Plan Commission adopts Unified Development Code edits for antennas, creates staff-reviewed colocation permit

The Onalaska Plan Commission unanimously approved amendments to sections of the city’s Unified Development Code governing satellite dishes, radio/television antennas, towers and telecommunications structures to align local rules with Wisconsin state statutes and to clarify permit procedures.

Katie Aspenson, planning staff, summarized the changes: the redline packet removes outdated language, clarifies exemptions for amateur radio antennas and towers, refines application review procedures and establishes a new Class 2 colocation permit. "By aligning our code with state statute, we will no longer have to process those as conditional use permits. We will be processing them as a class 2 colocation permit," Aspenson said. She added that only requests for brand-new towers would still require conditional use review by the Plan Commission; routine collocations and antenna swaps on existing towers would be reviewed and approved by staff in conformance with state law.

Commissioners asked for clarification about setbacks, front-yard definitions, grandfathering and how the rules would apply to corner lots. Aspenson said the code intends to restrict placement of antennas to side and rear yards and that setback references point back to the principal-structure setback rules in the UDC; placement decisions often require staff review on a case-by-case basis, especially for corner lots. She also said prior existing antennas and towers would continue to be maintained but that new towers would be subject to current code limits, including a 60-foot limit for residential antennas.

A motion to approve the text amendments was made by Tom Smith and seconded by Bill Lethen; the motion carried unanimously.