PC22-574RESOLUTION PC 22-574
A RESOLUTION OF THE PLANNING COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MENIFEE, CALIFORNIA APPROVING CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT
NO. PLN21-0326 VALLEY CHURCH OF CHRIST WIRELESS
COMMUNICATION FACILITY LOCATED SOUTH OF SUN CITY
BOULEVARD, NORTH OF POTOMAC DRIVE, EAST OF MURRIETA
ROAD AND WEST OF BRADLEY ROAD AT 29035 DEL MONTE
DRIVE, CITY OF MENIFEE (APN 338-024-032)
WHEREAS, on November 1, 2021, AT&T Wireless applied to the City of Menifee
for the approval of a Conditional Use Permit for the construction of a concealed wireless
communications facility consisting of a 60-foot-high mono-broadleaf structure and a 900
square foot (30’X30’) CMU block enclosure at 29035 Del Monte Drive; and
WHEREAS, on November 9, 2022, the Planning Commission of the City of
Menifee held a public hearing on Conditional Use Permit No. PLN21-0326, considered
all public testimony as well as materials in the staff report and accompanying
documents, which a hearing was publicly noticed by a publication in the Press
Enterprise, a newspaper of general circulation, an agenda posting, on-site posting, and
notice to property owners within 300 feet of the project boundaries, and to persons
requesting public notice; and,
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that the Planning Commission of the
City of Menifee make the following Findings:
Section 1:Consistency with the General Plan. The proposed design and location of the
conditional use is consistent with the adopted General Plan and any
applicable specific plan:
Consistency with General Plan
The General Plan land use designation for the subject parcel and the
adjacent parcels is 2.1-5 du/ac Residential (2.1-5R). The intent of this land
use designation is for single-family detached and attached residences with a
density range of 2 to 5 dwelling units per acre, as well as supporting uses.
However, the project site has an existing church facility.
The proposed construction and operation of an unmanned wireless
communication facility is allowed within a residential zone on properties that
do not contain a residential use when concealed or disguised per the city’s
wireless communications facilities code section to the satisfactory of the
Community Development Director. The property currently contains no
residential use, and because the property does not contain a residential use
and the facility will be disguised, it is an allowed use with approval of a
Conditional Use Permit at the Planning Commission level.
The project proposes a 60-foot-tall mono-broadleaf wireless communication
facility and 900 square foot (30’x30’) equipment enclosure comprised of a
10.75-foot-tall split-face block wall. The proposed construction and operation
of the unmanned telecommunications facility is consistent with the existing
General Plan land use designation of 2.1-5R as said use is intended to
support the surrounding residential land uses.
PLN21-0326 - Valley Church of Christ Wireless Communications Facility
November 9, 2022
In addition, the project is consistent with the following City of Menifee
General Plan policies:
Goal: LU-3: A full range of public utilities and related services that provide
for the immediate and long term needs of the community.
•LU-3.1 – Work with utility providers in the planning, designing, and siting
of distribution and support facilities to comply with the standards of the
General Plan and Development Code.
The proposed project has been designed and sited to comply with the
development standards of the municipal code and General Plan guidelines.
•LU-3.2 – Work with utility providers to increase service capacity as
demand increases.
The propagation maps for the project demonstrated that implementation of
the proposed wireless communication facility will fill the void in existing
service coverage. Therefore, the wireless facility will provide an increase in
coverage where lacking and will support growing demand.
•CD-3.3 – Minimize visual impacts of public and private facilities and
support structures through sensitive site design and construction. This
includes, but not limited to: appropriate placement of facilities;
undergrounding, where possible; and aesthetic design (e.g., cell tower
stealthing).
The applicant has worked with staff to find the least intrusive location on-site
(and off-site) for the construction of the wireless communication facility. The
proposed “faux” tree is a mono-broadleaf which is generally indigenous to
the area. Furthermore, the applicant is proposing three 24” box Pinus
Canariensis (Canary Island Pines) and three 15-gallon Eucalyptus (Red-
capped Gum) along with several 5-gallon shrubs and climbing vines to
conceal the wall from adjacent properties and the right-of-way. The
proposed equipment enclosure will be consistent in color and material to the
existing stealth wireless communication bell tower consisting of a similar
decorative wall cap/copping and stone wainscotting.
Consistency with the Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan (MSHCP)
The City of Menifee has two active conservation plans within the City’s
boundary, the Western Riverside County MSHCP, and the Stephens’
Kangaroo Rat Habitat Conservation Plan (SKR-HCP). The subject site is
within the jurisdiction of the SKR-HCP and the Western Riverside County
MSHCP. The SKR mitigation fee was paid for the entire site in 2016 when
the existing stealth wireless communications facility was constructed. The
proposed project is located within the boundaries of the Western Riverside
County Multiple Species Habitat Conservation Plan; however, the project is
not located with a Criteria Cell or Cell Group. The project is subject to
payment of the MSHCP mitigation fee as determined by the Regional
Conservation Authority based on the project area. Therefore, the project
PLN21-0326 - Valley Church of Christ Wireless Communications Facility
November 9, 2022
would not conflict with the provisions of the adopted HCP, Natural
Conservation Community Plan, or other approved local, regional, or State
conservation plan and the impact is considered less than significant.
Therefore, the project is consistent with the General Plan, and applicable
General Plan objectives, policies, and programs.
Section 2: Consistency with the Zoning Code.
The zoning of the site is LDR-2 (Low Density Residential). According to
Table 9.130.030-1, wireless communication facilities may be allowed within
the LDR-2 Zone with the approval of a Conditional Use Permit and subject to
the wireless communication facility requirements set forth in Chapter 9.295 –
Special Use Standards - Wireless Communication Facilities. The approval of
a Major Conditional Use Permit under the zoning code requires Planning
Commission approval. The surrounding zoning classifications are the same
as the subject site under the current zoning code (LDR-2).
Wireless communication facilities are not allowed in residential zones when
a residence exists on-site, however, they may be permitted on properties
containing churches or other non-residential uses when concealed and
disguised to the satisfaction of the Community Development Director.
Furthermore, wireless communication facilities must be located so as to
avoid precluding the future development of the property, as was the case in
choosing the location of the proposed wireless facility for this project.
The project proposes a 60-foot-tall mono-broadleaf wireless communication
facility and 900 square foot (30’x30’) equipment enclosure comprised of a
10.75-foot-tall split-face block wall. The project meets/exceeds the minimum
development standards of the LDR-2 Zone (Chapter 9.135), including but
not limited to, minimum setbacks, maximum height, and lot coverage.
Furthermore, the proposed wireless communication facility is consistent with
the development standards of Chapter 9.295 – “Wireless Communication
Facilities,” including, but not limited to, siting, height limitations,
stealth/concealment, and landscape screening.
The facility has strategically been placed in an area of the site to limit the
impacts to the surrounding neighbors. The proposed design and
landscaping of the facility will enhance the area. Therefore, the project
would not create conditions materially detrimental to the public health, safety
and general welfare or injurious to or incompatible with other properties or
land uses in the project vicinity.
Section 3: Compliance with CEQA. Processing and approval of the permit application
are in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental
Quality Act.
The proposed project has been determined to be Categorically Exempt
under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) and CEQA
Guidelines, Section 15303 (“New Construction or Conversion of Small
Structures”). This section consists of construction and location of limited
numbers of new, small facilities or structures; installation of small new