside Avenue & 740 Magnolia Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

5. 303 Hillside Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

6. 428 El Cerrito Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

7. 355 Jerome Avenue & 352 Jerome Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

8. 1159 Winsor Avenue

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

9. 314 Wildwood Avenue & 100 Requa Road

• Revised Application & Revised Project Plans
• Original Application & Original Project Plans

Other Documents

• Descriptions of Proposed Sites with Height of Greater than 35 Feet
• Story Pole Certification
• June 7, 2017 Park Commission Agenda Report
• June 12, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Report – Item 4a
  • Attachment H – Coverage Map & Alternative Sites Analysis for the Proposed Installations
• June 12, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Report – Item 4b
  • Attachment H – Coverage Map & Alternative Sites Analysis for the Proposed Installations
• June 12, 2017 Planning Commission Agenda Report – Item 4c
  • Attachment H – Coverage Map & Alternative Sites Analysis for the Proposed Installations
• Transmittal Letter for Revised Application
• Coverage Report Dated August 3, 2017

Residents with questions regarding the application are welcome to contact Senior Planner Pierce Macdonald Powell via email or via telephone at (510) 420-3050.

See below for City Council contact numbers.

History:

Crown Castle NG West LLC filed applications in November 2016 for nine proposed Verizon distributed antenna system wireless communication facilities, located generally around Piedmont Park and Piedmont High School. Crown Castle NG West LLC is a company that builds wireless communication facilities and then leases them to wireless service providers, such as AT&T, T-Mobile, Sprint, and Verizon.

On June 7, 2017, the Park Commission reviewed the possible impacts to street trees. On June 12,2017, the Planning Commission reviewed the proposal and made recommendations to City Council on the design and location of each proposed wireless communications facility. Please see the Park Commission Agenda Report and the Planning Commission Agenda Reports in the documents list below.

On August 4, 2017, Crown Castle NG West resubmitted plans and application forms with project revisions. The proposed revised projects include five installations on existing utility poles, three installations on the tops of existing street light poles, and one installation on a new light within Piedmont Park at the Wildwood Avenue entrance. The applicants have proposed that ground equipment related to the pole top antennas be located in various locations, including inside cabinets shaped like mailboxes on the sidewalk, behind shrouds mounted on the poles and streetlights, and in underground vaults. On September 8, 2017, Crown Castle submitted revised plans which superceded those submitted in August. On September 8, 2017, Crown Castle withdrew the original designs filed in November 2016. The original designs are posted above for comparison.

Placement of wireless communication facilities is governed by state and federal law, including requiring cities to allow certain wireless communications facilities in the public right-of-way. Under the Federal Telecommunications Act, the federal government and FCC decide what is a safe level of EMF radiation. In addition, under these laws, cities cannot place conditions on, deny, or approve a proposed wireless facility based upon the health effects if the applicant demonstrates that the project meets federal safety requirements.

On May 2, 2017, Crown Castle constructed a mockup to represent a proposed light pole and wireless antenna near the Wildwood Ave. entrance to Piedmont Park. Residents are encouraged to visit the site and view the mockup in person. This mockup is also meant to represent the wireless antenna installations at eight additional sites located generally around Piedmont Park, Piedmont High School, and the surrounding neighborhoods.

Reference Documents

The American Planning Association offered a training on the basics of wireless communication facilities and recent case law on July 27, 2017. The training was recorded and is available at the following link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WsOnJyCxHI

On August 21, 2017, the City Council received a presentation from the Jonathan Kramer of the Telecom Law Firm, entitled “Wireless Technology and Regulatory Setting Update.” While not directly related to the Crown Castle Application, this presentation is posted here for reference purposes. Presentation from Telecom Law Firm to Piedmont City Council on August 21, 2017.

COMMUNICATION WITH CITY COUNCIL

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