TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS April 4, 2013 Staff Report to the Planning Commission

Transcription

1 ITEM3.3 TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS April 4, 2013 Staff Report to the Planning Commission SUBJECT: FROM: CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT RENEW AL AND MODIFICAITONS FOR AN EXISTING/ PREVIOUSLY APPROVED WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY. LANDS OF PURISSIMA HILLS WATER DISTRICT (APPLICANT: T-MOBILE); LA CRESTA ROAD; FILE # CUP Nicole Horvitz, Assistant PlannerlJ/j APPROVED: Debbie Pedro, AICP, Planning Director~~ RECOMMENDATION: That the Planning Commission: Forward a recommendation to the City Council that the Conditional Use Permit be extended for ten (10) years and approve the proposed modifications, subject to the amended Conditions of Approval in Attachment 1. BACKGROUND The proposed wireless communications facility is located on the 1.02 acre Purissima Hills Water District water tank property at La Cresta Drive. Surrounding uses include single family residences to the west, north, south, and east. On December 4, 1996 the City Council approved the installation of a PCS (now T-Mobile) wireless communications facilities on the Purissima Hills Water District property. Sprint Spectrum was approved on the site on May 1, Emergency Communication antennas forthe Emergency Communications Committee (ECC) were approved by the City Council on May 5, On December 2, 2010, the City Council approved a new wireless communications facility on the site for Clearwire Wireless. On December 3, 2012, T-Mobile submitted an application to renew their Conditional Use Permit in addition to modifications to the site. CODE REQUIREMENTS Wireless Communications facilities are regulated under Section (h) {2) and (1) of the Los Altos Hills Municipal Code. The project was reviewed for compliance with the requirements in the Wireless Communications Facilities Policy including: siting, collocation, screening, and color to ensure that the facility blends with the surrounding area. The Municipal Code also requires that all Conditional Use Permits must be reviewed by the Planning Commission and City Council.

2 Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Purissima Hills Water District April 4, 2013 Page 2 of5 DISCUSSION The current development on the site consists of two (2) water tanks for Purissima Hills Water District, monopoles with antennas for Sprint, Clearwire Wireless, and T-Mobile and associated ground equipment. There are also antennas for the Emergency Communication Committee <m the site. As part of this Use Permit renewal, the applicant is requesting to replace the existing ground equipment cabinet in the same location. No antenna modifications are proposed at this time. The ground equipment will be painted to blend in with the existing vegetation and will not be visible from off site. Pursuant to Government Code Section (b) the duration of time for any permit renewal for a wireless telecommunications facility shall be a minimum of 10 years. Staff has amended condition of approval # 2 in Attachment 1 to comply with State Law. Wireless Communications Facilities Policy The facility is consistent with the Town's Wireless Communications Facilities Policy. This is a non-residential site and the mature landscape helps shield the view of facility from residential properties in the vicinity of the site. CONCLUSION The facility is operating in compliance with conditions of the approved Conditional Use Permit and the Wireless Communications Facilities Policy. The applicant has submitted a radio frequency (RF) emissions report demonstrating that the facility will operate within federal RF emissions standards and guidelines (Attachment 3). Extension of the Use Permit will allow continued operation of the facility for an additional ten (10) years at which time subsequent Planning Commission/City Council review will be required. CEQASTATUS The proposed application is exempt from California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to Section 15301(a) of the CEQA Guidelines. ATTACHMENTS 1. Amended Conditions of Approval 2. Applicant's statement requesting CUP renewal and modification received December 6, Radio Frequency emissions report by Hammett & Edison, Inc. September 27, Photo Simulations 5. Wireless Communications Facilities Policy 6. Site Development Plans

