Chapter 13.21
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES DESIGN GUIDELINES
Sections:
13.21.050 Deviation from standards.
13.21.010 Definitions.
As used in this chapter, the following terms are defined in this section:
A. “Appropriate” means sympathetic, or fitting, to the context of the site and the whole community.
B. “Compatible” means harmony in the appearance of two or more external design features in the same building, site and/or vicinity.
C. “External design feature” means the general arrangement, architectural style and composition of any portion or a building, sign, landscaping, or structure and including the kind, color, and texture of the materials of such portion, and the types of roof, windows, doors, lights, attached or ground signs, or other fixtures appurtenant to such portions as will be open to public view from any street, road, avenue, place or way.
D. “Monopole” means a stand-alone pole that has antennas attached to it.
E. “Multiple use facilities” means wireless communication facilities that are shared with other existing or newly constructed uses (ball field lights, shopping center signs, flag poles, etc.).
F. “Public art” means a piece of art, either functional or aesthetic, that visually benefits the community.
G. “Wireless communication facilities master plan” means a requirement for all local service providers to identify all proposed local sites. The wireless communications master plan shall require review and approval by the planning commission. (Ord. 435, 1997)
13.21.020 Process.
A. All companies and providers of wireless communication service within the City of Escalon shall process a master plan of all locally proposed sites. When an application is filed to increase the number or alter sites operated by a single company within the city, all sites operated by that company shall be open for review and alteration, if desired by the city.
B. The wireless communication facilities master plan shall require review and approval by the planning commission. In addition, facilities that are designed as a public art piece shall be reviewed and approved by the city council. (Ord. 435, 1997)
13.21.030 Zoning.
Wireless communication facilities shall be permitted and conditionally permitted in the following zoning districts, as identified by the City of Escalon zoning map:
A. M-1 and M-2 Zoning Districts Permitted Uses.
1. Monopoles are not permitted within 150 feet of State Highway 120, McHenry Avenue, Main Street or any public park;
2. Building-mounted when compatible with the external design features of an existing structure and multiple use facilities;
3. When designed as a piece of public art.
B. C-1, C-2, and C-M Zoning Districts Permitted Uses.
1. Building-mounted when compatible with the external design features of an existing structure and multiple use facilities;
2. When designed as a piece of public art.
C. P-D, R-E, R-1, R-2, R-3, and SPA Zoning Districts Conditional Uses.
1. Ground-mounted with a maximum height of 12 feet (monopoles prohibited);
2. When designed as a piece of public art with a maximum height of 30 feet;
3. Building-mounted when compatible with the external design features of an existing structure and multiple use facilities. (Ord. 435, 1997)
13.21.040 Design standards.
A. Monopoles. Stand-alone monopoles shall not be permitted within 150 feet of State Highway 120, McHenry Avenue, Main Street or any public park. Monopoles are only permitted in the M-1 and M-2 zoning districts of the city that are not within these areas. The maximum height of monopole is 60 feet. All stand-alone monopoles shall be constructed of “marblite” and shall have a maximum diameter of 30 inches at the base. Monopoles shall be separated a minimum of 1,000 feet from any existing monopole.
B. Multiple Use Facilities. Wireless communication antennas may be integrated into existing or newly developed facilities that are functional for other purposes, such as ball field lights, shopping center signs, flag poles, etc. All multiple use facilities shall be designed to detract from the antennas.
C. Building-Mounted. Building-mounted wireless communication facilities shall be compatible with the external design feature of the building.
D. Public Art. Wireless communication facilities may be designed within a piece of public art. Public art may be a functional item such as a clock tower or be some type of attraction such as a historic water tower or historical monument. All such designed are subject to planning commission review approval and city council approval.
E. Other Design Requirements.
1. Whip antennas and microwave dish antennas shall only be permitted if integrated into the design of the structure and/or fully screened from public view.
2. Support facilities, such as equipment rooms and cabinets and cellular switching devices, shall be designed to be compatible with the external design features of adjacent buildings and shall conform to all zoning requirements. Because of the size of some support facilities there may be the desire not to house the facilities within a building. In such a case, the facilities shall be screened from public view by walls, fences, trellises, landscaping and similar treatments.
3. No chain link fence is permitted associated with any wireless communication facility.
4. Temporary poles may be permitted for a period of up to six months, if an application for a permanent facility has been filed and the necessity for temporary service can be proven to the satisfaction of the city planner. Final approval of a temporary facility shall be subject to the review and approval of the city planner.
5. Lattice towers shall not be permitted anywhere within the city.
6. All utilities associated with wireless communication facilities shall be underground.
7. The facility operator or property owner shall be responsible for maintaining the facility in an appropriate manner, which includes but is not limited to regular cleaning of the facility, keeping the facility painted in an appropriate manner, keeping bird nests and other similar items cleared from the antenna area and all around maintenance of the facility. (Ord. 435, 1997)
13.21.050 Deviation from standards.
A. For monopoles only, the planning commission shall have the ability to alter the standards for height, diameter of the monopole base and separation between monopoles when it can be shown that the deviation creates a more appropriate design. The intent of this deviation provision is to allow for co-location when necessary, however, deviation may also be acceptable where a better overall design is achieved.
B. The maximum deviation permitted shall be 20 percent. (Ord. 435, 1997)
13.21.060 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 being replaced or discontinued for a period of six months, the approvals shall 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 city planner. (Ord. 435, 1997)
13.21.070 Environmental.
The city will process a master negative declaration that addresses the potential environmental impacts of wireless communication facilities in the city. This will cover the environmental review requirements for most, if not all, future facilities and will streamline the approval process. (Ord. 435, 1997)