For purposes of this chapter, the following words, terms, phrases, and their derivations shall have the meanings given in this chapter. The word "shall" is always mandatory and not merely directory.
"Antenna"
means any system of wires, poles, rods, reflecting discs, or similar devices used in wireless communications for the transmission or reception of radio frequency signals (RF) or electromagnetic waves when such system is operated or operating from a fixed location.
"Antenna support structure" or "support structure"
means any structure which is used to support, house, or conceal antennas and any related appurtenances.
"Base station"
means the same as in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6002(g)(1) and (2), as may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: a structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables FCC-licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network. The term does not encompass a tower as defined herein, or any equipment associated with a tower. Base station includes, without limitation:
1.
Equipment associated with wireless communications services such as private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul.
2.
Radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular and backup power supplies, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration (including Distributed Antenna Systems ("DAS") and small-cell networks).
3.
Any structure other than a tower that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the City under this chapter, supports or houses equipment described in paragraphs (1)-(2) above and has been previously reviewed and approved by the City.
"Camouflage"
means the manners and methods by which a wireless communication facility is designed to be concealed and blend the facility with the surrounding environment.
"City property"
means any property in which the City holds a legal interest, including, but not limited to, the public right-of-way.
"Collocation"
means the same as defined by the FCC:
1.
When used in the context of an eligible facilities request, the definition in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as may be amended from time to time, applies.
2.
When not used in the context of an eligible facilities request, the definition in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6002(g), as may be amended from time to time, applies.
"Director"
means the Director of Community Development or designee.
"Eligible facility request"
means the same as defined by the FCC at 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as it may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: any request for modification of an existing tower or base station that, within the meaning of Section 6409(a) of the Middle Class Tax Relief Act and Job Creation Act of 2012, 47 U.S.C. Section 1455(a), does not substantially change the physical dimensions of that tower or base station, and involves: (a) the collocation of new transmission equipment; (b) the removal of transmission equipment; or (c) the replacement of transmission equipment.
"Eligible support structure"
means the same as defined by the FCC at 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as it may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: any existing tower or base station that exists at the time the application is filed with the City.
"Existing"
means the same as defined by the FCC at 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as it may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: a constructed tower or base station is existing for purposes of an eligible facilities request if has been previously reviewed and approved under the applicable City zoning or siting process, or under another applicable state or local regulatory review process, provided that a tower that has not been reviewed and approved because it was not in a zoned area when it was built, but was lawfully constructed, is "existing" for purposes of this definition.
"Facility class"
means the type of facility as defined in Section 9.162.050.
"FCC"
means the Federal Communications Commission of the United States.
"Ordinary maintenance"
means inspections, testing, and modifications to maintain functional capacity, aesthetic and structural integrity. Ordinary maintenance may include "like for like" replacement of antennas with new antennas of the same size, dimensions, shape, and color, and/or "like for like" replacement of equipment within an existing equipment room or enclosure without expansion of the room or enclosure.
"Service provider"
means the company or organization that provides and operates the wireless communication network.
"Site"
means the same as defined by the FCC at 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as it may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: For towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, the current boundaries of the leased or owned property surrounding the tower and any access or utility easements currently related to the site, and, for other eligible support structures, further restricted to the area in proximity to the structure and to other transmission equipment already deployed on the ground. The current boundaries of a site are the boundaries that existed as of the date that the original support structure or a modification to that structure was last reviewed and approved by a State or local government, if the approval of the modification occurred prior to the Middle-Class Tax Relief Act and Job Creation Act of 2012, 47 U.S.C. Section 1455(a) or otherwise outside of the Section 6409(a) process.
"Small cell" or "small cell facility"
shall have the same meaning as "small wireless facility" in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6002(l), as it may be amended from time to time, or any successor provision (which is a personal wireless services facility that meets the following conditions that, solely for convenience, have been set forth below):
1.
The facility:
a.
Is mounted on a structure 50 feet or less in height, including antennas, as defined in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1320(d), or
b.
Is mounted on a structure no more than 10% taller than other adjacent structures, or
c.
Does not extend an existing structure on which it is located to a height of more than 50 feet or by more than 10%, whichever is greater;
2.
