The purpose of this chapter is to provide a uniform and comprehensive set of standards for the development of wireless telecommunications facilities. The regulations contained herein are intended to protect and promote public health, safety, community welfare and the aesthetic quality of the city while at the same time providing reasonable opportunities for providers of wireless telecommunications services to provide such services in a safe, effective and efficient manner.
California cities are preempted from regulating various aspects of wireless communications facility siting by both state and federal law. In particular, cities cannot prohibit or effectively prohibit wireless facilities, unreasonably discriminate against wireless service providers or regulate such facilities on the basis of radio frequency emissions to the extent those emissions comply with federal standards. These regulations are further intended to:
A. Require the location of new monopoles, towers and antennas in non-residential zoning districts unless technically necessary for provision of the service.
B. Require telecommunications facilities to be designed in a way to minimize adverse visual impacts.
C. Encourage co-location of facilities.
D. Protect the public's interest in the safe operation of public safety, emergency and medical services.
E. Protect the public from exposure to electromagnetic frequency or radio frequency radiation in excess of federal standards.
(Ord. 2205, Ord. 2519 §32)