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Council continues wireless facilities ordinance after historic‑preservation concerns
Summary
Council heard public comments urging that wireless towers and antennas affecting historic districts be reviewed by the Historic Preservation Commission and voted to continue the ordinance to allow staff to draft clearer language addressing those concerns.
Council opened public input and discussion on an ordinance amending the city code for commercial wireless telecommunication facilities. Gina Savison, who identified herself as serving on the Historic Preservation Commission, urged the council to clarify the ordinance so that towers and antennas within historic districts or on historic landmarks receive review by the Historic Preservation Commission rather than being routed solely to staff or the board of adjustments.
Savison told council that "as written the ordinance assigns the review authority for the towers and antennas to the board of adjustments or to staff" and asked for language to require Historic Preservation Commission review in those cases. City Attorney Alley said state and federal law constrain local regulation of wireless siting but that the ordinance could be amended to be clearer; Community Development Director Steve Bellamy recommended continuing the item to give staff time to draft consistent language. Council voted to continue the ordinance to a later meeting to allow those revisions.
The discussion highlighted the typical tension between compliance with federal/state telecom law and local concerns about impacts on historic resources; staff will return with revised ordinance language for further public hearing and council consideration.
