Zoning Appeals Board Overturns Hearing Officer Denial, Approves Permit for T-Mobile Wireless Facility Along North Arroyo Boulevard

The Board of Zoning Appeals voted unanimously on Thursday to overturn the city hearing officer’s earlier decision that disapproved the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for T-Mobile’s existing telecommunications facility at 2122 North Arroyo Boulevard.

The subject site, a 100,000 square foot parcel, is currently used as a maintenance yard for CalTrans. It is partially located within Los Angeles County and partially located within Pasadena.

T-Mobile’s “Major Wireless Telecommunications Facility,” built at the site in 2015 includes a 70-foot monopine structure (a cell tower disguised as a pine tree), six panel antennas and other associated equipment.

In 2002, the LA County permitted T-Mobile to install the facility on a rooftop in an existing building in the Los Angeles County portion of the property. In 2015, the facility was transferred from the rooftop to a new 70-foot-high monopine structure.

At the time of the equipment transfer, the applicant was unaware that the monopine structure was located within Pasadena, thus the structure was installed without the approval of a CUP from Pasadena. When T-Mobile approached the county recently to seek permission to upgrade the panel antennas on the tower to improve its services, the company was informed the monopine is located in Pasadena, thus, it had to apply for CUP.

On May 5, 2021, the city’s hearing officer disapproved the CUP based on the staff’s recommendation. According to city staff, the findings necessary for approving the CUP and two Variances to allow the structure to be 70 feet in height where the maximum permitted height is 50 feet, and to allow the facility to be located on a site less than 500 feet from another site with a major telecommunications facility, could not be made.

In overturning this decision, the Board of Zoning Appeals concurred with staff that approving the CUP will not be detrimental to the properties nearby and to the public health and safety.

The board also agreed with city staff findings that there are no other alternative locations that would provide the same coverage as the proposed site and relocating the facility will result in lack of service.

It also concurred that the facility is consistent with the general plan and would be beneficial to the public as this will enable T-Mobile to provide wireless communications services to residents and businesses in Pasadena.

The decision made by the board is appealable before the City Council until Monday, May 2, otherwise, it will be effective on Tuesday, May 3.