Planning Commission approves T-Mobile site BSG plans appeal

After efforts to provide a design acceptable to the Bonsall Sponsor Group were unsuccessful, the county’s Planning Commission approved a Major Use Permit for a T-Mobile wireless communication facility in the 5200 block of San Jacinto Circle.

Either side can appeal a Major Use Permit decision to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors, and Bonsall Sponsor Group chair Margarette Morgan indicated that the Planning Commission’s May 2 approval would be appealed.

“We were hoping that the homeowner would go along with the idea of putting in a chimney,” said Morgan. “I would hope that we would have another concept come forward.”

The 1.14-acre property with a single-family residence has RR5 rural residential zoning, making it a non-preferred zone for telecommunication facilities. Although commercial and industrial zones are preferred over residential and agricultural zones, no other preferred zones will allow T-Mobile to meet its coverage objective.

The proposed 40-foot false broadleaf tree on the southeastern portion of the parcel would have 12 antennas mounted and would be accompanied by an equipment shelter surrounded by a block wall ten feet high with stucco finish and a roof membrane.

During the Planning Commission’s March 7 hearing, Morgan told the commissioners that the facility would interfere with the area’s blue sky, viewshed, and ridgeline ordinance. Morgan also mentioned the lack of a road maintenance agreement for the private road.

The Bonsall Sponsor Group originally voted to recommend approval of the wireless facility based on conditions including screening around the cabinets and existing pump shelter, widening and repairing the road, and the applicant’s commitment to a road maintenance agreement.

T-Mobile requires a height of 40 feet to reach a sufficient service area and explored a redesign. T-Mobile and property owner Nash Williams indicated that a chimney more than five feet in height would be unusual and conspicuous and determined that the broadleaf tree design would be retained.

In February 2007 the Bonsall Sponsor Group voted to recommend denial of the project, commenting that the antennas should be incorporated into the building design such as a chimney or siding panels and that all false trees should be removed from the plot plans.

In January 2008 the sponsor group once again voted to deny the project and addressed compliance with the community plan, the visual impact, and the lack of a road maintenance agreement.

The Bonsall Sponsor Group submitted a proposed wireless facility master plan to the county’s Department of Planning and Land Use in 2006, although the county has not taken action on adopting the plan. The blue sky policy is part of that master plan.

Although the continuance from the March 7 hearing was to explore a possible redesign, T-Mobile indicated that the broadleaf tree design was the best alternative due to roofline impediments for a false chimney design and the fact that the false chimney height required for sufficient coverage would create an even greater visual impact.

“T-Mobile feels that this design is the best application to meet the coverage in the area,” said T-Mobile representative Ted Marioncelli.

The Planning Commission voted 6-0, with Leon Brooks absent, to approve the Major Use Permit.