2020-09-21 Leeward Exh B (USE 20-000083)

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As a, as the Chair said, this is a Use Permit application. The subject property is located in the South Kona district of Hawaii Island, more specifically, in the Kealakekua area. The parcel is 3.585 acres, and it's outlined here in red. For reference, we've got Hawaii Belt Road running north-south through the slide, and Nani Kupuna Place up here, this red line, and the property takes access from a 40-foot wide access easement across the intervening property to the subject property. The applicant is requesting a Use Permit to replace an existing 326-foot tall telecommunications tower with a new, non-manned telecommunication facility consisting of a self-supporting galvanized steel lattice structure situated approximately 30 feet to the northwest of the existing tower—sorry. Service providers on the existing tower, T-Mobile, Verizon Wireless, and Pacific Radio Group, will relocate to the new tower with the following components: First, T-Mobile consisting of three sectors with two antennas per sector for a total of six antennas, and nine remote radio units; and, second, Verizon Wireless consisting of nine antennas and 12 remote radio units. In addition to the tower and antennas, the 2,025-square foot, 45-foot by 45-foot project area, will be used for accessory ground facilities, including a new equipment cabinet shelter on an existing eight-foot by 16-foot concrete pad. The project area will be enclosed with an eight-foot high chain link fence with three strands of barbed wire at the top and a 12-foot wide locked access gate. I just want to point out that this is the proposed set up for the fence with the barbed wire. We did receive a comment letter from U.S. Fish and Wildlife and Department, or DLNR, indicating that to protect the Hawaiian hoary bat in the area, we should prohibit the use of barbed wire. So, there's a condition in the recommendation spelling that out, and I've spoken with the applicant, and they understand. Next, the proposed facility will be unmanned, and maintenance and repair activities will be performed by a technician typically once a month within normal working hours. The applicant will comply with all Federal Communications Commission and Federal Aviation Administration rules, including the installation of an LED beacon and tower side lights, as the proposed new tower is going to be over 200 feet in height. Additionally, the facility will not interfere with the county's public safety radio system. The applicant's stated reason for the request is the existing 326-foot tall tower is no longer structurally sound and must be replaced. However, due to the presence of several wireless carriers located on the existing tower, which help provide E911 coverage for the area, the applicant needs to wait until a new tower is constructed to demolish the existing tower. The new tower is anticipated to be constructed within six months of obtaining the necessary permits, and the existing tower will be demolished thereafter. Approval of the Use Permit to construct the new tower and demolish the existing tower, once the proposed tower is operational, will ensure the continuation of E911 coverage and maintain the cell service provided by the tower's existing wireless carrier tenants. Here is the applicant's submitted site plan. On the upper left is just a zoomed-out version showing the subject parcel. The dashed lines coming into it is the 40-foot wide easement. And on the lower right outlined in red, it shows the existing 326-foot tall tower that will eventually be demolished. and outlined in blue is the location of the proposed 260-foot tower, which is again approximately 30 feet to the northwest. Also outlined here, it may be a little difficult to see, is an existing building that will be demolished to make way for the new tower. On the actual property 2 EXHIBIT B