A. Finish and Color.
1. Towers shall either maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the FAA, be painted a neutral color so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness.
2. At a tower site, the design of the buildings and related structures shall, to the extent possible, use materials, colors, textures, screening, and landscaping that will blend them into the natural setting and surrounding buildings.
3. If an antenna is installed on a structure other than a tower, the antenna and supporting electrical and mechanical equipment must be of a neutral color that is identical to, or closely compatible with, the color of the supporting structure so as to make the antenna and related equipment as visually unobtrusive as possible.
B. Lighting. Towers shall not be artificially lighted, unless required by the FAA or other applicable authority. If lighting is required, the lighting alternatives and design chosen must cause the least disturbance to the surrounding views.
C. State or Federal Requirements. All towers and antennas must meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, the FCC, and any other agency of the State of New Mexico or Federal government with the authority to regulate towers and antennas. If such standards and regulations are changed, then the owners of the towers and antennas governed by this Chapter shall bring such towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations within six (6) months of the effective date of such standards and regulations, unless a different compliance schedule is mandated by the controlling state or federal agency.
D. Building Codes; Standards. To ensure the structural integrity of towers, the owner of a tower shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable state or local building codes and the applicable industry standards for towers, as amended from time to time. If, upon inspection, the City concludes that a tower fails to comply with such codes and standards and constitutes a danger to persons or property, then upon notice being provided to the owner of the tower, the owner shall have thirty (30) days to bring such tower into compliance with such standards. Failure to bring such tower into compliance within said thirty (30) days shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower at the owner’s expense.
E. Visual Impact. All towers and antennas, including equipment enclosures, shall be sited and designed to minimize adverse visual impacts on surrounding properties and the traveling public to the greatest extent reasonably possible, consistent with the proper functioning of the structure or equipment. Such equipment enclosures shall be integrated through location and design to blend in with the existing characteristics of the site. Such enclosures shall also be designed to either resemble the surrounding landscape and other natural features where located in proximity to natural surroundings, or be compatible with the built environment, through matching and complimentary existing structures and specific design considerations such as architectural designs, height, scale, color and texture or be consistent with other uses and improvements permitted in the relevant zone.
F. Use of Stealth Design. Concealment techniques in design districts and historic districts must be appropriate given the proposed location, design, visual environment, and nearby uses, structures, and natural features. Stealth design shall be designed and constructed to substantially conform to surrounding building designs or natural settings, so as to be visually unobtrusive.
G. Building-mounted Equipment.
1. All transmission equipment shall be concealed within existing architectural features to the maximum extent feasible. Any new architectural features proposed to conceal the transmission equipment shall be designed to mimic the existing underlying structure, shall be proportional to the existing underlying structure or conform to the underlying use and shall use materials in similar quality, finish, color and texture as the existing underlying structure.
2. All roof-mounted transmission equipment shall be set back from all roof edges to the maximum extent feasible consistent with the need for “line-of-sight” transmission and reception of signals.
3. Antenna arrays and supporting transmission equipment shall be installed so as to camouflage, disguise or conceal them to make them closely compatible with and blend into the setting or host structure.
H. Pole-mounted or Tower-mounted Transmission Equipment. All pole-mounted or tower-mounted transmission equipment shall be mounted as close as possible to the pole or tower so as to reduce the overall visual profile to the maximum extent feasible consistent with safety standards.
I. Concealment of Pole-mounted Equipment. All pole-mounted equipment must be reasonably concealed to the extent technically feasible in a manner that minimizes the visual impact of the pole-mounted equipment. The concealment method and materials must receive prior written approval by the City, not to be unreasonably withheld. Antenna size limitations are exclusive of any concealment materials or fabrication. Concealment materials shall have a color and finish consistent and appropriate with the pole on which they are mounted.
J. Accessory Equipment. All accessory equipment located at the base of a small wireless facility shall be located or placed (at the applicant’s choice) in an existing building, underground, or in an equipment cabinet that is (a) designed to blend in with existing surroundings, using architecturally compatible construction and colors; and (b) be located so as to be unobtrusive as possible consistent with the proper functioning of the small wireless facility.
K. Site Design Flexibility. Individual small wireless facility sites vary in the location of adjacent buildings, existing trees, topography and other local variables. By mandating certain design standards, there may result a project that could have been less intrusive if the location of the various elements of the project could have been placed in more appropriate locations within a given site. Therefore, the small wireless facility and supporting equipment may be installed so as to best camouflage, disguise them, or conceal them, to make them more closely compatible with and blend into the setting or host structure.
L. Structural Assessment. The owner of a proposed tower shall have a structural assessment of the tower conducted by a professional engineer, licensed in the State of New Mexico, which shall be submitted with the application for a permit.
M. Residential Provisions.
1. All small wireless facilities on residentially zoned property are encouraged to either be painted or treated the same color as the primary structure or the surface to which the facilities are attached. This includes painting or screening roof-mounted communication structures.
2. Screening or painting of roof-mounted structures is required on all sides of the residential property in which a small wireless facility is placed.
N. Screening of Ground-mounted Equipment. Ground equipment and equipment enclosures shall be screened by a screen wall, painted, and/or landscaped.
1. Screening and equipment enclosures shall blend with or enhance the surrounding area in terms of scale, form, texture, materials, and color. Equipment shall be concealed as much as possible by blending into the natural and/or physical environment. All screening shall be at the reasonable discretion of the City.
2. When trees, bushes, rocks, and other forms of landscaping are used for screening, such landscaping must match the predominant landscaping form and species within one block of the facilities.
O. Additional Screening Requirements. Any new, modified, or replacement poles installed in the right-of-way in conjunction with the installation of a small wireless facility, including any ground mounted equipment, electrical service meter, and screening shall:
1. Be designed to blend in with the surrounding streetscape with minimal visual impact;
2. Satisfy all required Americans with Disabilities Act requirements;
3. Not impair or interfere with line of sight visibility; and
4. Not block or obstruct existing roadway, or commercial signage. (Ord. C2021-5, 8-24-2021)