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City Council adopts rules tightening review for wireless facilities near homes and schools
Summary
The Los Angeles City Council approved changes to municipal code procedures that require discretionary hearings for certain wireless telecommunications facilities when they are adjacent to residential or sensitive uses, while preserving an exemption path for industrial/commercial zones that meet design guidelines.
The Los Angeles City Council approved an amendment to the municipal code on July 17 that codifies standards and a discretionary review process for wireless telecommunications facilities located next to residences or other sensitive land uses.
The change requires applications in industrial zones that are adjacent to residential or agricultural zones to go through a conditional-use review; facilities in industrial or commercial zones that meet the adopted design guidelines may be granted an exemption from a public hearing. Planning Department staff told the council that a finding of conformance with the general plan is required for approval.
Frank Eberhard, Planning Department staff, told the council the conditional-use procedure "applies when [a site] is in an industrial zone when it's adjacent to a residential or agricultural zone. So if there was an intrusion such as that, they would have to go through the condition use procedure and not be exempt." Michael LeGrand, also planning staff, joined Eberhard in answering members' questions about adjacency and school sites.
Council members who spoke during debate described the ordinance as an attempt to "even the playing field" by making review and aesthetic standards consistent across neighborhoods. Councilmember Cindi Miskowski said the measure "codifies and requires that everybody go through this hearing and require this type of improvement," citing prior inconsistent enforcement that produced uneven design outcomes in different neighborhoods. Councilmember Richard Zine and others said the measure was not final and anticipated further amendments.
The council voted to approve the measure; the clerk recorded 13 ayes.
Council direction and next steps include further potential amendments to strengthen aesthetic requirements citywide and instructions for staff to return with any needed clarifications.
This action codifies discretionary review triggers for wireless facilities near residential uses and sets design and notice expectations for applicants and neighborhoods.
