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,-- the facility be set 300 feet back from the residential areas, although some of the wireless <br />providers lobbied to decrease that distance. Overall, the ordinance has worked well, and <br />of the 41 approved wireless facilities in Pleasanton; only one or two applications have <br />been appealed beyond the staff level. <br />Mr. Iserson detailed the more substantive changes: <br />1. Reducing the park buffer setback from 300 feet to 50 feet; <br />2. Allowing more antennas by different carriers to be located on or behind roof <br />screens of building; and <br />3. Eliminating the time frame established at five yeazs for review. <br />Mr. Iserson noted that if a facility were too close to a park, it would constitute an <br />attractive nuisance and create a hazard to children. Staff believed that because of the <br />security requirements and stealth design, it would be appropriate to reduce the setback to <br />the parks by the requested amount of 50 feet. Staff was not aware of any safety issues <br />with respect to wireless facilities and noted that the providers would be able to achieve <br />more coverage in the area. He noted that the roof-mounted antennas on parapets or <br />behind screen walls have not been a visual issue, and the other parts of the ordinance <br />encourage collocation by various providers. Although some of the carriers have <br />requested a reduction of the residential setback, staff would not propose that change. He <br />noted that was the most critical issue for the residents. Staff suggested that the required <br />five-year ordinance review be changed to address a technology change, as determined by <br />the Planning Director. <br />Staff believes that the proposal is acceptable and proposes to keep most of the ordinance <br />intact. The major issue of the residential setback will remain at 300 feet, and no wireless <br />facilities will be allowed in parks. Staff recommends approval of this Code amendment <br />to City Council as shown in Exhibit A. <br />Commissioner Sullivan noted that each company operates its own antenna and inquired <br />whether they could be operated from a common antenna. Mr. Iserson did not believe that <br />could be done due to different technologies but that collocation would be the best <br />solution. <br />In response to an inquiry by Commissioner Fox whether the residents within 300 feet of <br />the parks were noticed, Mr. Iserson noted that they were not. In a response to an inquiry <br />as to whether the Parks and Recreation Commission had agreed to reduce the park buffer <br />from 100 to 50 feet, Mr. Iserson noted that this issue had not been presented to the Parks <br />and Recreation Commission. <br />THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED. <br />Joe Wolfe, 2253 Tanager Drive, noted that his cell phone reception in his house is <br />extremely poor, although he is within a mile of the headquarters of Cingulaz Wireless. <br />He would welcome additional antennas to improve his service. <br />PLANNING COMMISSION MINUTES July 14, 2004 Page 13 of 25 <br />