08-21-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The most common objection to wireless communications facilities is their visual impact. Oftentimes, local residents, many of whom use wireless communications services, do not want to see towers and antennas proliferating in their own communities and have expressed fears that their property values might be affected. To address the visual aspect of wireless communications facilities,specific development standards and /or mitigation measures should be developed by local government agencies. These standards should be clearly defined and should be designed taking into consideration the technical requirements of the wireless communications technology (e.g., the technical requirement to locate antennas at a certain height and in a particular service area, or to maintain adequate separation between individua: antennas). Suggested development standards and mitigation measures may include: • • Screening antennas and towers from view from public rights-of-way or scenic vistas, either via • landscaping, fencing,or other architectural screening; • Encouraging creative design measures to camouflage facilities by integrating them with existing buildings and among other existing uses; • Where other technically feasible sites are available, minimizing the effect of the location of facilities in visually-sensitive areas, such as residential communities and open space zones; • Encouraging providers to co-locate their facilities on a single site, where technically feasible 1110 and visually desirable; and • Locating antennas and equipment on other existing community facility sites, such as on water tanks or utility poles. Specific site development standards and mitigation measures are not included in this paper. Rather, it is suggested that local governmental agencies develop their own particular standards which would best address their local communities' sensitivities to the visual element. Copies of various ordinances from other jurisdictions, which provide samples of specific site development standards for—wireless communions facilitis,are-included in-Appendix 2. 2. Provide applicable development standards and/or mitigation measures to proponents of wireless communications projects in the pre-design phase prior to project submittal. Local development standards and/or mitigation measures should be provided to proponents of wireless communications projects in written format prior to project submittal, in order to acquaint them with what designs and locations of facilities are acceptable by the particular local community. This would enable wireless communications providers to consider their own technical service requirements, as well as local objectives to minimize visual impacts, when deciding between site alternatives. 1110 The design of wireless communications facilities has evolved over time, and it is feasible in some, but not all, instances to design and/or locate facilities so that they are visually unobtrusive. The 5