A. Applicability: The design and installation provision set forth herein are applicable to all new wireless communication facilities (WCF) within the City of Temple City, not located within or over a public right-of-way.
B. Definitions:
ANTENNA: | One or more rods, poles, panels, disks, or similar devices used for the transmission or reception of radio frequency signals. This definition includes omnidirectional antennas (whips), directional antennas (panels), and parabolic antennas (disks). |
ANTENNA, BUILDING FACADE MOUNTED: | A flat panel installed by flush mounting the antenna to the building's facade and painting it to match the wall's color and texture. In some cases, the antenna is incorporated into or hidden by one of the structure's design elements. |
ANTENNA, FLAGPOLE: | A slim line monopole with a flag attached. It has a thicker diameter than a typical flagpole. |
ANTENNA, LATTICE POWER LINE TOWER: | This design takes advantage of the existing lattice power transmission towers used by utility companies. |
ANTENNA, LIGHT STANDARD FLUSH MOUNTED: | Usually found at sports fields with ballpark lighting. The antenna panels are mounted near the pole and under the lights. However, antennas can also be placed within a stealth cylinder on top of a light standard. |
ANTENNA, LOLLYPOP: | Consists of a thin pole that holds a panel antenna. Employed in open space or below the ridgeline in canyons or areas of hilly terrain. Sometimes the antenna is blended with faux or natural vegetation. |
ANTENNA, MONOBROADLEAF: | Mimics a broadleaf tree to hide antennas, using the same monopole structure. |
ANTENNA, MONOPALM: | Covers a monopole design with palm fronds and a growth pod to hide the cell site's antennas. |
ANTENNA, MONOPINE: | Similar to a monopole design pole with simulated bark covering, in addition to simulated branches and pine needles. |
ANTENNA, MONOPOLE: | A tall pole topped with a triangular structure to mount the antenna array. This is one of the earlier design types used for wireless communications facilities. |
ANTENNA, SATELLITE EARTH STATION: | A parabolic or dish shaped antenna or other apparatus or device that is designed for the purpose of receiving or transmitting signals for voice, video, or data. |
ANTENNA, SLIM LINE MONOPOLE: | A slender pole mounted with a four (4) to six (6)-foot-high radome that has an eighteen (18) to twenty four (24) inches diameter to conceal the antennas. |
ANTENNA, STEALTH INSTALLATION: | In addition to monopine, monopalm, and monobroadleaf, can include faux chimneys, rooftop screen walls, steeples, clock towers, and faux water tanks. |
ANTENNA, WATER TANK: | Uses a preexisting, aboveground structure to attach facade mounted antennas. |
ANTENNA, WHIP: | A thin metal/fiberglass pole that serves as a receiving and transmitting device. Typically measures 18 inches to 10 feet in length and 0.5 inch to four inches in diameter. Typically installed on fire department buildings, police department buildings, and city maintenance facilities. |
COLLOCATION: | The sharing of a wireless communication facility by two (2) or more wireless communication service providers. |
INSTITUTIONAL: | Includes churches, temples and other places of religious worship; educational institutions; government facilities; lodges, meeting halls and social clubs; and parks and playgrounds. This does not include residential uses, community care facilities (large and small), modular homes, supportive housing, transitional housing, commercial off-street parking spaces, homes for the aged, hospitals, nursery schools, daycare centers, and psychiatric hospitals. |
RADOME: | An enclosure made of radio frequency-transparent materials used to screen and/or protect wireless communication antennas. |
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY: | For purposes of this article, a wireless communications facility is any unstaffed facility for the transmission and/or reception of wireless telecommunication services, usually consisting of an antenna array, connection cables, an equipment enclosure or facility, and a tower structure or other building or structure used to achieve the necessary elevation. |
C. Types Of Wireless Communication Facilities Permitted In Designated Zone Districts: No person may place, affix, attach, mount, construct, erect, install, develop, use, operate and maintain, or modify a wireless facility, wireless transmission device, support structure and/or accessory equipment within the city without meeting the permitting requirements in the table below. Notwithstanding the foregoing, administrative collocation may be allowed as approved in subsection J of this section.