3 Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Purissima Hills Water District Apri\4,2013 Page 3 of5 ATTACHMENT 1 ATTACHMENT 1 RECOMMEND CONDITIONS FOR A SITE DEVELOPMENT PERMIT AND CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT FOR A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITY LANDS PURISSIMA HILLS WATER DISTRICT CT-MOBILE) LA CREST A; FILE # CUP PLANNING DEPARTMENT: 1. Any changes or revisions to the telecommunications facility or its use shall require an amendment to the applicable conditional use permit(s). Additionally, the Planning Director may schedule a review or revocation hearing before the Planning Commission regarding the use permit, if any condition of approval is not being met or the facility is being used inconsistent with the approved use or in violation of Town development codes. 2. The use permit shall expire three (3) ten (10) years from the date of approval. Renewal of the permit must be requested in writing, with appropriate fees, prior to the expiration date. 3. The new monopoles and ground equipment shall be painted to blend with the surrounding vegetation, to the satisfaction of the Planning Director, prior to final inspection of the facility. 4. Landscape screening of the monopoles and of the equipment cabinets may be required by the Planning Director to be planted prior to final inspection, if determined to be necessary at that time. 5. Not later than thirty (3) days after installation and initial operation of the antenna facility, and on or prior to January 1st of each year thereafter, testing of radio frequency emissions shall be conducted by qualified professionals and the reports of such testing shall be provided in writing to the Planning Department, with comparison to applicable federal emission standards. If at any time the emission levels are shown not to comply with Federal standards, the use permit shall be scheduled for a revocation hearing before the Planning Commission. 6. The applicant shall submit a signed agreement to the Town, agreeing that, should the use be discontinued by the carrier, all facilities will be removed not later than 90 days after discontinuance of the use or abandonment. The agreement must be signed by the applicant and submitted to the Town prior to acceptance of plans for building plan check. 7. No lights shall be installed on the communications facility or on the ground equipment. 8. T-Mobile or the operator of the site shall be responsible for repair or repainting of the proposed facilities in case of vandalism or wear and must do so within 72 hours of notice by the Town that a complaint has been received.

4 Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Purissima Hills Water District April 4, 2013 Page 4 of5 9. The communications facility shall comply with the Town 's noise ordinance at all times. The applicant shall perform an acoustical analysis of the ground equipment in the equipment enclosure to demonstrate that noise emissions from the equipment is at or below 40db. A report prepared by an acoustical engineer shall be submitted to the Planning Department, prior to final inspection. 10. The applicant shall not cause radiation in the frequencies allocated as primary to the amateur radio service and may be required to correct any and all future interference problems experienced by other licensed services. ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT: 11. Any, and all, changes to the approved site plan shall first be approved by the Town Engineering Department. No grading shall take place during the grading moratorium (October 15 to April 15) except with prior approval from the City Engineer. No grading shall take place within ten feet of any property line. 12. The applicant shall inform the Town of any damage and shall repair any damage caused by the construction of the project to pathways, private driveways, and public and private roadways, prior to final inspection and shall provide the Town with photographs of the existing conditions of the roadways and pathways prior to start work. CONDITIONS NUMBERS 6 and 12 SHALL BE COMPLETED AND SIGNED OFF BY THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT AND THE ENGINEERING DEPARTMENT PRIOR TO ACCEPTANCE OF CONSTRUCTION PLANS FOR PLAN CHECK BY THE BUILDING DEPARTMENT. Please refer to the Conditions of Project Approval set forth herein. If you believe that these Conditions impose any fees, dedications, reservation or other exactions under the California Government Code Section 66000, you are hereby notified that these Conditions constitute written notice of a statement of the amount of such fees, and/or a description of the dedications, reservations, and other exactions. You are hereby further notified that the 90-day approval period in which you may protest such fees, dedications, reservations, and other exactions, pursuant to Government Code Section 66020(a), has begun. If you fail to file a protest within this 90-day period complying with all of the requirements of Section 66020, you will be legally barred from later challenging such exactions. The applicant shall defend, indemnify, and hold harmless the Town of Los Altos Hills and its agents, officers, and employees from any claim, action, or proceeding against the Town of Los Altos Hills or its agents, officers, or employees to attack, set aside, void, or annul an approval of the project to the extent such actions are brought within the time period required by Government Code Section or other applicable law; provided, however, that the Applicant's duty to so defend, indemnify, and hold harmless shall be subject to the Town's promptly notifying the Applicant of any said claim, action, or proceeding and the Town's full cooperation in the defense of such actions or proceedings.

