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STATEMENT IN SUPPORT OF APPLICATION for the Lathrop Cellular Communications Site AT&T Wireless Services seeks approval of a Use Permit to construct an unmanned cellular communications facility at 14700 South Manthey Road, Lathrop, CA(A.P.N. # -191-220-43). This facility will consist of a 23'x55' fenced area containing a 50' wood monopole with cellular antennas, a 12'x28' equipment shelter housing computer and radio equipment, and emergency back-up batteries. Currently coverage in the Interstate 5/Lathrop area of San Joaquin County does not meet the needs of our customers or the emergency service providers who rely on this system. The sites that currently serve this area are near capacity for effectively serving our customers. Presently, users in this area may have trouble initiating calls, may drop calls or experience interference from other sites. This site will improve coverage to customers along the Interstate 5 corridor, as well as the agricultural areas of Lathrop and the emergency service providers in the area who rely on this service. Additionally, this site will provide additional capacity in the area for future growth and help accommodate unusually high usage that would be experienced in an emergency situation. The Lathrop cell site would help to alleviate this situation and provide the quality and convenient service we are dedicated to offering. We are also requesting a Deviation on this proposed project for the setback lines. This property is zoned AU-20 which has a 30 foot setback for both the front and rear yard setback lines. AT&T wishes to deviate from those setbacks by no more than 23%. Our proposed setback will be 23' on both the front and rear yards. By requesting this Deviation, we will be locating our communications facility on the North part of the parcel,thereby allowing the current landowner the opportunity to future develop the rest of the lot. This parcel is one of those "freeway" parcels that was cut into a pie-shaped lot by the building of Interstate 5. This unique shape does not allow itself to be used for farming purposes. A communications facility is consistent with the General Plan for AU-20 parcel and a strict application of the setback regulation would deprive the property of privileges enjoyed by other properties in the vicinity. Other such parcels have been developed, upon rezoning or granting of a variances into roadside gas stations or fast food restaurants. The land owner does have future plans to develop this parcel and if we were not granted this Deviation, the site would have to be moved farther South on the lot, thereby prohibiting future development. AT&T Wireless Services has explored the possibility of co-locating this planned site on another existing facility, but there were none in the area that was able to meet the height or coverage requirements of our Engineering Department. Nextel Communications has a lattice tower one and a half miles South of our proposed site but we would not be able to meet our service objectives at that location without raising the option of having to build a second site elsewhere in the area. This site allows us to go at a low height(50') and use a wood pole to blend in with the other existing utilities. We are open to a co-location on this site if another carrier has that need. They can work with us on a pole replacement if their need is to have the antennas at a higher height.