Type of Wireless Facility | R-Zone | M Zone | OS/FC Zones | CSP Zones | NC Zone | LTC Zone | DC Zone | MU- L Zone | MU- M Zone |
Type of Wireless Facility | R-Zone | M Zone | OS/FC Zones | CSP Zones | NC Zone | LTC Zone | DC Zone | MU- L Zone | MU- M Zone |
Building Façade Mounted | C1 | S | S | S | S | S | S | S | |
Flagpole | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | |
Lattice power line tower | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | |
Light standard flush mounted | C1 | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C |
Lollypop | |||||||||
Monopol e | |||||||||
Monotre e | C1 | C | C | C | |||||
Satellite Earth Station (<1m in dia.) | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Satellite Earth Station (>1m and <2m in dia.) | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | ||
Satellite Earth Station (>2m in dia.) | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | ||
Slim line monopol e | S | S | S | S | |||||
Stealth installati on antenna | C1 | S | C | S | S | S | S | S | S |
Water tank | |||||||||
Whip (>18 in. in length) | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Whip | |||||||||
(>18 in. and <60 in. in length) | C | P | C | P | P | P | P | P | P |
Whip | |||||||||
(>60 in. in length) | C | ||||||||
Legend: C = Conditional Use Permit; P = Permitted, no reviews; S = Site plan review, minor; ZC = Zoning Clearance; Blank = Prohibited | |||||||||
Note: 1. The applicable type of wireless communication facility is allowed, with the appropriate entitlement, only on sites where the primary use is institutional. | |||||||||
D. Design Standards: The city shall apply the following design standards to all proposed wireless communications facilities:
1. Building Facade Mounted Antenna:
a. An antenna less than 1.5 square feet in surface area that is mounted to a building facade shall be treated to match or complement the existing facade's color and texture. Such antenna shall be mounted flush to the building or with low profile brackets, as well as skirted. The antenna's profile shall not extend more than twelve inches (12") outward from the building facade, and shall not extend above the height of the facade.
b. An antenna with a surface area greater than 1.5 square feet that is mounted on any commercial building's facade shall be fully screened using materials that match the existing facade's color and texture.
c. Antenna screening systems shall be architecturally integrated with the building to the greatest possible extent.
d. Antenna screens shall be fully enclosed to prevent birds from nesting in the screen structures.
e. The facade mounted antennas and screening shall not extend above the parapet and must be designed to the minimum feasible depth.
f. The structure's walls, conduits, chases, or concealment type devices that are integrated into the building's architecture shall hide all coaxial cables to the greatest possible extent. All exposed cable shall be painted to match the underlying surface.
g. Antennas shall not extend above the height of the parapet. Installations proposing antennas greater than the height of the parapet shall be designed as a stealth installation.
2. Flagpole Antenna:
a. Flagpoles, not exceeding fifty-five feet (55') in height with the antenna concealed inside the pole, are allowable in conjunction with commercial or industrial uses.
b. The radome must not exceed an eighteen-inch (18") diameter.
c. The poles must be able to fly flags. U.S. flags that are not removed every day at sunset must be appropriately lit.
d. The pole diameters shall be the minimum necessary to meet engineering requirements to accompany and conceal the inner coaxial cabling.
e. Different carriers' antennas should be distributed on multiple flagpoles to minimize the poles' overall diameter.
3. Lattice Power Line Tower Antenna:
a. No new lattice towers shall be allowed.
b. Collocation on existing power line towers may be allowed subject to city approval.
c. Antennas should be mounted to the vertical portion of the structure, using low profile mounting brackets.
d. All pipe mounts must be concealed behind the antenna. The accompanying coaxial cables shall be run inside the tower structure.
e. Accompanying communications equipment shall be located under or close to the tower structure. The equipment shall be enclosed by an appropriate screening wall.
4. Light Standard Flush Mounted Antenna:
a. An allowable light standard antenna shall be a low profile/flush mounted antenna with a maximum height of thirty-five feet (35') measured from the existing grade to the top of the antenna.
b. The antenna shall be painted to match the light standard, and all cables shall be concealed within the light standard.
c. The radome shall not exceed eighteen inches (18") in diameter and six and one-half feet (6.5') in height above the light pole.
