Planning commission forwards streamlined wireless code amendments, asks council for coverage study and stronger public notification

Senior Planner Amy Cer presented draft amendments to Chapter 17.73 on April 14 that aim to modernize the city's private‑property wireless permitting rules, streamline technical review, and reduce permit timelines while preserving local design and view protections.

Key staff proposals included allowing building‑mounted facilities up to building height to be handled administratively (freestanding, non‑building mounts would remain limited to 16 feet without additional approvals), replacing mandatory on‑site mockups with enhanced photo or visual simulations to reduce cost and delay, and narrowing the master‑plan requirement into a more concise technical report.

Staff also described adjustments to the appeal path — allowing appeals of administrative wireless facility permits and eligible facility permits to go to city council to comply with federal shot‑clock timelines — and suggested that pre‑application and community meetings be voluntary to avoid triggering timing constraints that hamper administrative review.

Commissioners agreed to forward the staff‑recommended ordinance amendments to the city council but appended several planning‑commission recommendations: (1) hire an independent consultant to proactively map service gaps and recommend a citywide siting strategy, (2) preserve mandatory public notification and allow the city to host community meetings if carriers do not, and (3) require photo simulations that show the proposed facility in context at scale rather than isolated tower images. Commissioners emphasized that where state or federal law requires flexibility, the code should reflect those legal limits, but they resisted removing community participation entirely.

The commission adopted a resolution forwarding the code amendments and its transmittal. The vote to forward the ordinance and the commission’s recommendations to city council was unanimous.