News - Local - North Coast

Sunday, Jun. 08, 2008

Board to hear cell site appeal

Verizon may withdraw its application to build antennae on protected open space in Cambria

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A pair of cell towers proposed for the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve in Cambria could be located elsewhere in Cambria, according to a report made to North Coast advisers.

The North Coast Advisory Council voted unanimously May 21 to recommend that county planners consider using two or more sites for Cambria cell phone towers, rather than the environmentally sensitive ranch site 1,000 feet west of Highway 1 and 3,000 feet south of Huntington Road.

The detailed study presented to the council said using multiple sites and abandoning the ranch plan might result in “much less resistance from the community.”

Several communications firms have championed the Fiscalini project during the past few years, and the project is up for another hearing before county supervisors Tuesday.

The county Planning Commission approved project plans on a 3-2 vote in September. Greenspace—The Cambria Land Trust, and Land- Watch San Luis Obispo County appealed that approval to the supervisors.

Project backers say the facilities are sorely needed to improve cell phone reception in Cambria.

Verizon Wireless took over in February from Sprint-Nextel. But now there are indica-

tions that Verizon may withdraw the embattled project application. Representatives for the communications firm told county planner Airlin Singewald that’s the plan.

Calls this week to Verizon representatives were not returned.

Without a withdrawal request in hand, county staff is recommending that supervisors deny the appeal and allow the project to go forward — though it’s nearly certain an appeal would also be taken to the state Coastal Commission.

Opponents say the community- owned, protected open space of Fiscalini Ranch Preserve shouldn’t be sullied by commercial development that would include 60-and 65-foot towers disguised as pine trees and five 160-square-foot storage sheds, surrounded by federally mandated fencing.

Project supporters say the site near the ranch’s hilltop tree line would provide the best service for emergency crews and connection-starved cell phone users alike. The project is not supposed to be visible from public roads or trails, and no exterior lighting would be allowed.

The North Coast Advisory Council called for consideration of alternative sites at 3940 Grove St.; Community Presbyterian Church on Yorkshire Drive; Cambria Fire Department’s Bur-ton Drive fire station; Santa Rosa Catholic Church on Main Street (where a cell antenna is in place); on the building housing Artifacts Fine Art Gallery at 775 Main St.; and at water tank sites on Stuart Street and elsewhere on the Fiscalini Ranch Preserve.

Most of those sites are near some residential neighborhoods, locations that also can generate opposition.

The California Coastal Commission has twice unanimously opposed the concept of cell towers on Fiscalini Ranch Preserve. The commission gave the county until January 2009 to make a decision about the cell tower project based on planning standards in place when the project application was submitted.

Use of the proposed cell tower site for communications facilities is prohibited under revised planning standards.