5. Lollypop Antenna:
a. A lollypop antenna shall be approved only when other stealth installation types are more intrusive, such as on steep slopes or hillsides. Lollypop antennas are not permitted on buildings.
b. Such antennas shall be installed below ridgelines wherever possible to avoid the antennas' profile appearing above a slope top.
c. Cross braces between individual antenna poles add additional bulk to the installation and shall be discouraged.
d. Antennas and their support poles must be painted the appropriate colors that blend with the surrounding environment.
e. In cases where irrigation is available, natural shrubs shall be planted behind lollypop antennas.
f. In cases where irrigation is unavailable or impractical, faux shrubs (subject to planning department review) may be installed to conceal antenna arrays.
g. All coaxial cables that connect the antennas to their accompanying communications equipment cabinet shall be underground.
h. The height from the base of the antenna shall not exceed fifteen feet (15').
6. Monotree Antenna:
a. Monobroadleaf Antenna:
(1) A monobroadleaf antenna shall be designed for a minimum of two (2) carriers if feasible.
(2) The monobroadleaf structure shall exhibit enough branches to conceal all antennas.
(3) Branch dispersal shall be random, with intermingled long and short branches, to appear natural.
(4) The height of branches shall exceed all antennas by at least twelve inches (12").
(5) Branches shall begin a minimum of fifteen feet (15') above the ground.
(6) The top of the faux tree shall be a minimum of five feet (5') above the highest antenna.
(7) Branch foliage shall reflect varying colored "leaves" to mimic a real broadleaf tree. The foliage shall be extruded in these colors instead of painted. A sample branch with foliage must be submitted for city approval prior to fabrication.
(8) A custom colored sample of bark cladding must be submitted for city approval prior to fabrication.
(9) Leafed antenna socks that match the approved foliage color must cover all antennas.
(10) Antennas shall be mounted using standoff mounts (frame type mounts are unacceptable). Antenna support pipe mounts must be painted a darker shade of green or black with a flat paint finish that reduces reflection and mounting visibility.
(11) The tower (trunk) shall conceal all coaxial cables, with access to the antenna through the structure base.
(12) The maximum monobroadleaf structure height is forty feet (40').
b. Monopalm Antenna:
(1) The structure shall be designed for a minimum of two (2) carriers if feasible.
(2) The monopalm structure shall exhibit enough palm fronds to simulate a natural palm tree.
(3) The antenna shall be concealed within the growth pod and/or the monopalm trunk. The top of the faux tree's palm fronds shall extend a minimum of five feet (5') above the top of the antenna.
(4) Frond foliage color shall vary in olive green shades to simulate palm tree colors. A sample palm frond shall be submitted for city approval prior to fabrication.
(5) A custom colored sample of bark cladding shall be submitted for city approval prior to fabrication.
(6) The tower (trunk) shall conceal all coaxial cables, with access to the antenna through the base of the structure.
(7) The maximum monopalm structure height (tower portion) shall be forty feet (40').
c. Monopine Antenna:
(1) Monopine antennas shall be designed for a minimum of two (2) carriers.
(2) Monopine antennas shall have a minimum of 3.1 branches per foot for full density coverage, limiting spacing between the branches. Seventy percent of the branches shall be eight feet (8') or longer.
(3) Branch dispersal shall be random, with intermingled long and short branches, to appear natural.
(4) Branches shall extend beyond all antennas by at least twelve inches (12").
(5) Branches shall begin a minimum of fifteen feet (15') above the ground.
(6) The top of the faux tree shall be a minimum of five feet (5') above the highest antenna.
(7) Branch foliage must be multicolored with greens and browns, matching those of a natural pine tree. The foliage must be extruded (made from plastic) in these colors instead of painted. A sample shall be submitted for city approval prior to fabrication.
(8) A bark cladding sample with custom color shall be submitted for city approval prior to fabrication.
(9) Pine needle antenna socks that match the approved foliage colors shall cover all antennas.
(10) Antennas shall be mounted using standoff mounts (frame type mounts are unacceptable). Antenna support pipe mounts shall be painted a darker shade of green or black with a flat paint finish that reduces reflection and mounting visibility.
(11) Coaxial cables shall access the structure through the base.
(12) The maximum monopine height is forty feet (40').
