Half Moon Bay Planning Commission Meeting - February 17, 2023
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Half Moon Bay Planning Commission Meeting - February 17, 2023
The Half Moon Bay Planning Commission held a public hearing on February 17, 2023, primarily to consider AT&T's proposal to replace an existing 50-foot metal cellular tower with a 75-foot monopine tower at the Half Moon Bay High School. The Commission also approved meeting minutes, elected new officers, and heard a Director's Report on the community's response to the January 23 farmworker shooting.
Consent Calendar
- Unanimously approved the December 13, 2022 meeting minutes.
- Unanimously elected Rick Hernandez as Chair and Margaret Gossett as Vice Chair for the coming year.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Former Commissioner Jimmy Benjamin spoke in public comment, sharing updates on California red-legged frog egg masses found at a Caltrans mitigation wetland and expressing appreciation for the Commission's work.
Discussion Items
- AT&T Wireless Cell Antenna at Half Moon Bay High School (PDP-22-068): The project involves a Coastal Development Permit, Use Permit, Design Review, and Height Variance to replace a 50-foot metal tower with a 75-foot monopine tower located farther from residential neighbors and classroom buildings. Key points:
- The existing tower is on the northeast corner of the football field; the proposed site is approximately 1400 feet from Highway 1, outside the 200-yard visual corridor.
- The monopine design is intended to blend with surrounding mature pine trees (70+ feet tall). Visual simulations showed minimal impact.
- The height variance request (25 feet above the 50-foot zoning limit) was justified by the need to accommodate potential co-location of other carriers (e.g., Dish Wireless) and improve coverage for emergency FirstNet services.
- Staff recommended approval. Public comments received during the process were generally supportive of the relocation and monopine design.
- Commissioners questioned the benefit of the extra height, noting that coverage maps showed only marginal improvement from 50 to 75 feet, but the ability to co-locate was a significant public benefit. Commissioner Hazel Joanes emphasized the importance for first responders.
- The project also includes standard conditions for nesting bird surveys and tree protection.
Key Outcomes
- Vote: The Commission unanimously approved (5-0) the project as submitted, including the 75-foot height variance, based on findings in the staff resolution.
- Staff Updates: Director Jill shared information on the City's efforts to rehouse displaced farmworkers from the January 23 tragedy, upcoming budget listening sessions, and the transition back to in-person hybrid meetings starting March 2023.
- Commission Communications: Commissioners thanked staff for their work on the emergency response and welcomed Commissioner Joanes.
- Meeting Adjourned after a moment of remembrance for the shooting victims.
Meeting Transcript
Okay. All right. Merlene's with the um city attorney's office. So she's joining us in here just so you see a new face. Okay. I will get started on the Plum the pre-meeting if so. Okay. Well, good evening and welcome to our regularly scheduled um Halfway May Planning Commission of Tuesday, February 14th. Happy Valentine's to everyone. We have a couple of things and items to go over before we officially get started this evening. This meeting is live on Comcast Local Channel 27, as well as on the Pacific Coast TV's website link. We have several people in attendance. We welcome that. And um this evening, and everyone in attendance does have the opportunity to speak. Um a review for the attendees. The planning commission chair will open and allow a general public comment prior to the specific items that are on the agenda as public comment. Um during those times, those who would like to speak will be recognized by raising your virtual hand icon. And I will assist with public comment to allow each person to speak. If you are dialing in by a telephone only, you can push star six to mute and unmute and star nine to raise and unraise your hand. Otherwise, computers, tablets, and iPhones will have the icon feature, and you can press that and raise your virtual hand. A three minutes will be given to those who would like to comment, and the timer will show up on the screen. We do have now Spanish translation. Um, and this is provided for this meeting this evening as well. Um, we thank you for your continued patience during our three years of remote meetings. Um, in case anyone um from the public wasn't aware, we are moving towards um our planning commission meetings and city council meetings will be going back to in person come come March of this year, and it'll be a hybrid hybrid format. Um, I will now hand it over to Chair Gorn to officially begin this evening's meeting. Thank you. Welcome to the February 14th, 2023 meeting of the Happen Bay Planning Commission, our last virtual meeting for a while. Um we can start off uh Pledge of Allegiance, please. You can join me in the plan. Pledge allegiance. Pledge allegiance to the flag the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands. One nation is a visible for liberty and justice for all. And Bridget, if we can get a roll call. Um yes, um Commissioner Jonas. She hasn't been turning yet. Present. Commissioner Redick. I'm here. Commissioner Gossett. Here. Vice Chair Hernandez. I'm present. And Chair Gorn. I'm here. All commissioners are present. And just for the record, Commissioner Jonas has been um sworn in um a couple of weeks ago by um Director Equis and staff. Thank you. Um so before we get started, we have a um little space here for public comment for anyone out in the audience who wants to comment on anything that is not on our agenda tonight. So um, if you do, it would be time to raise your hand.
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