5 Staff Report to the Planning Commission Lands of Purissima Hills Water District April 4, 2013 Page 5 of5 Upon completion of the construction, a final inspection shall be required to be set with the Planning and Engineering Departments two weeks prior to final building inspection approval. NOTE: The Site Development permit is valid for one year from the approval date. All required building permits must be obtained within that year and work on items not requiring a building permit shall be commenced within one year and completed within two years.

6 ( ATTACHMENT2 Project Description for T-Mobile Modernization Project Table of Contents Exhibit2 Exhibit 3 Exhibit 4 Exhibit 5 Exhibit 6 Exhibit 7 La Cresta Drive Los Altos Hill, CA APN: RECEIVED Exhibit 1 Project Summary; 14,.-"t'~'> ~~,... ~ \ C ~~,3 ~ 2012 Response to original Conditions of Approvat' ~ Letter of Owner Authorization Radio Frequency Compliance Report ( \) Color Photo Simulations of Antenna Fti<5iiity Specificatio7 Sheets for Equipment Site Plans l lo s~,,.") \Jr TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS Exhibit 8 kpplication FJ(.e,ty.lA~~1~, (2J S"'-s.o+... "'~l~~ 19t bt. \~) A'\ r:.ri-t-7 o"'-'~f">._ ~'.\-~~If\ ~~~. Exhib1tl (l) ~$.\,t"'1''"'.cr q_\l C\"'-t\~\\""-\.'-d S\.lre.~ w\+.l,, 3... ~ f' ~t 1'od Project Summary_(\) Uc.""" E"\\A\F ~~t-~.,,. Y (l) ~\!!M..\.~u..~t;t.'A..\.. l\)t\.'-~"""~ Pursuant to the Town of Los Altos Hill's Zoning Ordinance, T-Mobile is applying for a ConditionaI Use Permit and any and all other relief necessary to make certain modifications to the exi~ting.wireless Communications Facility located at La Crr.~ta Drive in Los Altos Hills, (;A which consists of an antenna support structure at a height of approximately 20 feet above.ground level, together with antennae and other ancillary and accessory facilities. The supporting transmitting and receiving "base station" equipment serving this facility is located in equipment cabinets on the ground near the antenna support structure. This proposed modification shall consist of replacing one grqund equipment cabinet with a new 6102 cabinet in its place. This new proposed cabinet is the same size and color as the one it will replace, majting any vis.ml changes to the site nonexistent. Coaxial cable connects each antenna array to the equipml(:q.t cabinets. The Wireless Communications Facility is situated in a permitted zone, thereby allowing it to satisfy th~ requirements of the Ordinance. The Property was initially selected based on its proxinlity and ability to serve Los Altos' business and residential comm.unities, recreational facilities aj:ld major roadways. The height of the e:xisting Wireless. Communication Facility is, in part, a function of the geographic area that it rieeds to serve, as affected. by the local topography, tree cover and other factors. The Wireless Communications FaciHty is unstaffed and requires only infrequent maintenance visits (approximately one time a month).. Access to the Wrreless Communication Facility is via the existing entryways to the property. The Wireless Communications Facility is lotfam within the leased parcel and is entirely selfmonitored by sophisticated computers that comfeet directly to a central office and i;i.lert personnel to equipment malfunction or breach of security. PCS technology does not interfere with radio, television or other communications signals. In fact, PCS technology provides vital communications in emergency situations and will be commonly us~d by local residents and emergency personnel to protect the general public's health, safety and Welfare. In fact, over one

