The Humboldt County Planning Commission postponed a decision Sept. 3 on AT&T Mobility’s proposed 89-foot wireless telecommunications facility in the McKinleyville area, continuing the hearing to a date uncertain. The action left New Cingular Wireless PCS LLC’s application for a conditional use permit, coastal development permit and special permit unresolved. (Planning Commission minutes)
The project is proposed at 3384 Lily Road, according to the county’s meeting materials. The county agenda describes an unmanned facility with a fenced lease area, AT&T antennas, an equipment shelter and a generator. Because the parcel is in the Coastal Zone and the proposal exceeds the applicable height limit, the application also requires the coastal-development and special permits.
During the hearing, commissioners said they wanted a more complete comparison between the proposed location and alternate sites, including comparable visual information and coverage maps. The discussion included a possible site on Letts Avenue, but commissioners said they lacked enough comparable information to weigh the sites’ visual, coverage, airport and neighborhood impacts. The applicant’s representative said AT&T preferred a continuance and was willing to provide additional information. (Meeting recording)
Residents spoke against the proposal during public comment, including concerns about its effect on the neighborhood. The commission did not set a new hearing date in the minutes. The next step is expected to be a revised site comparison and related materials before the application returns for consideration.