7. Monopole Antenna:
a. Not allowed, except as slim line monopoles.
b. New antenna collocation on existing monopoles requires the approval of a new conditional use permit.
8. Satellite Earth Station Antenna:
a. The following satellite earth station antennas of one (1) meter or less in diameter are permitted as an accessory use in all zone districts and may be installed without a zone clearance or building permit.
(1) An antenna that satisfies all the following criteria: is used to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct to home satellite service, or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals via satellite; is one (1) meter or less in diameter; and does not exceed twelve feet (12') in height as measured from the surface on which it is mounted and does not exceed twelve feet (12') above the height limit of the applicable zone district.
(2) An antenna that satisfies all the following criteria: is used to receive video programming services via multipoint distribution services, including multichannel multipoint distribution services, instructional television fixed services, and local multipoint distribution services, or to receive or transmit fixed wireless signals other than via satellite; is one (1) meter or less in diameter or diagonal measurement; and does not exceed twelve feet (12') in height as measured from the surface on which it is mounted and does not exceed twelve feet (12') above the height limit of the applicable zone district.
(3) An antenna that satisfies all of the following criteria: is used to receive television broadcast signals; is one (1) meter or less in diameter; and does not exceed twelve feet (12') in height as measured from the surface on which it is mounted and does not exceed twelve feet (12') above the applicable height limit of the applicable zone district.
(4) For purposes of this section, the term "fixed wireless signals" means any commercial non-broadcast communications signals transmitted via wireless technology to and/or from a fixed customer location. This term does not include, among other things, A.M. radio, F.M. radio, amateur (ham) radio, or citizens band (CB) radio.
b. A satellite earth station antenna between one (1) and two (2) meters in diameter that satisfies the criteria set forth below is permitted as an accessory use, subject to approval of a conditional use permit, in any zone district where commercial or industrial uses are generally permitted.
(1) The diameter of the antenna is more than one (1) meter and less than or equal to two (2) meters.
(2) The antenna does not exceed twelve feet (12') in height as measured from the surface on which it is mounted and does not exceed twelve feet (12') above the applicable height limit of the zone district.
c. The following safety standards shall apply to all satellite earth station antennas that are greater than one (1) meter in diameter in all zone districts.
(1) No antenna shall be installed in a manner that impedes normal vehicular or pedestrian circulation.
(2) Any mast used to elevate an antenna shall be constructed of noncombustible and corrosive resistant materials.
(3) Antennas must be installed with adequate ground wire to protect against a direct lightning strike.
(4) Antennas shall be separated from adjacent power lines in accordance with electrical code requirements and other applicable laws.
(5) Any mast used to elevate an antenna shall be secured by a separate safety wire in a direction away from adjacent power lines and other potential hazards.
(6) To the extent feasible, all cables, wires, and similar electrical transmission devices associated with the antenna shall be placed underground.
(7) No antenna or any supporting parts shall encroach into the public right-of-way.
(8) Antennas shall be maintained in good repair and condition and in compliance with the building code, electrical code, fire code, and other applicable laws.
9. Slim Line Monopole Antenna:
a. Antennas and cables shall be mounted inside the structures. Radomes exceeding eighteen inches (18") in diameter shall not be allowed. Overall monopole height shall not exceed fifty-five feet (55').
b. The structure's coloring shall be light gray, olive green, light blue, or another appropriate color to blend with the antenna's predominant background, as determined through the conditional use permit process.
10. Stealth Installation Antenna:
a. Faux Chimney Antenna:
(1) Faux chimney antennas may be allowed, depending on the extent of the site application's integration with the existing building's architecture.
(2) The number, height, width, and depth of the antennas must balance with the existing structure's bulk and scale.
(3) The antenna must not exceed ten feet (10') above the maximum roof height for all level roofed buildings and must not exceed the maximum roof height of a peak roofed building.
b. Rooftop Screen Wall Antenna:
(1) Antennas must not exceed ten feet (10') above the maximum roof height for level roofed buildings.
(2) Walls must be set back at least three feet (3') from the roof's edge.
(3) Walls are required to match or complement the building facade's color and texture.
c. Steeple Antenna:
(1) Antennas mounted inside existing steeples can utilize the full space.
(2) Antennas must match the existing structure's color and texture and be fully screened.