Each antenna associated with the deployment, excluding associated antenna equipment (as defined in the definition of antenna in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1320(d)), is no more than three cubic feet in volume;
3.
All other wireless equipment associated with the structure, including the wireless equipment associated with the antenna and any pre-existing associated equipment on the structure, is no more than 28 cubic feet in volume.
4.
The facility does not require antenna structure registration under 47 C.F.R. Part 17;
5.
The facility is not located on Tribal lands, as defined under 36 C.F.R. Section 800.16(x); and
6.
The facility does not result in human exposure to radiofrequency radiation in excess of the applicable safety standards specified in 47 C.F.R. Section 1.1307(b).
"Stealth"
means designed to look like something other than a WCF by incorporating camouflaging.
"Substantial change"
means the same as defined by the FCC at 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as it may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: a modification substantially changes the physical dimensions of an eligible support structure if it meets the following criteria:
1.
For a tower not located in the public rights-of-way:
a.
The height of the tower is increased by: (i) more than 10%; or (ii) by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet, whichever is greater; or
b.
There is added an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower by: (i) more than 20 feet; or (ii) more than the width of the tower at the level of the appurtenance, whichever is greater.
2.
For a tower located in the public rights-of-way and for all base stations:
a.
The height of the tower or base station is increased by more than 10% or 10 feet, whichever is greater; or
b.
There is added an appurtenance to the body of that structure that would protrude from the edge of that structure by more than six feet; or
c.
It involves the installation of ground cabinets that are more than 10% larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure; or
d.
It involves the installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there is no pre-existing ground cabinet associated with that structure.
3.
For any eligible support structure:
a.
It involves the installation of more than four cabinets; or
b.
The proposed modification entails any excavation or deployment outside of the current site, except that for towers not in the public rights-of-way, it entails any excavation or deployment of transmission equipment outside of the current site by more than 30 feet in any direction. The site boundary from which the 30 feet is measured excludes any access or utility easements currently related to the site; or
c.
The proposed modification would defeat the concealment elements of the eligible support structure; or
d.
The proposed modification would not comply with the conditions associated with the prior siting approval of construction or modification of the eligible support structure or base station, unless the non-compliance is due to an increase in height, increase in width, addition of cabinets, or new excavation that does not exceed the corresponding thresholds in this section.
4.
To measure changes in height for the purposes of this section, the baseline is:
a.
For deployments that are or will be separated horizontally, such as on buildings' rooftops, measured from the original support structure;
b.
For all others, measured from the tower or base station, inclusive of originally approved appurtenances and any modifications that were approved by the City prior to February 22, 2012.
"Temporary facility"
means a wireless communications facility installed and maintained for a period not to exceed 90 days.
"Tower"
means the same as defined by the FCC at 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as it may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: Any structure built for the sole or primary purpose of supporting any FCC-licensed or authorized antennas and their associated facilities, including structures that are constructed for wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul, and the associated site. This term does not include a base station.
"Transmission equipment"
means the same as defined by the FCC at 47 C.F.R. Section 1.6100(b), as it may be amended from time to time. For the purpose of convenience only, this definition is stated as follows: Equipment that facilitates transmission for any Commission-licensed or authorized wireless communication service, including, but not limited to, radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, and regular and backup power supply. The term includes equipment associated with wireless communications services including, but not limited to, private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul.
"Utility mounted"
means mounted to an existing above-ground utility structure located on utility easements or property, including water tanks and/or structures specifically designed and originally installed to support electrical distribution lines. Structures in the public right-of-way are not considered utility structures for the purposes of this chapter.
"Wi-Fi"
means a local area wireless technology that allows electronic devices to exchange data or connect to the internet.
"Wireless communication facility," "WCF" or "facility"
means the transmitters, antenna structures and other types of installations used for the provision of wireless services at a fixed location, including, without limitation, any associated tower(s), support structure(s), and base station(s).
"Wireless communication facility permit"
means a non-discretionary permit to establish a wireless communication facility or component thereof, issued by the Director, and applicable to facility classes specified in Section 9.162.050."
(Ord. 284 § 1, 2016; Ord. 316 § 2, 2019; Ord. 321 § 2, 2019; Ord. 354 § 5, 2022)