PD RECOMMENDATION REPORT (PL-USE-2023-000020)

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between the tower and its area of service. Line -of -site refers to the imaginary line between a mobile phone antenna and a telecommunication tower. If there are impediments between the mobile phone antenna and the telecommunication tower, there may be signal degradation or signal loss. For example, the loss of line -of -sight occurs when a person uses a mobile phone while driving through a tunnel. Most often, communication is lost or unclear. The line -of -sight requirement often necessitates the conspicuous location of many telecommunication towers. Consequently, the telecommunications tower is usually much taller than the surrounding structures or vegetation and may negatively impact the scenic nature of a given area. A standard in the Public Utilities element of the General Plan states that in the development and placement of telephone facilities, such as lines, telecommunications and cellular towers, poles, and substations, the design of the facilities shall consider the existing environment, and scenic view and vistas shall be considered and preserved where possible. It should be noted that there are no General Plan designated natural beauty sites or vistas located in the vicinity of the subject property. In addition to the above -referenced requirements of the General Plan, Policy 58 of the Ka`u Community Development Plan (KCDP) states, "In the Ka`u CDP Planning Area, applications for Use Permits for wind energy facilities and telecommunications antennas and towers shall include view plane and, as appropriate, line -of -sight analysis to demonstrate how the request does not cause substantial, adverse impact to the community's character, including open space, public views, and areas of natural and scenic beauty, and proposed conditions to mitigate scenic impacts." The applicant included a viewshed analysis and photo simulations from several vantage points (including from Kahuku Park, from Paradise Parkway and from Princess Ka`iulani Boulevard) showing the proposed tower in relation to the existing trees and vegetation on the subject property. To mitigate visual impacts, the applicant intends to paint the tower to blend with the surrounding area, to add green slats to the proposed chain link fence and proposes planting Norfolk pine trees in strategic areas to minimize any concerns of the nearest neighbors. In addition, the applicant is proposing a monopole tower, rather than a stealth pole (`monopalm'/`monopine') given that its smaller 10