HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance #3779 ORDINANCE NO 3779
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH
AMENDING CHAPTER 230 96 OF THE HUNTINGTON BEACH ZONING
AND SUBDIVISION ORDINANCE TITLED
WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS FACILITIES
The City Council of the City of Huntington Beach does hereby ordain as follows
SECTION 1 Section 230 96 Wireless Communications Facilities of the Huntington
Beach Zoning and Subdivision Ordinance is hereby amended to read as follows
230 96 Wireless Communication Facilities
A Purr ose The purpose of this Section is to encourage and facilitate wireless communications
throughout the City, while preventing visual clutter by locating wireless communication
facilities outside of residential zones and where they are invisible to pedestrians, and co-
located with other facilities All wireless communication facilities shall comply with these
regulations with regard to their location,placement, construction, modification and design to
protect the public safety, general welfare, and quality of life in the City of Huntington Beach
B Definitions For the purpose of this section, the following definitions for the following terms
shall apply
1 Accessory Structure Any structure or equipment that is to be located ancillary to an
antenna or antennas in the establishment and operation of a wireless communication
facility
2 Co-Location or Co-Located The location of multiple antennas which are either owned or
operated by more than one service provider at a single location and mounted to a
common supporting structure, wall or building
3 Completely Stealth Facility Any stealth facility that has been designed to completely
screen all aspects of the facility including appurtenances and equipment from public
view Examples of completely stealth facilities may include but are not limited to
architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas, facade mounted antennas treated as
architectural elements to blend with the existing building, flagpoles, church steeples, fire
towers, and light standards
4 Ground Mounted Facility Any wireless antenna that is affixed to a pole, tower or other
freestanding structure that is specifically constructed for the purpose of supporting an
antenna
5 Microwave Communication The transmission or reception of radio communication at
frequencies of a microwave signal (generally, in the 3 GHz to 300 GHz frequency
spectrum)
1
06 595/9103
Ordinance No 3779
6 Pre-existing Wireless Facility Any wireless communication facility for which a building
permit or conditional use permit has been properly issued prior to the effective date of
this ordinance, including permitted facilities that have not yet been constructed so long as
such approval is current and not expired
7 Roof Mounted Any wireless antenna directly attached or affixed to the roof of an
existing building, water tank, tower or structure other than a telecommunications tower
8 Stealth Facility or Techniques Any wireless communication facility, which is designed
to blend into the surrounding environment, typically, one that is architecturally integrated
into a building or other concealing structure See also definition of completely stealth
facility
9 Utility Mounted Any wireless antenna mounted to an existing above-ground structure
specifically designed and originally installed to support utilities such as but not limited to
electrical power lines, cable television lines, telephone lines, non-commercial wireless
service antennas, radio antennas, street lighting but not traffic signals, recreational facility
lighting, or any other utility which meets the purpose and intent of this definition
10 Wall Mounted Any wireless antenna mounted on any vertical or nearly vertical surface
of a building or other existing structure that is not specifically constructed for the purpose
of supporting an antenna (including the exterior walls of a building, an existing parapet,
the side of a water tank, the face of a church steeple, or the side of a freestanding sign)
such that the highest point of the antenna structure is at an elevation equal to or lower
than the highest point of the surface on which it is mounted
11 Wireless Communication Facility or Facility An antenna structure and any appurtenant
facilities or equipment that transmits electronic waves or is used for the transmission or
receipt of signals that are used in connection with the provision of wireless
communication service, including, but not limited to digital, cellular and radio service
C Applicability
1 All wireless communication facilities which are erected, located, placed, constructed or
modified within the City of Huntington Beach shall comply with these regulations
provided that
a All facilities, for which permits were issued prior to the effective date of this section,
shall be exempt from these regulations and guidelines
b All facilities for which Building and Safety issued permits prior to the effective date
of section 230 96 shall be exempt from these regulations and guidelines, unless and
until such time as subparagraph (2) of this section applies
c Any facility, which is subject to a previously approved and valid conditional use
permit,may be modified within the scope of the applicable permit without complying
with these regulations and guidelines Modifications outside the scope of the valid
conditional use permit will require submittal of a Wireless Permit application
2
O6 595/9103
Ordinance No 3779
2 The following uses shall be exempt from the provisions of section 230 96 until
pertinent federal regulations are amended or eliminated See Section 230 96
(Antennae) for additional requirements
a Any antenna structure that is one meter(39 37 inches) or less in diameter and is
designed to receive direct broadcast satellite service, including direct-to home
satellite service for television purposes, as defined by Section 207 of the
Telecommunication Act of 1996, Title 47 of the Code of Federal Regulations and
any interpretive decisions thereof issued by the Federal Communications
Commission (FCC)
b Any antenna structure that is two meters (78 74 inches) or less in diameter located
in commercial or industrial zones and is designed to transmit or receive radio
communication by satellite antenna
c Any antenna structure that is one meter(39 37 inches) or less in diameter or
diagonal measurement and is designed to receive Multipoint Distribution Service,
provided that no part of the antenna structure extends more than five(5) feet
above the principle building on the same lot
d Any antenna structure that is designed to receive radio broadcast transmission
e Any antenna structure used by authorized amateur radio stations licensed by the
FCC
D Wireless Permit Required No wireless communication facility shall be installed anywhere
