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Commission reviews wireless‑facility code updates, prioritizes stealth design and ministerial path for small cells
Summary
Staff presented draft revisions to wireless facility rules to comply with federal and state shot‑clock limits, propose ministerial review for stealth small cells under Section 6409, and add design standards emphasizing concealment; commissioners asked for procedural clarifications on batch processing and appeals.
The Planning Commission held a study session on proposed updates to Division 17.46 and a new Chapter 8 design standards for wireless communication facilities. Associate Planner Steven Lizarrago said federal and state law limit local authority on certain substantive issues but allow regulation of aesthetics; staff proposed preferred siting (public right‑of‑way, public facilities, mixed‑use commercial), a ministerial review path for eligible facilities requests (Section 6409) that meet a stealth‑design checklist, longer permit terms (up to 20 years) for conforming installations, and a batch‑processing framework for multiple similar sites.
Commissioners asked about the batch‑processing rule that currently treats an incomplete or withdrawn sub‑site as affecting the entire batch; staff said the provision follows state guidance but that they would explore a more flexible, percentage‑based approach to avoid requiring applicants to refile nearly complete batches. Lizarrago emphasized that the draft code preserves the city’s authority to require concealment and color/texture matching: "Because of these new changes, staff is proposing to make revisions to the wireless division in order to be consistent with both state and federal law," he said, and the proposed standards incentivize applicants to use concealed designs that qualify for faster ministerial review.
