The purpose of this chapter is to implement Chapter 12.20, specifically Section 12.20.010(B)(5) establishing intent, reading "preserve the character of the community, historic districts, or areas with decorative poles."
(Ord. 534 §1, 2021)
The definitions in Section 12.20.020 shall apply to this chapter.
(Ord. 534 §1, 2021)
(A)
Ground-mounted equipment in the right-of-way is discouraged, unless the applicant can demonstrate that pole-mounted equipment is not technically feasible, or the electric utility requires placement of equipment on the ground (such as an electric meter). If ground-mounted equipment is necessary, then the applicant shall conceal the equipment in a cabinet, in street furniture or with landscaping.
(B)
Replacement poles, new poles and all antenna equipment shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), city construction and sidewalk clearance standards and City, State and Federal laws and regulations in order to provide a clear and safe passage within, through and across the right-of-way. Further, the location of any replacement pole, new pole, and/or antenna equipment must comply with applicable traffic requirements, not interfere with utility or safety fixtures (e.g., fire hydrants, traffic control devices), and not adversely affect public health, safety or welfare.
(C)
Replacement poles shall be located as near as feasible to the existing pole. The abandoned pole must be removed within 14 days.
(D)
Any replacement pole shall substantially conform to the material and design of the existing pole or adjacent poles located within the contiguous right-of-way unless a different design is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter.
(E)
No advertising, branding or other signage is allowed unless approved by the City Planner as a concealment technique or as follows:
(F)
The total volume of multiple antennas on one structure shall not exceed 15 cubic feet, unless additional antenna volume is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter.
(G)
Antennas and antenna equipment shall not be illuminated except as required by municipal, Federal, or State authority, provided this shall not preclude deployment on a new or replacement streetlight.
(H)
Small wireless facilities may not displace any existing street tree or landscape features unless:
(1)
Such displaced street tree or landscaping is replaced with native and/or drought-resistant trees, plants or other landscape features approved by the City; and
(2)
The applicant submits and adheres to a landscape maintenance plan or agrees to pay an appropriate in-lieu fee for the maintenance costs.
(I)
Small Wireless Facilities Attached to Wooden Poles and Non-Wooden Poles with Overhead Lines. Small wireless facilities located on wooden utility poles and non-wooden utility poles with overhead lines shall conform to the following design criteria unless a deviation is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter:
(K)
The pole at the proposed location may be replaced with a taller pole or extended for the purpose of accommodating a small wireless facility; provided that the replacement or extended pole, together with any small wireless facility, does not exceed 50 feet in height or 10% taller than adjacent poles, whichever is greater. The replacement or extended pole height may be increased if required by the pole owner, and such height increase is the minimum necessary to provide sufficient separation and/or clearance from electrical and wireline facilities. Such replacement poles may either match the approximate color and materials of the replaced pole or shall be the standard new pole used by the pole owner in the City.
(L)
To the extent technically feasible, antennas, equipment enclosures, and all ancillary equipment, boxes, and conduit shall match the approximate material and design of the surface of the pole or existing equipment on which they are attached, or adjacent poles located within the contiguous right-of-way. Near matches may be permitted by the City when options are limited by technical feasibility considerations, such as when high-frequency antennas cannot be placed within an opaque shroud but could be wrapped with a tinted film.
(M)
Antennas which are mounted on poles shall be mounted as close to the pole as technically feasible and allowed by the pole owner.
(N)
No antenna shall extend horizontally more than 20 inches past the outermost mounting point (where the mounting hardware connects to the antenna), unless additional antenna space is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter.
(O)
Antenna equipment, including, but not limited to, radios, cables, associated shrouding, disconnect boxes, meters, microwaves and conduit, which is mounted on poles shall be mounted as close to the pole as technically feasible and allowed by the pole owner.
(P)
Antenna equipment for small wireless facilities must be attached to the pole, unless otherwise required by the pole owner or permitted to be ground-mounted (pursuant to subsection (B)(1) above). The equipment must be placed in an enclosure reasonably related in size to the intended purpose of the facility. All cables and wiring shall be covered by conduits and cabinets to the extent that it is technically feasible, if allowed by pole owner. The number of conduits shall be minimized to the extent technically feasible.
(Q)
Small Wireless Facilities Attached to Non-Wooden Light Poles and Non-Wooden Utility Poles without Overhead Utility Lines. Small wireless facilities attached to existing or replacement non-wooden light poles and non-wooden utility poles without overhead lines shall conform to the following design criteria unless a deviation is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter:
(1)
External Equipment. The antennae and associated equipment enclosures must be camouflaged to appear as an integral part of the pole or be mounted as close to the pole as feasible and must be reasonably related in size to the intended purpose of the facility and reasonable expansion for future frequencies and/or technologies, not to exceed the volumetric requirements described in subsection A of this section. If the equipment enclosure(s) is mounted on the exterior of the pole, the applicant is encouraged to place the equipment enclosure(s) behind any decorations, banners or signs that may be on the pole. Conduit and fiber must be fully concealed within the pole.
(2)
Concealed Equipment. All equipment (excluding disconnect switches), conduit and fiber must be fully concealed within the pole. The antennae must be camouflaged to appear as an integral part of the pole or be mounted as close to the pole as feasible.
(3)
Any replacement pole shall substantially conform to the material and design of the existing pole or adjacent poles located within the contiguous right-of-way unless a different design is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter.
(4)
The height of any replacement pole may not extend more than 10 feet above the height of the existing pole unless such further height increase is required in writing by the pole owner.
(R)
New Poles. Small wireless facilities may be attached to new poles that are not replacement poles under subsection C or D of this section, installed by the wireless provider, subject to the following criteria:
(1)
Antennae, antenna equipment and associated equipment enclosures (excluding disconnect switches), conduit and fiber shall be fully concealed within the structure. If such concealment is not technically feasible, or is incompatible with the pole design, then the antennae and associated equipment enclosures must be camouflaged to appear as an integral part of the structure or mounted as close to the pole as feasible and must be reasonably related in size to the intended purpose of the facility, not to exceed the volumetric requirements in subsection F of this section.
(2)
To the extent technically feasible, all new poles and pole-mounted antennae and equipment shall substantially conform to the material and design of adjacent poles located within the contiguous right-of-way unless a different design is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter.
(3)
New poles shall be no more than 40 feet in height unless additional height is requested and approved pursuant to this chapter.
(4)
The City prefers that wireless providers install small wireless facilities on existing or replacement poles instead of installing new poles, unless the wireless provider can document that installation on an existing or replacement pole is not technically feasible or otherwise not possible (due to a lack of owner authorization, safety considerations, or other reasons acceptable to the City Planner).
(S)
Historic District Requirements. Small wireless facilities or poles to support collocation of small wireless facilities located in the Historic District shall be designed to have a similar appearance, including material and design elements, if technically feasible, of other poles in the rights-of-way within 500 feet of the proposed installation. Any such design or concealment measures may not be considered part of the small wireless facility for purpose of the size restrictions in the definition of small wireless facility.
(T)
Strand Mounted Equipment. Strand mounted small wireless facilities are permitted, subject to the following criteria:
(1)
Each strand mounted antenna shall not exceed three cubic feet in volume, unless a deviation is requested and approved pursuant to Section I.
(2)
Only two strand mounted antennae are permitted between any two existing poles.
(3)
Strand mounted devices shall be placed as close as possible to the nearest pole and in no event more than five feet from the pole unless a greater distance is required by the pole owner.
(4)
No strand mounted device will be located in or above the portion of the roadway open to vehicular traffic.
(5)
Strand mounted devices must be installed with the minimum excess exterior cabling or wires (other than original strand) to meet the technological needs of the facility.
(U)
Deviation from Design Standards.
(1)
An applicant may obtain a deviation from these design standards if compliance with the standard:
(a)
Is not technically feasible;
(b)
Impedes the effective operation of the small wireless facility;
(c)
Impairs a desired network performance objective;
(d)
Conflicts with pole owner requirements;
(e)
Otherwise materially inhibits or limits the provision of wireless service; or
(f)
All deviations will be documented in writing with findings as to the reason for approving, approving with conditions, or denying the deviation.
(2)
When requests for deviation are sought under subsections (U)(1)(a)–(e), the request must be narrowly tailored to minimize deviation from the requirements of these design standards, and the City Planner must find the applicant's proposed design provides similar aesthetic value when compared to strict compliance with these standards.
(3)
The City Planner may also allow for a deviation from these standards when he or she finds the applicant's proposed design provides equivalent or superior aesthetic value when compared to strict compliance with these standards.
(4)
The small wireless facility design approved under this chapter must meet the conditions of 47 C.F.R. Sec. 1.6002(l).
(5)
The City Planner will review and may approve a request for deviation to the minimum extent required to address the applicant's needs or facilitate a superior design.
(Ord. 534 §1, 2021)