(3) Any modification to the steeple's outward appearance must be integrated with the overall structural design.
(4) New steeple construction on an existing structure must be consistent with the current architectural design and be no more than forty-five feet (45') in height as measured from the existing grade to the top of the steeple.
d. Clock Tower:
(1) A clock tower installation must be appropriate for the location and must be designed for a minimum of two (2) carriers.
(2) The installation is allowed, up to forty-five feet (45') in height, depending on the surrounding environment.
(3) The design must be consistent with the environmental and built setting in which it is located.
(4) In most cases, use of a clock tower stealth antenna shall be limited to institutional sites and commercial projects greater than two acres in size where the clock tower is architecturally consistent with the design of the development and the location on site appears to have been considered with the original development's site plan.
11. Water Tank Antenna:
a. Facade mounted antennas on a water tank structure shall not extend above the top of the tank.
b. Antennas and coaxial cables shall be painted to match the color of the structure.
12. Whip Antenna:
a. Whip antennas eighteen inches (18") or less in length are allowable on any structure in any zone.
b. Antennas greater than eighteen inches (18") but less than sixty inches (60") in length are allowable on any commercial or industrial building provided that the antenna does not exceed the roofline by more than ten feet (10').
c. A whip antenna's base must be set back from the roof's edge by a distance equal to its height.
E. Equipment Location and Screening Systems: All equipment installation types require all coaxial, telephone, and electric cables/wires to be concealed.
1. Equipment Vault: Belowground equipment vaults are encouraged for all wireless installations at park facilities, parking lots, and wireless facilities in the public right of way.
2. Tenant Improvement: Tenant improvement is encouraged for all wireless installations on existing buildings, where enough space is available within the building's interior. If enough space is not available within the existing building structure, equipment room additions are allowed subject to standard building/zoning codes. Equipment room addition design is required to be consistent with the existing building's architecture and must be effectively mitigated with the required landscape setbacks.
3. Prefabricated Equipment Shelter:
a. These shelters are discouraged for most wireless installation applications.
b. Prefabricated equipment shelters can be utilized in commercial areas where the shelter is not visible to any public view.
4. Site Constructed Equipment Shelter: These shelters are encouraged, provided they are architecturally integrated into the surrounding environment. The height of the equipment shelter must not exceed that which is consistent with the adjacent building. Air conditioning condensing units (A/C units) must be located on the ground adjacent to the structure or mounted on the roof. A/C units must be fully screened and must not exceed any applicable noise ordinances. Landscape standards also apply.
5. Outdoor Communications Equipment Cabinet: These cabinets must be located within equipment enclosures (except communications equipment in the public right of way), with sufficiently high walls that completely conceal the equipment cabinets from public view. Equipment enclosures must have lattice type covering to prevent unauthorized access. All city screening and mitigation requirements also apply.
6. Rooftop Equipment Platform:
a. These platforms must be fully screened and, if possible, integrated with a rooftop antenna installation. Equipment screening height must not exceed ten feet (10') above the maximum roof height of level roofed buildings; others are subject to staff review.
b. In evaluating the appropriate design for a particular property, existing uses of the property, landscaping and optimal location of the facility must be considered.
F. Regulation of Facilities:
1. Wireless communication facilities allowable without review and approval of the planning division or issuance of a zoning clearance include the following:
a. In residential zones, a whip antenna of eighteen inches (18") or less in height.
b. In nonresidential zones, a whip antenna of sixty inches (60") or less in height.
c. In all zones, a satellite earth station antenna of one (1) meter or less in diameter.
2. Wireless communication facilities requiring planning division approval of a minor site plan review include the following:
a. Building facade antennas in the I, CSP, NC, LTC, DC, MU-L, and MU-M zones.
b. Slim line monopoles in the I, NC, LTC, and MU-M zones.
c. Stealth installations in the I, CSP, NC, LTC, DC, MU-L, and MU-M zones.
3. Except where prohibited, all other wireless communication antennas require city planning commission approval of a conditional use permit prior to installation.
4. All permitted antennas must comply with the city building code, electrical code, fire code, and other applicable laws.
