01 - Laserfiche WebLink

requirements for all facilities are evenly applied, and also ensure that all facilities meet minimum standards in the event that an approval is mandated by law. 7. Three Issues Raised by the Planning Commission First, in accordance with the motion made by the Commission, staff has removed the requirement that applicants post a performance bond to ensure removal of the equipment upon the end of the license period (as the City may not impose more burdensome requirements on wireless facilities and other utility companies are not required to post removal bonds.) Second, as requested by the Commission, staff and legal counsel reviewed the requirements related to concealment and the maximum height of antennas to balance the need to maintain community aesthetics with the reasonably foreseeable standards of new technologies. As a result, staff modified the policy to allow the Community Development Director to have the authority to approve alternative concealment techniques if those stated in the Policy become technically infeasible. Staff also provided flexibility to the Policy to allow five feet (instead of four feet) above the existing support structure to allow for the possibility for less bulky and more vertical design. Third, based on input from the Commission as well as from industry stakeholders (AT&T and Verizon), staff has modified the requirement that the applicant demonstrate that the project is in the more preferred location within 350 feet (instead of 750 feet) of the proposed site if the applicant can demonstrate with clear and convincing evidence that the more preferred location is technically infeasible. 8. Discussions with Industry Stakeholders Staff received letters from AT&T and Verizon (along with inquiries from other industry stakeholders) prior to the February 20th meeting of the Planning Commission. (Those letters are attached.) Following the Commission's meeting, staff and/or outside legal counsel conferred with both AT&T and Verizon to discuss areas of concern. AT&T requested that wireless facilities be approvable through a preapproved design process. Staff believes that having pre-approved designs would expedite the process while also guaranteeing that the City gets the best design possible. Accordingly, the Policy has been modified with the addition of section 2.8, Preapproved Designs. Industry stakeholders also asked that the City consider reducing the radius of the required site survey that the carrier is required to submit as part of the application. Staff recommends that the site survey (identifying all existing boundaries, encroachments, structures, utilities, etc. be set at a radius of 300 feet in order to match the noticing provisions. Next, staff considered a request to relax the restrictions on all ground-mounted equipment. Staff modified only the language regarding electric meters to state that the Community Development Director shall not approve a separate ground-mounted electric meter pedestal unless all other options are technically infeasible and the proposed pedestal will be located off any sidewalk areas. Finally, industry stakeholders asked that the City relax the currently proposed restrictions on traffic signals, new wood poles and decorative poles or allow for the use of pre-approved designs. Staff believes that the most prudent Page 5of7