PD Recommendation Report (PL-USE-2023-000008)

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facilitate wireless communication. Because of the need for a clear line-of-site, telecommunication towers are usually located in areas with minimum obstructions 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. The General Plan identifies views of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa from various Puna subdivisions as an example of natural beauty in the Puna district. The proposed telecommunication tower and antennas will be designed to look like a conifer tree which will lessen any adverse visual impacts on surrounding properties. The applicant included photo simulations from several vantage points, showing the proposed tower in relation to the existing buildings and vegetation on the subject property. In addition to constructing the tower as a monopine, as mentioned above, the applicant will paint all panel antennas and tower-mounted equipment to match the proposed monopine and will add slats to the proposed chain link fence. In addition to the above-referenced elements of the General Plan, the request is consistent with Action 3.4.3(e) of the Puna CDP, under Public Safety and Sanitation Services, which states "Encourage enhancement of cell phone service to expand coverage to more remote areas." -4-