Historic District Commission opposes large utility cabinets on major historic thoroughfares, urges staff to seek legal guidance

The Bay City Historic District Commission on Aug. 5 reviewed five proposed OmniFiber utility cabinet locations in the historic district and voted to transmit a recommendation to planning staff and the planning commission that the city should not place large above-ground cabinets on highly traveled historic thoroughfares such as Center Avenue and two locations on McKinley Street.

Planning staff read a memo summarizing the applications and relevant city code provisions in chapter 34 (Cable Communications, sections 34-142 and 34-145). The memo said OmniFiber submitted 19 cabinet applications citywide, five of which are inside the historic district, and that the planning commission's site-plan process allows it to require landscaping or screening in historically sensitive areas. Staff also noted prior instances (2014) in which cabinets were installed before review and that the city's ordinance provides limited direction about historic-district findings…