Santa Barbara County Zoning Code Appendix F Guidelines for Telecommunication Sites in Rural and Inner Rural Areas

(Adopted by the Board of Supervisors, 02/09/1999)

These guidelines implement the requirements contained in Article II of the County Code for telecommunication sites. Special circumstances may dictate deviation from these guidelines based on recommendations of the BAR and the determination of the decision-maker.

A.

Site Design.

1.

Berming/Bunkering

a.

If ground equipment cannot be screened by natural topography and/or existing vegetation, and the provision of new landscape screening is not considered feasible or appropriate, the equipment areas may

be screened through the use of bunkers, low berms, or a combination of both.

b.

Bunker walls should not be visible from public viewing areas.

c.

Low berms (2 to 3 feet) may be used on sides of the facility visible from public roadways. The berms should be naturally contoured using excess cut material from the site.

d.

Any berming and/or bunkering should avoid impacts to existing vegetation and should not create additional erosion problems.

e.

The antennas should be located out of the skyline as much as possible (move downslope).

2.

Fencing.

a.

All fencing should be made out of material that blends into the surrounding terrain and should not create any visual impacts.

b.

Per the communication ordinance standards, the general public shall be excluded from the facility.

c.

If a site is not accessible to the general public, the County may not require security fencing. A low cattle guard should be considered to keep range animals out of the facility. The cattle guard should be constructed out of the smallest diameter pipe possible.

d.

If the lease area is accessible to the general public, security fencing, such as chain link, should be used. The fencing should be no higher than five feet above finished grade.

e.

Solid inserts in the fencing will be discouraged.

Access Roads. The creation of new access roads or substantial improvement of existing roads as a direct result of the telecommunication project will be discouraged.

4.

Lighting. Lighting of the facility, other than lighting for emergency repairs, will be discouraged.

5.

Signage. If signs are required for the project, such as directional signs per Fire Department recommendations, then the signs should be as small as possible and placed in locations not readily seen from public viewing areas, if possible.

6.

Vegetation.

a.

Site design should minimize impacts to existing vegetation.

b.

Disturbed areas (e.g. trenches, berms, cuts), or areas that require erosion control, should be re-vegetated with a seed mix/plantings compatible with the surrounding vegetation. A temporary irrigation system may be required.

c.

If landscaping is required for screening purposes, the landscaping should consist of long-lived plant species native to that area. The planting of exotic species is discouraged. A permanent or temporary irrigation system may be required.

B.

Collocation/Trenching.

1.

If a site has existing carriers, it is preferable to have the new facility tie into existing electric and/or telephone pedestals of the existing carriers at the lease site as opposed to trenching from the closest utility lines. This is not always possible and requires the cooperation of competitors.

2.

If a significant amount and distance of trenching must occur, then it should be confined to previously disturbed areas or follow the existing access road and should contain extra conduit for future expansion by other carriers.

If a utility trench is located in a constrained area (e.g. steep slopes, sensitive resources, highly visible area, other underground utilities), the location of the trench may be marked and reviewed in the field in order to minimize impacts to the sensitive resources and/or to avoid conflicts with other utilities.

C.

Visual Impacts.

1.

Colors.

a.

The color of the facility should match the backdrop from the most visible public viewpoint.

b.

The color of the at-grade equipment that is not visible in the skyline should match the color of the surrounding vegetation that predominates for the majority of the year.

c.

If an existing facility is located at the proposed lease site, and the existing facility has a color scheme that successfully reduces visual impacts, then the existing facility should serve as a guide for the color scheme of the proposed facility.

d.

Equipment visible against the skyline should in most cases be a medium grayish color. A sky blue color should only be used with caution since it tends to be more visible on overcast or foggy days.

e.

Color schemes (all flat colors; equivalent colors from any paint manufacturer may also be used):

Antennas/equipment visible against skyline = gray, e.g. Dutch Boy "Marblehead" (32-V-2), Frazee "Tradewind" (8641W), or Frazee "Dusty Miller" (8634M).

Equipment (including fencing), and in some cases, antennas within an oak woodland, or other dark green vegetation = Dark green, e.g. Frazee "Blackened Beam (8646N), Frazee "Greek Olive" (8656N), or Frazee "Potting Shed" (8666N).

Equipment (including fencing), and in some cases, antennas within a grassland (example, ridges around Los Alamos and Los Olivos) = green/tan, e.g. Frazee "Wild Grasses" (8175D), Frazee "Backpack" (8664M), or Frazee "Muddy River" (8674M).

Equipment (including fencing), and in some cases, antennas within a savannah (example, hills south of Lompoc) = green/gray, e.g. Frazee "Muddy River" (8674M).

f.

