Santa Rosa Planning Commission Meeting - December 14, 2023: Verizon Tower Postponed
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Santa Rosa Planning Commission Meeting - December 14, 2023
On December 14, 2023, the Santa Rosa Planning Commission held a regular meeting. The primary action was postponing the public hearing for a proposed Verizon wireless telecommunication tower at 244 Colgan Avenue to January 11, 2024, at the applicant's request. The commission heard extensive public testimony opposing the project before the postponement. The meeting also included a brief department report on staffing changes.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Carmen Gonzalez thanked the applicant for extending the hearing to January 11 and requested a similar postponement for a December 21 Design Review Board meeting.
- Richard Boyd (retired physics professor) opposed the Colgan Avenue location, criticizing FCC radio frequency radiation limits as inadequate for long-term exposure and citing potential health risks. He urged the commission to return the proposal without suggestion.
- Paul Andre Shabrak cited a zoning ordinance prohibiting commercial telecommunications facilities in high-density residential zones and raised safety concerns about fall zones, electrical code compliance, and FHA loan restrictions. He argued that a service coverage gap had not been properly demonstrated.
- Michelle Messino de Luca (Vintage Park resident) noted the tower would be less than 500 feet from her 120-unit senior apartment complex, expressing concern for vulnerable residents with health conditions. She stated four other neighbors had COVID and could not attend.
- Melody Stewart (urban planning master's degree, resident across from the site) opposed the location, stating that Verizon coverage already exists and that the process lacked adequate public notification. She noted the property owner was unaware of the tower's impact.
- Kim Schroeder (Santa Rosa native) argued that Verizon has not proven a coverage gap, presented evidence of health risks from wireless radiation, and cited a 2021 DC Circuit Court ruling that FCC safety limits are outdated. She urged the commission to demand a service gap demonstration.
- Unidentified speaker noted the proposed tower lies within a cluster of four other cells, questioned the need, and raised concerns about emissions exceeding safe standards, noise from a 30 kW generator, and inappropriate height (69 feet) and design. He criticized the notification timing (during Thanksgiving week) as cynical.
- Sydney Cox (co-director of EMF Safety Network, Safe Tech for Santa Rosa) submitted an eight-page report citing personal harm from RFR, microplastic toxins from fake pine needles, and RFR levels exceeding permissible exposure even with mitigation. She noted no detailed fire safety report and potential for future co-location. She argued Verizon has 40 telecom sites in Santa Rosa, so a coverage gap is unlikely.
- Jennifer Laporta (retired registered environmental health specialist, Safe Tech for Santa Rosa) stated there is no gap in service for Verizon and that the towers are for streaming, not essential services. She claimed firefighters are exempt from having towers at stations due to cognitive impairment risks. She compared the issue to tobacco and called EMFs a pollution.
- Marty Granucci (Vintage Park senior apartment resident) strongly objected to the tower location, noting it is about 50 feet from the apartment complex and would affect thousands. He referenced advertising for 10G and cited potential harm from complex RF radiation.
- Ed Nessinger (property owner at 244 Colgan Avenue) defended the project, questioning the public's willingness to give up modern conveniences like cell phones, Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth. He challenged opponents to turn off their phones, but his comments were cut short by the chair.
Discussion Items
- Postponement Request: Chair Weeks announced that the applicant requested postponement of Item 9.1 (Verizon tower) to January 11, 2024. Staff clarified that the Design Review Board meeting on December 21 would similarly be continued to January 18, 2024, with opportunity for public comment on non-agenda items.
- Commissioner Reports: No reports.
- Department Report: Planning Director Ms. Jones noted the December 28 meeting is canceled. She announced recent staff departures: Amy Lyle, Beatrice Guerrero, and Sherry Meads, with a recruitment for a planner upcoming.
Key Outcomes
- Motion to Continue: Commissioner Duggan moved to continue Item 9.1 (Verizon wireless telecommunication tower conditional use permit) to a date certain of January 11, 2024. Commissioner Sisko seconded. The motion passed unanimously (6-0, with Commissioner Peterson absent).
- Next Steps: The public hearing on the tower will occur on January 11, 2024. The Design Review Board item is continued to January 18, 2024. No additional notices will be sent because continuances are to date certain.
Meeting Transcript
So it's just uh uh we supposed to check in there's no way to check announce it and then we line up that's the current I heard from staff. Oh, really? Okay. All right, is that Sydney over there? Yes, uh I don't I can't see I don't know. From here. Thank you very much. Um with that, um, I will it's since it is four thirty. Um I will call to order the December fourteenth, twenty twenty-three meeting of the planning commission and ask the recording secretary for roll call. Commissioner Carter. Commissioner Sisko. Here. Commissioner Holton. Here. Commissioner Peterson is absent. Commissioner Sanders. Present. Vice Chair Duggan. Here. Chair Weeks. Here. Let the record reflect that all commissioners are present with the exception of Commissioner Peterson. Thank you. And uh before we start, I want to let everyone know that we are postponing item nine point one to January eleventh at the request of the applicant. If you are here to speak on that item, you may do so under our next item, or second to the next item, uh, which is public comment. So with that, um, we will we have no minutes for approval. So we'll move on to public comment. If you have a comment to make please go to one of the podiums and state your name for the record, and you'll have three minutes. And there is a button on the side of the podium if you want to either lower it or raise it. Thank you. Can you hear me? Uh yes, and please state your name for the record. Carmen Gonzalez. I'll be very brief. Uh I thank the applicant actually for extending the the hearing date to January 11th. I would ask that the same be done. I know you don't have authority for this, but there's an upcoming design review board meeting set for December 21st at 4 30 in these chambers, and I would hope that they do the same. Thank you. Thank you. Anyone else who wants to speak? Um, and once again, this would be your chance to make comments on the item that is being postponed until January 11th. So you can make your way to either of the podiums. Um east, west, right, left, whichever. Is this on? Can you hear me? Yes, you can hear me. Uh okay. Yes. Uh good afternoon. My name is Richard Boyd.
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