7 r { half of all "911" and distress calls were placed on wireless phones in the United States during calendar year 2011 (source: CTIA webpage). The proposed modifications Wireless Communications Facility will be designed and constructed to meet applicable governmental and industry safety standards. Specifically, T-Mobile will comply with all FCC and FAA rules governing construction requirements, technical standards, interference protection, power and height limitations, and radio frequency standards. In addition, T-Mobile will comply with all applicable FAA rules on site location. Any and all RF emissions are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the FCC. T-Mobile expressly reserves all of its rights, including, those available to it under the Town of Los Altos Hills Municipal and Zoning Ordinances or any other state, and local or Federal law. Exhibit2 Response to Original Conditions of A.(!P-roval: Any changes or revisions to the telecommunications facility or its use shall require an amendment to the applicable conditionaluse permit. Additionally, the Planning Director may schedule a review or revocation hearing before the Planning Commission regarding the use permit, if any condition of approval is not being met or the facility is being used inconsistent with the approved use or in violation of Town development codes. T-Mobile is requesting a renewal to their existing Conditional Use Permit for their proposed changes at their site with the Town of Los Altos Hills. T-Mobile understands that the Planning Director may schedule a review or revocation hearing before the Planning Commission regarding the use permit, if any condition of approval is not being met or the facility is being used inconsistent with the approved use or in violation of Town development codes. The Use Permit shall expire ten years from the date of approval. Renewal for the permit must be requested in writing, with appropriate fees, prior to the expiration date. T-Mobile is requesting in writing and with appropriate fees to renew this permit for another ten years. The antenna mounts, panel antennas and equipment cabinet shall be painted to blend with the surrounding vegetation, to the satisfaction of the Planning Director, Prior to final inspection of the facility. T-Mobile's site is currently in compliance with the Town of Los Altos' Hills ordinance in regards to blending in with the surrounding vegetation. The new proposed modification will not affect the antennas or mounts, only the ground equipment cabinet, which will be the same size and color of the ground equipment cabinet currently installed at the site. I.and.scape screening of the Antenna Mounts and Equipment cabinet shall be painted to blend with the surrounding vegetation, to the satisfaction of the Planning Director, Prior to

8 ( firzal inspection of the facility. T-Mobile has maintained the landscaping that currently surrounds their site and will continue to do so. T-Mobile understands that additional plantings may be required by the Planning Director. The Applicant shall submit a signed agreement to the Town, agreeing that, should the use be discontinued by the carrier, all facilities will be removed not later than 90 days after discontinuance of the use or abandonment. The agreement shall be drafted by the City Attorney, and must be signed by the applicant and submitted to the Town prior to acceptance of plans for the building plan check. T-Mobile currently has a signed agreement on file with the Town agreeing that, should the use be discontinued by the carrier, all facilities will be removed not later than 90 days after discontinuance of the use or abandonment. Not later than 30 days after installation and initial operation of the antenna facility, and on or prior to January 1st of each year thereafter, testing of radio frequency emissions shall be conducted by qualified professionals and the reports of such testing shall be provided in writing to the Planning Department, with comparison of applicable Federal Emission Standards. If at any time the emission levels are shown not to comply with Federal Standards, the use permit shall be scheduled for a revocation hearing before the P Tanning Commission. T-Mobile has included a Radio Frequency Compliance Report attached to this application. T-Mobile also understands that they must provide another report 30 days after installation and on or prior to January 1st of each year thereafter. Any, and all, changes to the proposed Site Plan shall.first be approved by the Town Engineering Dept. T-Mobile is submitting this application to the Planning Department for initial approval. Upon planning approval, T-Mobile will submit for a Building Permit for full review by the Town Engineering Dept. Any, and all, areas on the project site that have the native material disturbed shall be protected for erosion control during the rainy season and shall be replanted prior to final inspection. T-Mobile is currently in compliance at their project site in regards to the non-disturbance of native material. This new proposed cabinet swap will not affect any native material and will fit into the exact location of the existing cabinet. No vegetation will be harmed in this procedure. T-Mobile understands that any erosion measures required by th~ Town of Los Altos Hills must be replanted prior to final inspection.