G. City Use of Consultants: The director may require the applicant to provide an authorization to permit the city to hire an independent, qualified consultant to evaluate any technical aspect of the proposed use, including issues involving radio frequency emissions, alternative designs, and alternative sites. Any authorization for this purpose must include an agreement by the applicant to reimburse the city for all reasonable costs associated with the consultation. Any proprietary information disclosed to the city or the consultant is deemed not to be a public record and must remain confidential and not to be disclosed to any third party without the express consent of the applicant, unless otherwise required by law.
H. Enforcement: The city may withhold the issuance of business licenses, building permits, grading permits, certificates of occupancy, and other land use entitlements and may issue stop work orders for a WCF project failing to comply with the provisions of this article. If any improvements authorized by this article are either rendered unusable or discontinued, the property owner and tenant may be subject to enforcement procedures in compliance with Title 4, "Law Enforcement", of this code.
I. Radio Frequency Emissions Compliance: Upon installation of the facility, the applicant must demonstrate that the project will not result in levels of radio frequency emissions that exceed federal communications commission standards, including FCC office of engineering technology (OET) bulletin 65, "Evaluating Compliance With FCC Guidelines For Human Exposure To Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields", as amended. Additionally, if the director determines the wireless telecommunications facility, as constructed, may emit radio frequency emissions that are likely to exceed federal communications commission uncontrolled/general population standards in the FCC office of engineering technology (OET) bulletin 65, "Evaluating Compliance With FCC Guidelines For Human Exposure To Radiofrequency Electromagnetic Fields", as amended, in areas accessible by the general population, the director may require post-installation testing to determine whether to require further mitigation of radio frequency emissions. The cost of any such testing and mitigation must be borne by the applicant. Applications for amateur radio antennas or antennas installed for home entertainment purposes are exempt from this requirement.
J. Collocation: The collocation of antennas on a single support structure is encouraged. This includes collocation with other wireless telecommunications antenna facilities including those of public and quasi-public agencies using similar technology unless specific technical constraints preclude collocation.
1. Wireless Facilities And Wireless Transmission Devices: No person may place, affix, attach, mount, construct, erect, install, develop, use, operate and maintain, or modify a wireless facility, wireless transmission device, support structure and/or accessory equipment within the city without a conditional use permit approved by the planning commission, or the city council in the course of an appeal, following a noticed public hearing on the matter. Notwithstanding the foregoing, administrative collocation may be allowed as approved in subsection J.3 of this section.
2. Collocation - General: No person may collocate a wireless facility or wireless transmission device, including related accessory equipment, without meeting the requirements of subsection C of this section. Notwithstanding the foregoing, administrative collocation is allowed as approved in the following manner.
3. Administrative Collocation: If, following the submission of a completed application form and all required materials, the community development director determines that a proposed collocation qualifies as an "administrative collocation" as defined herein, such proposal does not require a conditional use permit but must be approved by the community development director through the issuance of a zoning clearance permit. The foregoing notwithstanding, an administrative collocation approval must be subordinate and subject to the conditions of approval associated with the wireless telecommunications collocation facility to which it relates and administrative collocation must not defeat the existing concealment elements of the facility to which it relates or otherwise violate or be inconsistent with the conditions associated with the prior approval of the facility to which it relates (unless the inconsistency does not exceed the "substantial change" thresholds identified in federal communications commission regulations or orders). Also, the life of a zoning clearance approval may not exceed the life of the underlying conditional use permit or other underlying discretionary authorization corresponding to the wireless telecommunications collocation facility upon which the proposed wireless transmission device and corresponding accessory equipment will be placed or installed.
K. Justification Study: The applicant must submit a justification study indicating the rationale for selecting the proposed use, a detailed explanation of the coverage gap that the proposed use would serve, and how the proposed use is the least intrusive means for the applicant to provide wireless service.
L. Public Rights-of-Way and Publicly Owned Property: See Title 6, Chapter 4, Article A of this code for regulations on telecommunications facilities and wireless telecommunications facilities in public rights-of-way.
M. Update of Wireless Communications Facility Regulations: As the wireless industry and its services evolve, its equipment will change as well. The WCF regulations will need periodic updates to incorporate the wireless industry's changing environment and the progress made toward "stealthing" antennas and equipment. (Ord. 19-1036)