Commission discusses wireless tower rules, third‑party review and setbacks

Members of the Planning and Zoning Commission discussed revisions to the city's wireless telecommunications ordinance, focusing on how to evaluate cell tower siting, the potential role of third‑party engineering reviews and whether towers should be treated differently from other structures for setback and height rules.

The discussion matters because the commission must craft ordinance language that complies with federal rules while giving the city tools to evaluate applicants' claims of coverage gaps and to ensure safe, compatible siting of new towers and antennas.

Patrick, a staff member, told commissioners the packet splits the proposal into two ordinances to comply with a state rule that an ordinance address a single subject and to separate institutional‑district provisions from the self‑power section. He said the draft includes a provision allowing the city to hire a third‑party engineering firm, with costs charged to the applicant, to evaluate whether an applicant has demonstrated a significant gap in coverage or that no feasible alternative sites exist. Patrick noted the language is preliminary and that staff would need to confirm legal limits on ongoing testing or monitoring tied to FCC standards.

Jonas Snyder, who identified himself with an address and described technical aspects of radio propagation studies, said RF propagation studies and industry methodologies exist and can be performed by independent firms. He told the commission those studies…