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Arapahoe County updates land-development code to standardize wireless communications rules
Summary
The county retitled and revised commercial mobile radio service (CMRS) provisions to a broader Wireless Communication Facilities (WCF) section, establishing criteria for new and modified facilities and aligning local rules with FCC guidance; the board approved the text amendment unanimously.
The Arapahoe County Board of Commissioners on Sept. 9 approved a county-initiated text amendment to the Land Development Code that updates rules for wireless communications facilities.
Senior planner Ernie Rose presented the amendment, described in staff materials as case LDC24-007. The amendment retitles the existing Commercial Mobile Radio Service (CMRS) regulations to “Wireless Communication Facilities” (WCF), broadens the scope to encompass multiple types of wireless facilities (including small cells in rights-of-way, rooftop attachments, alternative tower structures and temporary facilities), and establishes standards for siting, modification, abandonment and revocation of permits.
Rose said the draft is intended to accommodate technological change, promote colocation on existing structures where feasible, require applicants to demonstrate that new towers are necessary only when other sites are not viable, and provide an administrative path for replacing, modifying and upgrading equipment. Staff sought industry input after a March study session and held a planning commission public hearing in July; the planning commission recommended approval with discussion and suggested adjustments that staff incorporated.
Commissioner Warren Gulley thanked staff for the update and for incorporating federal and state developments. No members of the public spoke during the hearing on the amendment. Commissioner Gulley moved to approve the amendment subject to a stipulation allowing county staff, with county-attorney approval, to make minor corrections necessary to publish the revised code. The board voted in favor and the motion passed.
The adopted changes replace references to CMRS across the code and add a discrete section addressing small-cell facilities in rights-of-way, alternative tower structures, and administrative permit conditions including abandonment and revocation. Staff will finalize the published code language and proceed with implementation and permitting under the updated standards.
The county attorney had earlier advised the board that notice requirements under Chapter 5, Section 2 of the Arapahoe County Land Development Code had been met, confirming the board’s jurisdiction to act on the amendment.
