Arapahoe County planning commission recommends rewrite of wireless communications rules

Arapahoe County Planning Commission on July 15 recommended approval of LDC 24-007, a land development code amendment that retitles and expands the county’s commercial mobile radio services (CMRS) rules to cover “wireless communication facilities,” and aligns local permitting with Federal Communications Commission requirements and recent state legislation. The commission voted 6-0 to forward the amendment to the Board of County Commissioners for public hearing.

The change updates terminology, adds preferred antenna types, clarifies review criteria for eligible facility requests, describes administrative processes for modifications and repairs, and adds several right-of-way entries (attached structures, rooftop antennas, alternative tower structures, small cell facilities and temporary facilities). Ernie Rose, senior planner in the public works department, told commissioners the revisions also require applicants to show that other siting options are not feasible and set an administrative process for replacing and upgrading equipment.

"The proposed revisions retitle the CMRS codes from CMRS to wireless communication facility. It incorporates potential technological advances across all types of wireless…