Glendale’s proposed wireless ordinance will be on the agenda for review and approval at the April 6 city council meeting.
Glendale Organized Against Cell Towers (GOACT) believes city staff have crafted a protective ordinance, and is urging residents to support it, and to ask council members to require public hearings for all installations.
The moratorium now in effect will be lifted after the ordinance is approved. As of February 3, 2010, there were 12 permits pending in or near residential areas, all Verizon installations in the Camino San Rafael/Emerald Isle/Chevy Chase neighborhoods.
The Glendale Planning Commission approved changes to Title 30 that require camouflaging, compliance with reporting and local zoning restrictions, and public hearings for installations on private property. Planning commissioners recommended that city council include slope, trees, and topography in siting considerations.
GOACT was concerned about public right-of-way installations in residential areas, regulated by Title 12 of the municipal code. At the Planning Commission hearing GOACT representatives urged setbacks of 15′ or 75% of antenna height and public hearing requirements. Industry representatives argued for fewer regulations, saying they needed installations in residential areas to provide coverage.
According to Public Works Counsel Christina Sansone, the draft ordinance contains a setback provision for rights-of-way in all zones, tying those setbacks to the requirements of the underlying zoning district.
The Glendale staff report and draft ordinance presented to the Planning Commission is available via this link.