(A) Utility pole design. An existing utility pole may be replaced or extended to accommodate small cell facilities subject to the following requirements.
(1) Replacement and new utility poles. Replacement utility poles shall be substantially similar to the width, color, and material of the original or adjacent utility poles. The city may approve minor deviations up to the minimum additional height needed to allow for the required clearance from electrical wires to accommodate an antenna or antennas and may also approve minor deviations up to 50% of the pole width at its base, not exceeding 30 inches, when housing equipment is placed within the pole base. Replacement utility poles shall be located as close as possible to the existing utility pole, and the replaced utility pole shall be removed. Replacement street lights and poles shall conform to the adopted streetscape design standard for the zoning district. New utility poles shall mimic the design of a replacement utility pole that is most suitable for the proposed location.
(2) Replacement and existing utility pole height. The height of any antennas at the top of a replacement or existing utility pole or any pole extender shall be no higher than the greater of either 50 feet or the height of such utility pole or SCF support structure plus 10%.
(3) Equipment concealed. Whenever technically feasible, antennas, cabling, and equipment shall be fully concealed within a pole or otherwise camouflaged to appear to be an integrated part of a pole.
(4) Flush-mounting and pole-top antennas. When technically feasible, antennas will be flush-mounted on a pole which means either mounted directly to the pole with no gap other than that which may be required for screws, bolts, or similar hardware; located at the top of the pole; or side mounted by mounted arm as needed for required clearance. Canisters attached to the top of a pole shall not exceed the diameter of the pole unless technically required and then shall not be more than 50% greater than the diameter of the pole at the point of attachment or up to 16 inches in diameter, whichever is greater.
(5) Antenna design. Each antenna 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 of its exposed elements could fit within an enclosure of no more than three cubic feet.
(6) No illumination. Small cell facilities shall not be illuminated except for small status LEDs installed by the manufacturer. Such LEDs may not be of a nature which is likely to distract a vehicle or pedestrian due to brightness, size, blinking, other similar condition, or any combination thereof.
(7) Generators and battery backup. Generators are not permitted for small cell facilities. A battery backup may be permitted if it is concealed consistent with the provisions of this subchapter.
(8) Cabinet location and dimensions. Any equipment cabinet for a small cell facility shall utilize the smallest cabinet enclosure that is technically feasible to enclose the equipment. Disconnect switches may be located outside of the primary equipment cabinet.
(9) Painting, coating, or finish material. The exterior of an SCF shall be painted, coated, or be of a material which draws minimal attention from an observer. For example, an SCF painted in blaze orange or safety green is highly likely to draw attention and be distracting, and an SCF finished with polished aluminum is more likely to be distracting than an SCF finished with matte grey paint.
(B) Ground-mounted equipment. To allow full use of the public rights-of-way by pedestrians, bicyclists, and other users, all ground-mounted equipment, excluding antennas, shall to the extent feasible be either underground, incorporated into street furniture, or concealed in the base of a pole and in all cases shall comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), city construction standards, and any applicable state or federal regulations in order to provide clear and safe passage within the public right-of-ways. The location of any ground-mounted equipment shall also comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), city construction standards, and any applicable state or federal regulations in order to provide clear and safe passage within the public rights-of-way.
(C) Building-mounted small cell facilities. Antennas may be mounted to a building if the antennas do not interrupt the building’s architectural theme.
(1) Balanced design. Small cell facilities attached to the side or roof of buildings shall employ a symmetrical or balanced design for all facade-mounted antennas. Subsequent deployments on a structure’s exterior will be required to ensure consistent design, architectural treatment, and symmetry with any existing small cell facilities on the same side of the structure.
(2) Architectural preservation. The interruption of architectural lines or horizontal or vertical reveals is prohibited unless demonstrated to be unavoidable.
(3) Complementary architecture. New architectural features such as columns, pilasters, corbels, or other ornamentation that conceals an antenna or antennas may be used only if the new feature complements the architecture of the existing building.
(4) Mounting brackets. Small cell facilities shall utilize the smallest mounting brackets necessary in order to provide the smallest offset from the building.
(5) Concealment. Skirts or shrouds shall be utilized on the sides and bottoms of antennas in order to conceal mounting hardware, create a cleaner appearance, and minimize the visual impact of the antennas. Exposed conduit cabling and wiring is prohibited.
(6) Matching paint. Small cell facilities and all visible mounting hardware shall be painted and textured to match adjacent building surfaces.
(7) Permission. All installations of a small cell facility shall have permission from the utility pole or SCF support structure owner to install the small cell facility on such utility pole or SCF support structure. Nothing in this section affects the need for an applicant seeking to place a small cell facility on a utility pole or SCF support structure that is not owned by the city to obtain from the owner of the utility pole or SCF support structure any necessary authority to place the small cell facility nor shall any provision of this section be deemed to affect the rates, terms, and conditions for access to or placement of a small cell facility on a utility pole or SCF support structure not owned by the city. This section does not affect any existing agreement between the Administrative Official and an entity concerning the placement of small cell facilities on any city-owned utility pole or SCF support structure.
(D) Preferred projecting or marquee sign. Small cell facilities replicating a projecting or marquee sign must comply with the city’s sign regulations. All antennas shall be completely screened by the facade of the sign. All cables and conduit to and from the sign shall be routed from within a building wall. Cable coverings may be allowed on the exterior of the building wall in limited circumstances and in situations where the coverings are minimally visible and concealed to match the adjacent building surfaces.
(E) Parking lot lighting. Small cell facilities are permitted as attachments to or replacements of existing parking lot light fixtures. The design of the parking lot light fixture shall be in accordance with applicable municipal code and construction standards except that a pole extender up to five feet in height may be utilized.
(F) Purely aesthetic standards. To the extent that a requirement is purely aesthetic, an SCF applicant shall not be required to meet a more burdensome standard than other users of the right-of-way. Other users of the right-of-way shall meet the purely aesthetic standards of this subchapter for new or replacement deployments to the extent which is technically and economically feasible.
(Ord. 591, passed 10-21-2019)