Planning Commission — Monday, November 17, 2025

The applicant is proposing a Major Use Permit (PL-25-60/ UP 24-03) to construct a new 150' tall lattice wireless communication tower, including three (3) sectors of three (3) antennas each, totaling nine (9) panel antennas along with nine (9) remote radio units (RRU) mounted below/adjacent to the antennas. The proposed facility would be designed as a one hundred fifty-foot (150') lattice tower with antennas at a tip height of 124 feet. Associated equipment cabinets would be placed at the base of the tower within a new eight-foot chain-link fence enclosure occupying a 30 ft x 30 ft (900 square feet) area (referred to as the lease area). The purpose of the new tower is to bridge the gap in a "dead zone" from Lake County to Williams, along the Interstate 5 (I-5) corridor. Site Plans are included in Attachment 1, while Photo Simulations and Coverage Maps are included in Attachment 2.

Staff recommends the Planning Commission take the following actions: A. Adopt Initial Study (IS 24-03/ PL-25-60) for Major Use Permit (UP 24-03/ PL-25-60) with the following findings: 1. Potential impacts to Aesthetics can be mitigated to 'less than significant' levels with the inclusion of mitigation measure AES-1 through AES-3. 2. Potential impacts to Air Quality can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures AQ-1 and AQ-2. 3. Potential environmental impacts related to Biological Resources can be mitigated to less than significant with the inclusion of mitigation measure BIO-1 through BIO-4. 4. Potential environmental impacts related to Cultural Resources can be mitigated to less than significant levels by mitigation measures CUL-1 through CUL-3. 5. Potential impacts to Geology and Soils resources can be mitigated to less than significant levels through mitigation measures GEO-1 through GEO-2, and BIO-1. 6. Potential to impacts to Hazards and Hazardous Materials can be mitigated to less than significant levels through mitigation measures HAZ-1 and HAZ-2. 7. Potential impacts to Hydrology and Water resources can be mitigated to less than significant levels through mitigation measures GEO-1 through GEO-3, HAZ-1, and HAZ-2. 8. Potential environmental impacts related to Tribal Cultural Resources can be mitigated to less than significant levels by mitigation measures TCR-1 through TCR-3. 9. Potential environmental impacts related to Wildfire can be mitigated to less than significant levels with the inclusion of mitigation measures WILD-1 and WILD-2. 10. This project is consistent with land uses in the vicinity. 11. This project is consistent with the Lake County General Plan, Shoreline Communities Area Plan and Lake County Zoning Ordinance. B. Approve Major Use Permit (UP 24-03/ PL-25-60) with the following findings: 1. That the establishment, maintenance, or operation of the use applied for will not under the circumstances of the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety, morals, comfort and general welfare of the persons residing or working in the neighborhood of such proposed use or be detrimental to property and improvements in the neighborhood or the general welfare of the County. 2. That the site for the project is adequate in size, shape, location, and physical characteristics to accommodate the type of use and level of development proposed. 3. That the streets, highways and pedestrian facilities are reasonably adequate to safely accommodate the specific proposed use with mitigation measure added. 4. That there are adequate public or private services, including but not limited to fire protection, water supply, sewage disposal, and police protection to serve the project. 5. That the project is in conformance with the applicable provisions and policies of this Code, the Lake County General Plan, the Shoreline Communities Area Plan and the Lake County Zoning Ordinance. 6. That no violation of Chapters 5, 17, 21, 23 or 26 of the Lake County Code currently exists on the property, unless the purpose of the permit is to correct the violation, or the permit relates to a portion of the property which is sufficiently separate and apart from the portion of the property in violation so as not to be affected by the violation from a public health, safety or general welfare basis. 7. That the project meets all requirements found within Articles 7, 27, 41, 51.4 and 71, and complies with all applicable Plans adopted by Lake County.

Consideration of proposed Major Use Permit and Categorical Exemption (PL-25-15), for The Derna Group, for an existing 35-foot-tall lattice style wireless communication tower with existing equipment as tall as 55 feet. The proposed equipment is being requested to be installed below the 35-foot height of the lattice tower within the leased area containing a 35-foot by 40-foot support equipment building. The project site is enclosed by an approximately 8-foot-tall chain-link fence. Construction is expected to last up to three months, occurring Monday through Saturday from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. The proposed project involves co-locating wireless communication equipment and includes necessary site work to establish equipment as outlined in the provided plans, re-establish PG&E power, and improve the building to support operations. This project minimizes environmental impacts by utilizing an existing structure, thereby avoiding the need for a new tower in a previously undisturbed location. Approval of this Major Use Permit will allow the facility to operate as a wireless communication hub, improving cellular service to address coverage gaps between Clearlake Oaks and Williams.

A. Adopt Categorical Exemption (PL-25-15) with the following findings: 1. This project will not result in significant environmental impacts as the proposed use involves existing buildings that have historically been used for communications, and no new development is proposed. 2. Any changes to the project will require either an amended Use Permit and/or a new Use Permit unless the Community Development Director determines that any changes have no potential increased environmental impacts. B. Approve Major Use Permit (PL-25-15) with the following findings: 1. That the establishment, maintenance, or operation of the use applied for with the change to the license type described herein will not under the circumstances of the particular case, be detrimental to the health, safety, morals, comfort and general welfare of the persons residing or working in the neighborhood of such proposed use, or be detrimental to property and improvements in the neighborhood or the general welfare of the County. 2. The site is adequate in size, shape, locations, and physical characteristics to accommodate the type of use and level of development proposed. 3. The streets, highways and pedestrian facilities can be mitigated to be reasonably adequate to safely accommodate the proposed use. 4. There are adequate public or private services, including but not limited to fire protection, water supply, sewage disposal, and police protection to serve the project. 5. That the project is in conformance with the applicable provisions and policies of this Code, the General Plan and the Shoreline Area Plan. 6. That no violation of Chapters 5, 17, 21, 23 or 26 of the Lake County Code currently exists on the property.