The least visually obtrusive support structure as viewed from the most visible public viewpoint should be used. Natural wood poles, steel poles, concrete poles, or lattice towers are all acceptable support structures. The decision-makers would ultimately determine the appropriate support structure for a particular site with recommendations from staff.

g.

If organic or mineral mulch and/or rip-rap are used within the lease area, the material should match, or be compatible with, the color of the ground surface. For example, the use of white rock on a tan ground surface would be discouraged.

h.

If temporary or permanent irrigation is required, all above ground equipment (i.e. water tanks) should be painted the same color as the facility so as not to create new visual impacts.

APPENDIX G: - CANNABIS ACTIVITIES ADDITIONAL STANDARDS

A.

Tree Protection Plan.

1.

Where avoidance of pruning, damage, or removal of a native tree is not feasible, the Applicant for a land use entitlement for a commercial cannabis activity that would involve pruning, damage, or removal of a native tree, shall prepare and submit to the Department a Tree Protection Plan prepared by a Departmentapproved arborist designed to determine whether avoidance, minimization, or compensatory measures are necessary.

2.

The Plan shall include:

a.

Biologically favorable options for access roads, utilities, drainages, and structure placement, taking into account native tree and shrub species, age, and health with preservation emphasized.

b.

Designated development envelopes. Include utility corridors, irrigation lines, roadways, driveways, etc.

c.

Equipment storage (including construction materials, equipment, fill soil, or rocks) and construction staging and parking areas outside of the protection area.

d.

The type and location of protective fencing or other barriers to be in place to protect trees in protection areas during construction.

e.

The location of all tree wells or retaining walls. These shall be located outside the area within six feet of the dripline of all protected trees unless authorized by the County.

f.

The location of all paths within 25 feet of dripline areas. Only pervious paving materials are permitted within 6 feet of dripline areas.

g.

The location of any replacement trees.

3.

During construction these standards shall be met:

a.

All trees shall be protected by a fence located at least 6 feet outside of the dripline. Fencing shall be at least 3 feet high, staked to prevent any collapse, and with signs identifying the protection area placed in 15-foot intervals on the fencing.

b.

All grading and construction fencing, staking, and signage shall be maintained.

c.

All trees located within 25 feet of buildings shall be protected from stucco and/or paint.

d.

No irrigation is permitted within 6 feet of the dripline of any protected tree unless specifically authorized.

e.

If the use of hand tools is deemed infeasible by the Director, work with rubber-tired construction equipment weighing 5 tons or less may be authorized by the Director. If significant large rocks are present, or if soil placement will impact surrounding trees, then a small tracked excavator may be used as determined by the Director or Department-approved biologist.

f.

A Department-approved arborist shall direct and oversee any development activity required within the dripline or sensitive root zone of any specimen tree. Any roots of one inch in diameter or greater which are encountered during grading or construction, and/or tree removal or trimming, must be cleanly cut.

g.

Grading shall be designed to avoid ponding and ensure proper drainage within driplines of oak trees.

h.

The Applicant shall designate a Department-approved arborist to be onsite throughout all grading and construction activities which may impact native trees. Duties of the arborist include the responsibility to ensure all aspects of the approved Tree Protection Plan are carried out.

4.

Replacement trees shall be installed in compliance with the following standards:

a.

The replacement trees must be a native species, planted at a 10:1 ratio for native trees (15:1 for Blue or Valley Oaks).

b.

The replacement trees must be species from locally obtained plants and seed stock.

c.

The replacement trees must be gopher-fenced.

d.

The replacement trees must be irrigated with drip irrigation on a timer until established.

e.

The replacement trees must be weaned off of irrigation over a period of 2 to 3 years.

f.

No replacement tree shall require permanent irrigation within the dripline of any tree.

g.

If replacement trees cannot all be accommodated on the same lot, the Applicant shall submit a plan for replacement trees to be planted offsite.

h.

The replacement trees must be protected from predation by wild and domestic animals and from human interference by the use of staked, chain link fencing and gopher fencing during the maintenance period.

5.

The Applicant shall install all measures identified by the Tree Protection Plan onsite prior to commencement of cannabis activities, as applicable. All such measures shall be indicated on final plans.

6.

Prior to issuance of the cannabis permit, the Applicant shall submit the Tree Protection Plan to the Department for review and approval. The Applicant shall implement all tree protection measures of the Tree Protection Plan pursuant to the specific timing requirement for each measure set forth in the Tree Protection Plan.

7.

The Department shall dispatch, on an ongoing basis, a qualified inspector to monitor and ensure compliance with the Tree Protection Plan.

B.