9 ~- ATTACHMENT 3 u C \\ i 10'\l FCC Radio Frequency Protection Guide TheAt,.fv!\~~GM\~\uired (1996 Telecom Act) the Federal Communications Commission ("FCC") 1~\'.\00pr~ nationwide human exposure standard to ensure that its licensees do not, cumulatively, have a significant impact on the environment. The FCC adopted the limits from Report No. 86, "Biological Effects and Exposure Criteria for Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields," published in 1986 by the Congressionally chartered National Council on Radiation Protection and Measurements ("NCRP"). Separate limits apply for occupational and public exposure conditions, with the latter limits- generally five times more restrictive. The more recent standard, developed by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and approved as American National Standard ANS.I/IEEE C95. l-2006, "Safety Levels with Respect to Human Exposure to Radio Frequency Electromagn_etic Fields~ 3 khz to 300 GHz," includes similar limits. These limits apply for continuous exposures from all sources and are intended to provide a prudent margin of safety for all persons, regardless of age, gender, size, or health. As shown in the table and chart below, separate limits apply for occupational and public exposure conditions, with the latter limits (in italics and/or dashed) up to five times more restrictive: Frequency Applicable Range (MHz) ;500 1, , Electromagnetic Fields (f is frequency of emission in MHz). Electric Magnetic Equivalent Far-Field Field Strength Field Strength Power Density (V/m) (Alm) (mw/cm 2 ) /f /f JBD!f 1842/f 823.8/f 4.89/f 2:19/f 9001f. -J~O!/, ( 3.54Vr l.59'l/ Vr/106 Vi121s f/300 j1~5do:. ' B :0. 1.0~. ---./ Occupational Exposure --.,/ PCS ', Ccll ' FM /~'-... Public Exposure _..., IO Frequency (MHz) Higher levels are allowed for short periods of time~ such that total exposure- levels averaged over six or thirty minutes, for occupational or public settings, respectively, do not exceed the limit~; and higher levels also are allowed for exposures to small areas, such that the spatially averaged levels -do. not exceed the limits. However, neither of these allowances is- incorporated in the conservative calculation formulas in the FCC Office of Engineering and Technology Bulletin No. 65 (August 1997) for projecting field levels. Hammett & Edison has built those formulas into a proprietary program that calculates, at each location on an arbitrary rectangular grid, the total expected power density from any number of individual radio sources. The program allows for the description of buildings and uneven terrain, if required to obtain more accurate projections. HAMMETT & EDISON,.. INC. -pee Guidelines Figure 1

