Sec. 153.607 - Design standards.

(A)

The purpose of this section is to identify preferences and requirements for the location and design of WCFs, to provide guidance to prospective applicants as they seek appropriate WCF locations within the Town, and to provide guidance to the Planning Commission or Architectural and Site Review Administrator in determining whether to grant, grant with conditions, or to deny a WCF application.

(B)

This section applies to all new WCFs and to all collocations and modifications to existing WCFs, except collocations and modifications to existing WCFs that qualify as a Section 6409(a) modification.

(C)

Siting preferences. The location for a WCF should take into consideration the following preferred sites:

(1)

Town owned properties;

(2)

Cañada College;

(3)

Other public or quasi-public facilities, such as fire stations, schools or churches;

(4)

Poles in the public right-of-way; and

(5)

Commercially zoned properties.

(D)

Siting on residential parcels. WCFs shall not be permitted on properties zoned and used for residential purposes or undeveloped parcels intended for residential use, unless the residential property owner provides written consent and:

(1)

The applicant demonstrates that all alternative non-residential sites (including collocation) have been explored and the proposed site is the least intrusive of the feasible alternative sites;

(2)

Design measures have been taken to mitigate visual impacts would result from the proposed facility; and

(3)

The proposed WCF complies with the setback requirements applicable to the property.

(E)

Visual impact and collocation. WCFs should be collocated with existing WCFs, if within 1,500 feet of an existing visible WCF, unless the Town determines that the particular design proposed would not create excessive visual clutter or otherwise create harms the Town may ameliorate. However, small cells and other WCFs located on streetlight poles or utility poles shall be limited to two collocated facilities per pole. All equipment shall be painted to match the color of the structure/pole in which it is attached or if on the ground to blend into the surrounding area, unless specific equipment cannot be painted for safety of functional reasons.

(F)

A WCF located in the rights-of-way:

(1)

Shall, with respect to its pole-mounted components, be located on an existing utility pole serving another utility;

(2)

Shall be located in a concealed WCF and/or shall be painted to be consistent with other existing natural or manmade features in the rights-of-way near the location where the WCF is to be located; or

(3)

Shall, with respect to its pole-mounted components, be located on a new utility pole where other telephone distribution lines are aerial, if there are no reasonable alternatives, and the applicant is authorized to construct new utility poles.

(4)

Shall place underground all equipment to the extent that site conditions permit to minimize aesthetic impact and to maximize use of poles for other carriers and utilities. Equipment that cannot be installed underground due to site conditions shall either be mounted to the pole or structure on which its antenna is located or ground-mounted, whichever is less intrusive, in the opinion of the Planning Director, to the use and visual aesthetic of the site.

(G)

Pole-mounted components. The pole-mounted components of a WCF on a streetlight pole or utility pole shall:

(1)

Comply with CPUC General Order 95 and General Order 128 as they may be amended or replaced;

(2)

Be consistent with or smaller than the size and shape of pole-mounted equipment installed by communications companies on streetlight poles and utility poles near the WCF.

(H)

Ground-mounted components. The ground-mounted components of a WCF, including but not limited to utility boxes, whether in or outside of the rights-of-way:

(1)

Shall be located flush to grade where necessary to avoid incommoding the public, or creating a hazard; and

(2)

To the extent permitted aboveground, shall otherwise be appropriately screened by fencing and/or landscaping and camouflaged to blend in with the surroundings, and non-reflective paints shall be used.

(I)

Height restrictions. All WCFs and their support structures shall comply with the applicable height restrictions under this Chapter except in the following cases:

(1)

The proposed WCF will attach to an existing structure which exceeds the applicable maximum height and will not increase the height of the existing structure; or

(2)

The applicant demonstrates that it must exceed the applicable height restriction to ensure the functionality of the WCF and that it has limited the proposed height to the greatest extent possible without sacrificing the required functionality of the WCF.

(J)

Extensions from support structures. Unless it is determined by the Town that there is no reasonably feasible design alternative that would protrude less from the support structure; or it is determined that the Town is legally required to approve an application, an application shall not be approved if it proposes extensions or protrusions from the support structure which are inconsistent in size with the extensions otherwise permitted under the Code.

(K)

Maintenance of Town character. A WCF shall be designed and located to minimize the impact on the surrounding neighborhood, and to maintain the character and appearance of the Town, consistent with other provisions of the Code. To that end, WCFs should:

(1)

Employ the least intrusive design for the proposed location in terms of size, mass, visual and physical impact, and effects on properties from which the WCF is visible;

(2)

Accommodate collocation consistent with the other design requirements of this section; and

(3)

Be consistent with the General Plan.

(L)

Camouflage of a WCF. Without limiting the foregoing, all portions of a WCF affixed to a support structure shall be designed to blend in or be screened from view in a manner consistent with the support structure's architectural style, color and materials, when viewed from any part of the Town. WCFs shall be painted and textured or otherwise camouflaged to match the color and texture of the support structure on which they are mounted. Where the support structure is a building, the WCF, including without limitation base station

cabinets, remote transmitters and receivers, and antenna amplifiers, shall be placed within the building or mounted behind a parapet screened from public view unless that is not feasible. If the Planning Director determines that such in-building placement is not feasible, the equipment shall be roof-mounted in an enclosure or otherwise screened from public view as approved by the Planning Commission, Architectural and Site Review Administrator, or Planning Director.

(M)

Lighting. WCFs shall not be lighted except in one of the following instances and when the lowest feasible intensity lighting is used:

(1)

For timer-controlled security lighting;

(2)

Where such lighting is required by the Planning Director to protect public health or welfare, or as part of the camouflage for a particular design.

(N)

Signage. No advertising signage shall be displayed on any WCF except for government required signs shown in the WCF permit application. Additionally site identification, address, warning and similar information plates may be permitted where approved by the Planning Commission, Architectural and Site Review Administrator, or Planning Director.

(O)

Americans With Disabilities Act. The WCF shall comply with all requirements of the Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990 ("ADA") as may be amended or replaced.

(P)

Obstructions. The WCF shall not incommode the public (including without limitation, persons with disabilities) in its use of any structure, or any portion of the rights-of-way.

(Q)

Camouflage of wireless towers and base stations. All wireless towers and base stations shall be camouflaged or concealed. The installation of an uncamouflaged wireless tower or base station is prohibited.

(Ord. 2017-589, effective 8-24-17; Am. Ord. 2020-607, § 2(Exh. A), effective 3-26-20)