Newport Beach staff propose code, policy and RFP steps to speed small‑cell deployments; public raises notice and health concerns

Summary

City staff recommended moving public right‑of‑way small‑cell rules into Title 13, exempting city‑owned sites from discretionary review, updating Policy L‑23 to use DGS rates and issuing an RFP for roughly a dozen sites; residents urged keeping public notice and raised health and transparency concerns.

City staff on Tuesday laid out a three‑pronged approach to increase wireless connectivity across Newport Beach: code changes, policy updates and partnerships, including a staff‑proposed request for proposals (RFP) for carriers to partner on city‑owned sites.

Ben Zediba, a city planner leading the presentation, told the council the municipal wireless ordinance has not been updated since 2014 and that deployment pressures have changed — “we have cars that rely on the network,” Zediba said — and that staff wants more agile permitting for evolving technologies. Staff proposed moving Class 3 public right‑of‑way installations out of Municipal Code Titles 20 and 21 and into Title 13 so many small‑cell applications can be processed administratively rather than through discretionary public hearings.

Lauren Wooding…

Newport Beach staff propose code, policy and RFP steps to speed small‑cell deployments; public raises notice and health concerns

Summary

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