HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES - 07251989 - S.3 TO: BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
Supervisor Tom Torlakson Contra
FROM:
Costa
DATE: July 25, 1989 County
SUBJECT: INVESTIGATION OF MICROWAVE DISHES ON MOUNT DIABLO
SPECIFIC REQUEST(S) OR RECOMMENDATION(S) 8: BACKGROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Direct the Community Development
Department to review the restrictions on the permit issued to
Channel 64 and/or Knox LaRue in September of 1985 to determine the
legality of ten large white microwave dishes erected on North Peak and
request a status report of compliance with all other conditions of the
land use permit. We urge vigorous enforcement of all conditions . We
request immediate action be taken if these telecommunication
structures are illegal.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION: A letter dated August 4, 1988
(copy attached) , was sent to the Community Development Department by
Save Mount Diablo calling attention to ten large white microwave
dishes added to the Channel 64 tower on North Peak. It has been
called to my attention that there has been no response to this
inquiry.
TT:gro
Attachment
CONTINUED ON ATTACHMENT: YES SIGNATURE:
RECOMMENDATION OF COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR RECOMMENDATION OF BOARD COMMITTEE
APPROVE OTHER
SIGNATURE(S)
ACTION OF BOARD ON July 25, 1989 APPROVED AS RECOMMENDED X OTHER
VOTE OF SUPERVISORS
X UNANIMOUS (ABSENT 12 ) I HEREBY CERTIFY THAT THIS IS A TRUE
AYES: NOES: AND CORRECT COPY OF AN ACTION TAKEN
ABSENT: ABSTAIN: AND ENTERED ON THE MINUTES OF THE BOARD
OF SUPERVISORS ON THE DATE SHOWN.
CC: Community Development Director ATTESTED as J489
County Administrator ii Ba elor, Clerk of the Board of
Supervisors and County Administrator
M382/7-03 BY E DEPUTY
ave
mounT DIABLO
Harvey Bragdon, Director
Contra Costa County
Community Development Department
P.O. Bog 951
Martinez, CA 94553
re: LUP 2085-85
Dear Mr. Bragdon, 8-4-88
I'm writing for SAVE MOUNT DIABLO, a Concord-based land trust organized
around the preservation of Mt. Diablo, and active over the last seventeen
years in helping to expand Mt. Diablo State Park. SAVE MOUNT DIABLO has
been involved in negotiations over the communication towers on Mt. Diablo's
peaks for the last twelve years. We've been disturbed over the last year to
see ten large white microwave dishes added to the Channel 64 tower,
erected on North Peak after issuance of the Land Use Permit in September of
1985. The microwave dishes are extremely visible from the main summit as
well as most of Contra Costa county.
The Channel 64 site is located on a North Peak, leased to Mr. Howard
Camping by Mr. Knox La Rue, and was the subject of much controversy
during its construction. Special restrictions were negotiated as to use of the
site, its visual appearance, the manner construction could take place and the
extent of the access. An on-site storage building was only erected after
much consultation with the State Parks and Recreation staff in Sacramento,
and was designed so that it could be both constructed and taken down in
sections with the aid of a helicopter. Obviously great pains were taken to
insure that the site would be as unobtrusive as possible.
Our understanding of the permit restrictions for the Channel 64 site are that
Mr. La Rue was given use of some of the space within the building, but there
was no mention of microwave dishes of any kind. This use is not permitted
as far as we know; and the siting of the dishes ignores the nature of the
restrictions on the site.
If there has been some change in the permitting of the communication tower
sites we would expect to be notified. Since we have not been and since these
dishes were not included in earlier permits, we assume that they have been
erected illegally. We'd like an investigation into the permit restrictions for
Channel 64 and Mr. La Rue, especially regarding the tower, as well as a
"MOUNT DIABLO IS A NATIONAL NATURAL LANDMARK"
TELEPHONE (416) 685-5315 • POST OFFICE BOX 25 0 CONCORD, CALIFORNIA 94522
status report of compliance with all other conditions. For example, was the
old site 5 building removed as was included in permit conditions. If the
dishes in fact are not specifically allowed by the permit, we urge you to take
action in having them removed.
We hope to hear from you at your earliest convenience. Thanks.
Sincerely,
Seth Adams, Program Director
SAVE MOUNT DIABLO
cc: Board of Directors, SMD
District Superintendent, Mt. Diablo State Park
Kerry Gates, Senior Landscape Architect, DPR
Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors