a.
Purpose and Intent. This Section establishes standards for the placement of Wireless Communication Facilities in all zoning districts. It is the intent of this Section to minimize the adverse impacts of such equipment and structures on neighborhoods and surrounding developments by addressing aesthetic impacts in architectural design of facilities and by limiting the height, number, and location of such devices. Wireless communication facilities shall be located, designed and screened to blend with existing natural or built surroundings so as to reduce visual impacts considering the technological requirements of the proposed communication service and the need to be compatible with neighboring residences and the character of the community.
b.
Definitions. Definitions, as used in this section:
1. "Antenna"
shall mean any system of towers, poles, panels, rods, wires, drums, reflecting discs or similar devices used for the transmission or reception of electromagnetic or radio frequency waves. The distinction is made between the support structure and the antenna (s) mounted thereon.
2. "Building-Mounted Antenna"
shall mean an antenna whose support structure is mounted to a building or rooftop equipment screen that transmits or receives electromagnetic signals.
3. "Co-Location"
shall mean the location of two or more wireless communication facilities on a single support structure or site otherwise sharing a common location. Co-location shall also include the location of wireless communication facilities with other utility facilities and structures such as, but not limited to, water tanks, transmission towers and light standards.
4. "Wireless Communications Facilities"
means a facility that transmits and/or receives electromagnetic or radio frequency waves, including, but not limited to towers, antennas, monopoles support or accessory structures and related equipment. Amateur radio facilities are not included in this definition.
5. "Equipment Enclosure"
shall mean a cabinet or other structure used to house equipment associated with a wireless communication facility.
6. "Free Standing Communication Tower"
means an antenna support structure that is more than fifteen feet in height from finished grade and is designed to support the antennas of a facility regulated by this chapter. Monopoles and self-supported or guyed structures of lattice construction are examples of this type of structure. Roofmounted or building mounted antennas are extended from this definition.
7. "Monopole"
shall mean a single freestanding pole, post, or similar structure that is more than fifteen feet in height that has antennae attached to it.
8. "Public Art Facilities"
means wireless communication facilities may be designed within a piece of public art. Public art may be a functional item such as a clock tower, windmill, tree or be some type of attraction such as a historical monument.
9. "Related Equipment"
shall mean all equipment ancillary, to the transmission and reception of voice and data via radio frequencies. Such equipment may include, but is not limited to, cable, conduit and connectors.
10. "Roof-Mounted Antenna"
means an antenna directly attached or affixed to the roof of an existing structure which transmits or receive electromagnetic signals.
11. "Service Provider"
shall mean any authorized provider of wireless communication services.
12. "Stealth Facility"
shall mean any wireless communication facility which is designed to blend into the surrounding environment by means of screening, concealment, or camouflage. The antenna and supporting antenna equipment are either not readily visible beyond the property on which it is located, or, if visible, appear to be part of the existing landscape or environment rather than the wireless communications facility. Wireless communication antennae may be integrated into multiple use facilities as part of existing or newly developed facilities that are functional for other purposes, such as ball field lights, shopping center freeway signs, flagpoles, etc. All multiple use facilities shall be designed to conceal the antennae.
c.
Where Permitted. Wireless communication facilities shall be permitted on all nonresidential lots and may be located on city-owned or controlled property, subject to the following review and approval process:
d.
Development Standards.
i.
General Development Standards. The following development standards shall be met by all new wireless communication facilities.
1.
To minimize overall visual impact, whenever feasible. In addition, whenever feasible, service providers are encouraged to co-locate antennas with other facilities such as water tanks, light standards, utility poles, and other utility structures, where the co-location is found to minimize the overall visual impact.
2.
All wireless communication facilities shall comply at all times with all Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules, regulations, and standards, and any other applicable federal, state or city laws or regulations.
3.
Sufficient anti-climbing deterrents, including warning signs (ANSI Standard C95.2-1982 Warning Symbol), shall be incorporated into the facility, as needed, to reduce the potential for trespass and injury.
4.
All related equipment, equipment enclosures, antennas, poles or towers shall have a nonreflective finish and shall be painted or otherwise treated to minimize visual impacts.
5.
Proposed equipment cabinets/structures and accessory structures shall be maintained in good condition over the term of the permit. This shall include keeping equipment cabinets and structures graffiti-free and maintaining security fences and warning signs in good condition.
6.
Antennas, towers, dishes or mountings shall not be used for advertising.
7.
Exterior lighting shall not be allowed on wireless communication facilities except for that required for use of authorized persons on-site during hours of darkness or where antenna structure owner or registrant is required to light the antenna structure by the terms of the FAA antenna structure registration applicable to the facility.
8.
All freestanding wireless communication towers shall be designed at the minimum functional height required for the coverage area unless it is determined that additional height is needed for architectural reasons or is part of a city approved plan to reduce the impact(s) of future installations.
9.
All wireless communication facilities which are not mounted on existing structures shall be (a) screened from the view of surrounding properties, as much as possible and co-located with existing facilities or structures so as not to create substantial visual, noise or thermal impacts; or (b) sited within areas with substantial screening by existing vegetation; or (c) designed to appear as natural features found in the immediate area, such as trees or rocks, so as to be effectively unnoticeable; or (d) screened with additional trees and other native or adapted vegetation which shall be planted and maintained around the facility, in the vicinity of the project site, and along access roads in appropriate situations, where such vegetation is required to screen communications facilities. Such landscaping, including irrigation, shall be installed and maintained by the applicant, as long as the permit is in effect or (e) existing on-site vegetation shall be preserved or improved and disturbance of the existing topography shall be minimized.
ii.
Development Standards--Building Mounted Antennas. In addition to all other applicable development standards mentioned in subsection (d.ii.), wireless communication facilities proposed to be mounted or attached to an existing building shall comply with the following:
1.
Building-mounted antennas and any associated equipment should be in scale and architecturally integrated with the building design in such a manner as to minimize the visual impact. Screening designs may include locating the facility within attics, steeples, towers, behind and below parapets, or concealed with an architecturally compatible addition to a building.
2.
Colors and materials of the antennas should match the existing building when attached directly to the facade of a building.
3.
Wireless communication facility equipment shall be located to minimize visibility from public places. Any visible portion of equipment shall be painted or treated in order to be architecturally compatible with the surrounding buildings and/or it shall be screened, using appropriate techniques, to camouflage, disguise and/or blend into the surrounding environment, as determined by the Planning Commission.
4.
Antennas shall be flush-mounted and located below the roof line of the building. Antennas and the associated mounting generally shall not project beyond a maximum of eighteen inches from the face of the building.
iii.
Development Standards--Roof Mounted Antennas. In addition to all other applicable development standards in subsection (d.i.), wireless communication facilities proposed to be mounted or attached to the roof of existing buildings shall comply with the following:
1.
Roof-mounted equipment and antennas, other than facade antennas, shall be aesthetically compatible with and located as far away from the edge of the building as technically feasible as determined by the Community Development Director. Antennas attached to the building shall be painted or otherwise treated to match the exterior of the building or the antennas’ background color.
2.
Roof-mounted antennas shall not be placed in direct line of sight of scenic corridors or where they will significantly affect scenic vistas, unless the facilities incorporate appropriate techniques to camouflage, disguise and/or blend them into the surrounding environment.
3.
The height of roof-mounted antennas, including the support structure shall not be more than fifteen feet above the roof plate of the building to which they are attached.
4.
Wireless communication equipment, if located on the rooftop of buildings, shall be located so as to be minimally visible from public places. If any portion of the equipment is visible, it shall be camouflaged or screened from view, to the fullest extent possible.
iv.
Development Standards--Freestanding Wireless Communication Towers. In addition to all other development standards in subsection (d.i.), freestanding wireless communication towers zoning shall comply with the following:
1.
Freestanding wireless communication towers shall be located and designed to minimize visual impacts. When appropriate, monopoles in areas where adverse visual impacts cannot be avoided (as in some commercial areas), shall be camouflaged, disguised and/or blended into the surrounding environment, or disguised as public art, flag poles, telephone poles, light standards, or other visual forms to avoid an adverse visual impact.
2.
The smallest available and least visible antennas that provide the coverage objective shall be mounted on towers.
e.
Abandonment. All approvals for Wireless Communication Facilities shall be in effect only while the facilities are being operated on a continual basis. When the use is replaced or discontinued for a period of six months, the approvals will lapse, and the operator or property owner shall be required to remove the facility and all associated equipment and restore the property to its original or otherwise acceptable condition, subject to the approval of the Community Development Director.
(Ord. 05-09, 2/10/2009)