Planning commission backs revised wireless telecom code changes, asks more city oversight

The North Ogden City Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend amended changes to North Ogden City Code Title 11-17 governing wireless telecommunications, after a public hearing that included a Verizon representative and extended discussion over allowable setbacks, camouflage ("stealth") towers and use of city-owned property.

Scott Hess, North Ogden community and economic development director, opened the item and framed it as a legislative public hearing that would produce a recommendation to the city council. "This is a public hearing. This is a legislative item," Hess said, adding that Verizon Wireless submitted the zoning text amendment and paid the application fee.

The code amendments under consideration would (1) treat city-owned property as a priority site for locating towers and allow reduced setbacks on such property; (2) permit administrative approval of well-camouflaged towers as a building permit (the language proposed by Verizon); (3) allow existing mature landscaping to satisfy buffer requirements in…