10 T-Mobile West LLC Base Station No. SF04628A La Cresta Drive Los Altos Hills, California Statement of Hammett & Edison, Inc., Consulting Engineers The firm of Hammett & Edison, Inc., Consulting Engineers, has been retained by T-Mobile West LLC, a wireless telecommunications carrier, to evaluate its existing base station (Site No. SF04628A) located at La Cresta Drive in Los. Altos Hills, California, for compliance with appropriate guidelines limiting human exposure to radio frequency C'RF"} electromagnetic fields. Executive Summary T-Mobile had installed four directional panel antennas on tah steel poles near the municipal water tanks located at La Cresta Drive in Los Altos Hills. All exposure levels under the existing conditions for anyone in publicly accessible areas nearby, together with the operation of the other carriers at the site, were well below the federal standard. Prevailing Exposure Standards The U.S. Congress requires that the Federal Communications ComIDission ("FCC") evaluate its actions for possible significant impact on the environment. A summary of the FCC' s exposure limits is shown in Figure 1. These limits apply for continuous exposures and are intended to provide a prudent margin of safety for all persons, regardless of age, gender, size, or health. The most restrictive FCC limit for exposures of unlimited duration to radio frequency energy for several wireless services are as follows: Wireless Sen-ice Frequency Band Microwave (Point-to-Point) 5,000-80,000MHz BRS (Broadband Radio) 2,600 A WS (Advanced Wireless). 2,100 PCS (Personal Communication) 1,950 Cellular 870 SMR (Specialized Mobile Radio) MHz 700 [most restrictive frequency range] General Facility Requirements Occupational Limit 5.00mW/cm Public Limit 1.00mW/cm LOO Antennas for base station use are designed to concentrate their energy toward the horizon, with very little energy wasted toward the sky or the ground. Along with the low power of such facilities, this means that it is generally not possible for exposure conditions to approach the FCC limits without being physically very near the antennas. HAMMETT & EDISON, INC. CONSUt:l'ING ENGINEERS SAN FRANCJSCO Z7EB Page 1 of3

11 T-Mobile West LLC Base Station No. SF04628A La Cresta Drive Los Altos Hills, California Site Description The site at La Cresta Drive in Los Altos Hills was visited by Mr. Dhruva Dandekar, a qualified engineer employed by Hammett & Edison, Inc., during normal business hours on September 18, 2012, a non-holiday weekday. T-Mobile had installed four directional panel antennas on tall steel poles along the fence around the municipal water tanks located at that address. Access to the antennas was restricted by their mounting heights and location. Explanatory warning signs* had been posted on the access gate and on the poles below the antennas. Similar antennas were observed on nearby poles along and within the fence for use by Sprint Nextel and Verizon Wireless, other wireless telecommunications carriers. Measurement Results The measurement equipment used was a Wandel & Goltermann Type EMR-300 Radiation Meter with Type 18 Isotropic Electric Field Probe (Serial No. F-0034). The meter and probe were under current calibration by the manufacturer. The maximum observed power density level for a person at ground outside the fence was 0.18 mw/cm2, which is less than 38% of the applicable public limit. The maximum observed level inside the fence was 036 mw/cm2, which is less than 75% of the public limit. The three-dimensional perimeter of RF levels equal to the public exposure limit did not reach any publicly accessible areas. Conclusion Based on the information and analysis above, it is the undersigned"'s professional opinion that the T-Mobile West LLC base station located at La Cresta Drive in Los Altos Hills, California, as installed and operating at the time of the visit, complies with the FCC guidelines limiting public exposure to radio frequency energy and, therefore, does not for this reason cause a significant impact on the environment. * Warning signs complied with OET-65 color and symbol recommendations. Contact information was provided in English to arrange for access to restricted areas (the choice oflanguage(s) is not an engineering matter). ~. ;.... HAMMETT & EDISON, INC. CONSULTING ENGINEERS SAN l'llancisco Z7EB Page 2 of3

12 (, T-Mobile West LLC Base Station No. SF04628A La Cresta Drive Los Altos Hills, California Authorship The undersigned author of this statement is a qualified Professional Engineer, holding California Registration Nos. E and M-20676, which expire on June 30, This work has been carried out under his direction, and all statements are true and correct of his own knowledge except, where noted, when data has been supplied by others, which data he believes to be correct..~ WilliarnF. Ham, tt, P.E. 707/ September 27, 2012 HAM1\11ETT & EDISON, INC. CON5l'L'T1NG ENGINEERS Z7EB Page 3 of3

13 Existing A.~Y?D,0,?. ~.. m=c J ( r_'. r! l <H I i '::2 ~ I 2~~2 ~S l,' i T Mobile SF04628 La Cresta Drive La Cresta Drive, Los Altos Hills, CA

