Gilbert planning staff asks commission to initiate LDC text amendment on wireless facilities

Gilbert planning staff asked the Planning Commission to initiate a text amendment to the town’s Land Development Code to clarify where wireless communication facilities are permitted, how the town defines different facility types and the application and review process.

The request, presented by Ashley (staff member), said the proposed Z2506 amendment would revise Division 2 definitions, update the use regulations in Section 3.1, amend Section 5.8 (wireless communication facilities) and add wireless facilities to the design‑review language in Section 6.6. “We would like to update the category 3 facilities…so that it’s a design review process as opposed to a conditional use permit process,” Ashley said during the presentation.

Staff explained the amendment responds in part to inconsistencies in the current code: the wireless‑facility section references monopoles but the use table currently prohibits monopoles in some districts where the wireless section anticipates their allowance. Staff also said the categories table and the maximum heights table should be aligned with zoning districts so permitted heights are clear for each district.

Commission discussion was limited. The chair asked whether members of the public wanted to comment; no public comments were offered. Commissioners then gave staff direction to proceed with the initiation and to conduct citizen review before returning for a public hearing and, ultimately, Town Council consideration. No formal vote tally was recorded in the transcript; staff was instructed to move forward with the citizen‑review process.

Planning staff said next steps will be a public hearing before Planning Commission followed by Town Council consideration once a draft amendment is completed and public input has been collected.