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Newport Beach reviews code and policy changes to speed wireless deployments; public seeks more notice
Summary
City staff proposed moving public‑right‑of‑way wireless permitting into the public‑works code, exempting city sites from discretionary review, and issuing an RFP for roughly a dozen city sites; residents warned that removing discretionary review would limit public notice and oversight.
City staff told the Newport Beach City Council on Jan. 13 that the city's wireless ordinance, last updated in 2014, needs changes to reflect a shift from voice to data and the proliferation of connected devices.
Ben Zediba of the planning division summarized staff's three‑pronged approach: "code updates, policy updates, and partnerships," and recommended moving Class 3 public right‑of‑way installations out of Titles 20/21 and into Title 13 so many installations could be processed administratively rather than through discretionary public hearings. Zediba also noted coastal zone constraints and ongoing coordination with Coastal Commission staff.
Lauren Wooding Whitlinger, the city's real property administrator, described proposed updates to City Council Policy L‑23 to…
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