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These guidelines implement the requirements contained in Development Code for telecommunication sites. Special circumstances may dictate deviation from these guidelines based on recommendations of the applicable Board of Architectural Review and the determination of the review authority.

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 (two to three) 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 Department may not require security fencing. A low cattleguard should be considered to keep range animals out of the facility. The cattleguard 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.

3.

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 revegetated 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.

3.

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):

(1)

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

(2)

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).

(3)

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).

(4)

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 review authority would ultimately determine the appropriate support structure for a particular site with recommendations from staff.

g.

If organic or mineral mulch and/or riprap 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.