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Commission hears draft Article 8 on antennas, towers and small‑cell rules; staff emphasizes permits, colocation and RF coordination
Summary
Associate Planner Travis Brierley reviewed proposed Article 8 addressing towers, small cell wireless, rooftop antennas and temporary mobile towers. Staff emphasized required engineering documentation, colocation to limit proliferation, height limits for small cell, and coordination with emergency services for potential RF interference.
The Planning Commission reviewed draft Article 8 of the zoning code, which would set standards for antennas, towers and small‑cell wireless installations. Associate Planner Travis Brierley said the goals are to provide reasonable opportunities for wireless telecommunication services while minimizing visual impacts and ensuring public safety.
Brierley noted the city would require building permits and engineering documentation for tower construction to ensure structural safety and timely completion. The draft emphasizes colocation so multiple providers share a single tower rather than erecting multiple separate structures, and it would require letters of intent from commercial users. For small‑cell wireless and rooftop attachments, staff proposed a 50‑foot height cap or up to 10 feet above the host structure, with permits required when installations attach to public right‑of‑way infrastructure and a formal agreement with the city.
For temporary mobile towers, staff suggested time limits (a standard 120 days) and wind‑resistance requirements to prevent toppling. Brierley also said applicants would provide RF reports and staff would coordinate with county emergency management to ensure installations do not interfere with public‑safety signals. The article also proposes landscaping and masking at tower bases and limits on signage or advertising on telecommunication structures.
No formal action was taken; staff said draft language and commissioner feedback would be forwarded to City Council during the ongoing zoning recodification process.
