Planning commission asks staff to draft revised wireless ordinance, seeks Campanelli review and technical data on coverage

The Planning and Zoning Commission on April 21 discussed revisions to Chapter 17 of the zoning code governing wireless communication towers and antennas, directing staff to prepare a consolidated draft ordinance for the commission’s May meeting and to incorporate recommended elements, including camouflage/stealth design, underground equipment vaults, and clearer RF-testing and colocation standards.

Commissioners reviewed options raised in a prior consultant draft by attorney Michael Campanelli and compared those with the town’s current Chapter 17. Multiple commissioners and public speakers urged preserving much of the Campanelli language; others asked staff to ensure the new draft does not effectively prohibit reasonable wireless deployment or inadvertently push service providers into right-of-way deployments regulated under Chapter 16.

Discussion highlights included setback and separation proposals, stealth/camouflage design, noise and generator hush-kit requirements, RF testing and monitoring, undergrounding of power and fiber, and whether all new towers should require special-use permits. Staff recapped existing code: a tower fall-zone setback equal to 100% of the tower height and current tabled separations (for example, 200 feet from single-family zones). Several commissioners described proposals to expand separation distances from residential to 300–500 feet and to require SUP review for towers, while noting that larger separations might severely restrict available tower sites in town.

Commissioner Corrigan urged caution in removing items from the Campanelli draft, saying the town’s retained attorney “is the expert” and noting the attorney’s litigation experience. Commissioner Gray said Chapter 16 (right-of-way small-cell deployments) and Chapter 17 should be treated together, warning that an overly restrictive Chapter 17 could push carriers toward by-right right-of-way solutions under Chapter 16. Commissioner Gray also suggested the commission pursue a hierarchy of preferred deployment locations to steer providers to less sensitive sites.

Public speakers urged the commission to use the Campanelli draft rather than start from scratch. Resident Laurie Troller said the Campanelli ordinance had been litigated and refined elsewhere and advised the commission to build on that work. Larry Myers, who spoke earlier on downtown topics, also pressed for an approach that supports attracting employers while protecting residents.

Staff requested direction on which document to use as a starting point for the draft to be returned to the commission. Commissioners generally signaled they want a consolidated draft brought back for May that merges the Campanelli recommendations with local code structure; staff agreed to produce a first-draft ordinance for the May meeting and to prepare maps and technical data showing where separation distances would eliminate feasible tower sites.

No formal vote was taken; the commission provided direction to staff to return a draft ordinance for the May meeting and to coordinate the Chapter 16/17 review as part of subsequent deliberations. Commissioners asked that staff include available technical coverage maps, an inventory of existing towers, and an analysis of whether proposed separation distances would create an effective prohibition on wireless service in parts of town.

What’s next: staff will prepare a draft ordinance for the May meeting that reflects the commission’s discussion, incorporate Campanelli provisions where appropriate, and supply maps and technical analyses of coverage gaps, tower inventory and Plat/land availability to inform setback and separation decisions.