Public hearing to consider cell tower in Wheatfield Park

This graphic shows what the clock tower would look like looking west from Menifee Road.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Menifee Planning Commission will hear testimony at two public hearings at its Aug. 14 meeting, including a proposal to erect a 70-foot wireless communication tower in the middle of Wheatfield Park.

The cell tower, designed to be disguised as a clock tower, would be attached to the park's multi-purpose room, located at the west end of a parking lot off Menifee Road and in the middle of an athletic complex including ballfields. The tower area would be surrounded by an eight-foot block wall.

According to the proposal, "The City’s Wireless Communications Facilities code allows for stand-alone wireless communication facilities in all recreational and Open Space zones when concealed or disguised."

According to the document, "The addition of this wireless communication facility will aide in closing an existing coverage gap that the carrier is currently experiencing." The applicant for the CUP is Smartlink

The proposal, authored by senior planner Tamara Harrison of the City of Menifee, "Approval of the application will not create conditions materially detrimental to the public health, safety and general welfare or injurious to or incompatible with other properties or land uses in the project vicinity. Processing and approval of the permit application are in compliance with the requirements of the California Environmental Quality Act."

The proposal includes the design specs by the applicant, Smartlink, via AT&T.

The second public hearing concerns a request to recommend to the City Council plans for a residential, commercial and development known as the Mill Creek Promenade, to be built on 58 acres south of Garbani Road and between Haun Road and Sherman Road.

The project would include 194 townhomes, a 204-unit motor court and a commercial center including seven one-and-two story buildings.

The Planning Commission meeting begins at 6 p.m. Aug. 14 in the Council Chambers at the new Menifee City Hall, 29844 Haun Road.