14 ATTACHMENT 5 TOWN OF LOS ALTOS HILLS Fremont Road Los Altos Hills, CA Phone: (650) Code Sections Wireless Communications Facilities Policy Amended 10/12/2006 Section (h)(2) of the Zoning Ordinance allows service uses, including "communications facilities", to be permitted in the Town if a Conditional Use Permit is granted by the Planning Commission and City Council. S~c~ion (1) of the Code:outlines findings which must be made to approve a use permit, including the proper location of the use or facility.relative to others ill the vicinity, 'the adequacy of the site to accommodate the use, and that the f~cility or use will not have an adverse effect on adjacent properties. Intent: The purpose of this policy is to outline the desired criteria for siting of wireless communications facilities, generally including monopoles, related antennas, and equipment shelters. As the Town's land use is virtually entirely residential, wireless communications facilities will :be most appropriately located on public or institutional sites existing w:ithin the ToWll. Colocation, location on or near existing buildings, and landscape screenmg will be desired to minimize the visual impacts of the fa.cilitfos qn neighbors and the public... ' ' Policy: 1. Priorities for siting - Wireless communication facilities shall generally be located on properties With priority as follows: a. Town-owned properties b. Foothill College c. 'Water tallks d. Other public or quasi-public facilities, such.as schools or churches e. Residential properties of at least ten (10) acres 2. Siting on residential parcels - Wireless communication facilities may be permitted on properties used for residential purposes or vacant parcels intended for residential property owner provides written consent and significant visual impacts are mitigated. 3. Colocation - Colocation of wireless comri:mnication facilities with other facilities is encouraged to the maximum extend feasible, as long as the colocation is technologically compatible and does not substantially increase visual impacts. The Town will generally require as a condition of approval for any conditional use permit that the applicant permit colocation of other facilities, subject to technological constraints and Town review.

15 Policy: Wireless Communication Facilities Page2 3a. Applications for colocation on an existing wireless communications facility shall be subject to an administrative review provided that the following requirement is met: The colocated antennas and ground equipment shall be mounted or installed within an existing tower, building, or structure where the physical appearance of the existing facility is not altered to accommodate the additional antennas and equipment. 4. Landscape screening and color - Landscape screening shall be required by the Town to minimize the visual impacts of wireless communication facilities. Poles, antennas, and equipment buildings should be painted to blend with the surrounding environment and/or buildings to further minimize visual impacts. 5. Environmental review - A Negative Declaration will typically be prepared for review of proposed wireless communication facilities, with special attention to the visual. impacts of the facilities. Categorical exemptions may be used where facilities are colocated with or would be minimal additions to existing structures, with negligible additional visual impact. 6. Antenna master plans - Any applicant for a wireless communication facility site shall submit applications, to the best of their knowledge, for all sites anticipated to be required by the carrier for a three (3) to five (5) year period, and the request shall be reviewed by the Planning Commission and the City Council as a master plan application. 7. Terms of permits and abandonment of sites - Conditional use permits for wireless communications facilities shall be established for periods not to exceed five. (5) years, at which time renewal of the permit must be requested by the applicant. More frequent review of the operation of the permit may be made a condition of approval. Approval will also require a written agreement from the applicant that, should the use be discontinued by the carrier, all facilities will be removed not later then ninety (90) days after. discontinuance of the use or abandonment. Such a provision shall also be included in any lease with the Town for use of Town lands for wireless communications facilities. The Town may require bonding pr other surety to assure the removal of such facilities. 8. Wireless communication firms shall, at the time of application for permits, demonstrate efforts which have been mad to inform neighboring residents of the proposed facilities, such as conducting meetings, or mailing fact sheets and/or letters, etc... to neighbors. 9. The Planning Director is authorized to reduce or waive permit fees for any wireless communications facility that is proven to expand wireless coverage in the Town and is structurally capable of colocation. 10. The Planning Director is authorized to administratively approve portable wireless communications facilities also known as cell on wheels or COWs on certain properties as specified in Policy #1 on a temporary basis.