21.90.100 Design standards.
A. Signs or advertising devices other than certification, warning, or other legally required seals or signs shall not be placed on or attached to WCFs.
B. Accessory equipment shall meet the following standards:
1. All accessory equipment associated with the operation of the WCF shall be located within a building, enclosure, or underground vault that complies with the development standards of the zoning district in which the accessory equipment is located.
2. Accessory equipment enclosures shall be visually compatible with the surrounding buildings (such as same construction material as primary building(s), same color, etc.) and include sufficient landscaping to screen the structure from view, and shall be subject to approval by the development and business services director.
3. Accessory equipment enclosures shall be limited to the housing of radio, electronic and related power equipment, and shall not be used for any other purpose, including storage.
C. All WCFs shall employ concealment technology in their design, construction, and maintenance in order to reduce the WCFs’ aesthetic impacts to the maximum extent possible; provided, that public utilities using WCF equipment in connection with providing retail electric service must comply with industry standards and best practices. Such concealment technology shall include, at a minimum, the following:
1. All antenna support structures and antennas not concealed within an enclosure shall be painted a nonreflective color, subject to approval by the development and business services director, which blends into the nearby surroundings of the WCF so as to minimize the visual impact of the support structure and antennas.
2. New antenna support structures shall be located in such a manner that existing trees on the site are used to screen the WCF from view from roadways, residences, and other properties; provided, however, that all WCFs shall be designed in a manner which minimizes the need for removal or topping of existing trees.
3. To the maximum extent reasonably practical, WCFs shall be designed to resemble an object other than a WCF that is already present in the local environment, such as a tree or a street light. It may include the use of colors or materials to blend into the building materials from which a structure is constructed. Examples of concealment technology include, but are not limited to, the use of innovative site design techniques, existing or new vegetation and landscaping, paint and other surface treatments, alternative antenna configuration and/or selection, utilization of antenna support structures designed to resemble trees, and any other practice which screens the WCF from observation from roadways, residences, and other properties or otherwise has the effect of reducing the aesthetic impacts associated with the WCF.
D. All screening for attached WCFs shall be compatible with the existing architecture, color, texture and/or materials of the building, and when located on roofs shall avoid the “porcupine effect” through camouflage or other techniques acceptable to the development and business services director.
E. Monopole foundations and structures upon which antennas are to be mounted shall be designed to accommodate at least two carriers’ antennas.
F. Fencing, if permitted or required for locations outside the right-of-way, shall conform to the following:
1. No fence shall exceed the height permitted for the respective zone in which the facility is to be located. The fencing surrounding the WCF may be of a chain link material.
2. A landscaping buffer shall be provided to buffer the view of the WCF structure(s) and fence from off site. The landscaping buffer shall at a minimum be five feet in width and consist of evergreen shrubs with a mature height of at least 10 feet planted a maximum of five feet on center. The evergreen shrub at planting shall have a minimum height of six feet. Vegetation shall not be placed within safety sight prisms for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists.
G. Lighting for the WCF may be used for security reasons only and shall be shielded to prevent off-site glare. All exterior lighting shall be subject to approval by the development and business services director. In no case except when specifically required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the Federal Communication Commission (FCC) will the wireless communications support structure be lighted.
H. Small Cell Concealment and Design. Installation of small cells shall adhere to the following guidelines:
1. Small cells located within the city center-designated zones shall be compatible with the city center design guidelines and the city center streetscape plan. Applicant shall propose design concepts and use materials that follow the design character of the city center zones.
2. If a pole is to be replaced within the city center-designated zones, the design of such pole shall conform to those adopted by the city center streetscape plan, to the extent technically feasible.
3. Small cells’ cabling and wiring shall be entirely encased within the supporting structure, such as a light pole, or if attached to a wood pole, the cabling and wiring shall be concealed to the best extent possible and the color shall match the pole.
4. All cabling and wiring shall be placed opposite that of oncoming traffic and outer edge (sidewalk side) of right-of-way, when feasible.
5. All cabling shall be secured as close to the pole as allowed by the pole owner, or as required by applicable electrical codes for the pole to remain climbable. No excess cable loops shall be allowed on poles. Cabling shall be routed in the most direct path possible.
6. To the extent technically feasible, equipment located at the top of the pole shall utilize pole-top shrouding. Any facilities located off pole must remain in above-ground cabinetry not obstructing the pedestrian pathway, or be located underground.
7. When interior concealment is not possible, installation of an antenna on a pole shall be flush mounted or otherwise attached as close to the pole as technically feasible, or located at the top of the pole.
8. Antennas shall be located in an enclosure of no more than three cubic feet in volume, or in case of an antenna that has exposed elements, the antenna and all its exposed elements could fit within an imaginary enclosure of no more than three cubic feet on a single pole with a total volume not to exceed 12 cubic feet.
9. Where conduits or other pathways require the cutting of streets or sidewalks, concrete infill shall be used for reconstructing all curbs and sidewalks. Asphalt patch materials in bike or pedestrian pathways will not be permitted without authorization by the city engineer.
10. If any provision in this subsection (H) is inconsistent with another provision in this section, this subsection (H) shall control. (Ord. 3399 § 2 (Exh. A), 2021; Ord. 3290 § 2, 2018; Ord. 2441 § 21, 2003; Ord. 2270 § 1, 1999)