Water tank to have 21 cell antennas

The County’s Planning Commission voted 6-0, with one member absent, to approve a Major Use Permit to construct and operate an unmanned wireless facility and equipment shelter on a water tank in the 2300 block of Aqua Hill Road.

The Planning Commission’s December 15 decision authorizes a facility consisting of 12 antennas to be mounted on the northern, western, and southern exteriors of the existing Fallbrook Public Utility District water tank. The antennas will not extend above the height of the existing structure and will be painted white to match the color of the water tank. The outdoor equipment cabinet, including a concrete masonry unit noise wall, will have dimensions of 13 feet four inches in length, 24 feet in width, and eight feet in height.

A Major Use Permit is required for a wireless facility in an agriculturally zoned area, but no preferred zones in the service area exist which can meet the coverage objective. Because the facility would be located on an existing structure, it is in a preferred location for non-preferred zones. Photo simulations indicate that the antennas, equipment shelter, and noise wall will not be visually obtrusive from surrounding properties.

The Major Use Permit given to Cingular Wireless also allows for co-location of wireless facilities. An existing Sprint Wireless facility with nine antennas already exists on the water tank. A total of 21 antennas will now be allowed. In February 2006 the Fallbrook Community Planning Group voted unanimously to recommend approval of the Cingular facility. Access to the site will utilize an existing private road easement from Aqua Hill Road to the water tank.

Conditions of the Major Use Permit include removing any graffiti within 48 hours of notification, keeping the site clean and free of litter, meeting the county’s noise ordinance on an average hourly basis, securing equipment cabinets and antenna structures to prevent unauthorized access, and allowing the county to inspect the property at least once every 12 months to determine compliance. A grading permit will be required if cut and fill of material would exceed 200 cubic yards, and stormwater permits may be enforced by the Regional Water Quality Control Board.