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Residents urge council to restore notice and appeal rights in proposed wireless ordinance
Summary
Residents urged the Newport Beach City Council to reconsider a Planning Commission‑backed rewrite of the wireless facilities ordinance, saying proposed administrative approvals would remove notice and appeal rights and allow telecom companies outsized influence over siting decisions.
Several residents told the Newport Beach City Council on March 2026 that proposed changes to the city's wireless facilities ordinance would strip neighbors of meaningful notice and appeal rights and could allow larger towers to be sited near homes without public review.
At public comment, Catherine Young said the principal concern was a pair of proposed 40‑foot towers near Surrey Drive and that recent conduit work by Spectrum proceeded without clear county approval. "Being this close to towers, putting out microwave and 5 g electronic transmissions would endanger our health and our property values," Young said.
David Brown said the Planning Commission's recommendation would let staff grant administrative approvals for many installations "with no public notice, no public hearing, and no opportunity to appeal." He urged the council to "stop and rethink this" before shifting permitting authority to telecom companies and staff.
Dana Marce, a 12‑year resident, pressed the council to retain zoning commission review and to add setbacks for larger installations. "As written, the ordinance removes important public notice and appeal rights for many installations," she said, asking whether the streamlined process would apply only to small cells or also to 40‑ to 60‑foot class‑4 towers.
Mayor Kleinman and city staff indicated members could follow up with residents offline. City Attorney Harp reminded speakers that the public‑comment period is not a forum for extended debate but said staff could engage further with concerned residents.
What happens next: the city council did not take action on the ordinance during public comment. Residents seeking more information and possible changes were advised to contact the city manager or city attorney so staff can follow up.