in the City without submission of a Wireless Permit Application that demonstrates that the
antenna is located in the least obtrusive location feasible so as to eliminate any gap in service
and also includes the following information
1 Demonstrate existing gaps in coverage, and the radius of area from which an antenna
may be located to eliminate the gap in coverage
2 Compatibility with the surrounding environment or that the facilities are architecturally
integrated into a structure
3 Screening or camouflaging by existing or proposed topography vegetation buildings or
other structures as measured from beyond the boundaries of the site at eye level (six feet)
4 Massing and location of the proposed facility are consistent with surrounding structures
and zoning districts
5 No portion of a wireless communication facility shall project over property lines
6 Interference To eliminate interference, the following provisions shall be required for all
wireless communication facilities regardless of size
a Prior to issuance of a building permit, the applicant shall submit the following
information to the Police Department for review
3 06 595/9103
Ordinance No 3779
1 All transmit and receive frequencies
11 Effective Radiated Power(ERP),
ill Antenna height above ground, and
IV Antenna pattern, both horizontal and vertical (E Plane and H Plane)
b At all times, other than during the 24 hour cure period, the applicant shall comply
with all FCC standards and regulations regarding interference and the assignment of
the use of the radio frequency spectrum The applicant shall not prevent the City of
Huntington Beach or the countywide system from having adequate spectrum capacity
on the City s 800 MHz voice and data radio frequency systems The applicant shall
cease operation of any facility causing interference with the City s facilities
immediately upon the expiration of the 24 hour cure period until the cause of the
interference is eliminated
c Before activating its facility the applicant shall submit to the Police and Fire
Departments a post-installation test to confirm that the facility does not interfere with
the City of Huntington Beach Public Safety radio equipment The Communications
Division of the Orange County Sheriff s Department or Division-approved contractor
at the expense of the applicant shall conduct this test This post-installation testing
process shall be repeated for every proposed frequency addition and/or change to
confirm the intent of the frequency planning"process has been met
d The applicant shall provide to the Planning Department a single point of contact
(including name and telephone number) in its Engineering and Maintenance
Departments to whom all interference problems may be reported to insure continuity
on all interference issues The contact person shall resolve all interference complaints
within 24 hours of being notified
e The applicant shall insure that lessee or other user(s) shall comply with the terms and
conditions of this permit, and shall be responsible for the failure of any lessee or other
users under the control of the applicant to comply
E Additional Permit Required
1 Administrative approval by the Director may be granted for proposed wireless
communication facilities (including but not limited to ground mounted, co located, wall,
roof, or utility mounted) that are
a Co located with approved facilities at existing heights or that comply with the base
district height limit for modified facilities, and compatible with surrounding buildings
and land uses by incorporating stealth techniques, or
b Completely stealth facilities that comply with the base district height limit, or
c Facilities in non-residential districts that are in compliance with the maximum
building height permitted within the zoning district, and
4
06 595/9103
Ordinance No 3779
i Screened from view and not visible from beyond the boundaries of the site at eye
level (six feet) or
ii Substantially integrated with the architecture of the existing building or structure
to which it is to be mounted, or
in Designed to be architecturally compatible with surrounding buildings and land
uses by incorporating stealth techniques
2 Following submission of a Wireless Permit Application a Conditional Use Permit
approval by the Zoning Administrator shall be required for all proposed wireless
communication facilities (including but not limited to ground mounted, co-located, wall,
roof or utility mounted) that are
a Exceeding the maximum building height permitted within the zoning district, or
b Visible from beyond the boundaries of the site at eye level (six feet), or
c Not substantially integrated with the architecture of the existing building or structure
to which it is to be mounted or
d Not designed to be architecturally compatible with surrounding buildings and land
uses
e As a condition of the Conditional Use Permit, the Zoning Administrator shall
minimize significant adverse impacts to public visual resources by incorporating one
or more of the following into project design and construction
1 Stealth installations,
ii Co-location and locating facilities within existing building envelopes,
iii Minimizing visual prominence through colonzation or landscaping,
iv Removal or replacement of facilities that become obsolete
3 Design review shall be required for any wireless communication facilities located in
redevelopment areas on public right-of-ways in OS PR and PS zones, in areas subject to
specific plans, on or within 300 feet of a residential district, and in areas designated by the
City Council Design review is not required for wireless communication facilities that
comply with subsection 1
F Facility Standards The following standards apply to all wireless communication facilities
1 Aesthetics
a Facility All screening used in conjunction with a wall or roof mounted facility shall
be compatible with the architecture of the building or other structure to which it is
mounted, including color, texture and materials All ground mounted facilities shall
5
06 595/9103
Ordmance No 3779
be designed to blend into the surrounding environment, or architecturally integrated
into a building or other concealing structure
b Equipment/Accessory Structures All equipment associated with the operation of the
facility, including but not limited to transmission cables shall be screened in a
manner that complies with the development standards of the zoning district in which
such equipment is located Screening materials and support structures housing
equipment shall be architecturally compatible with surrounding structures by
duplicating materials and design in a manner as practical as possible If chain link is
used, then it must be vinyl coated and not include barbed wire
c General Provisions All Wireless Communication Facilities shall comply with the
Huntington Beach Urban Design Guidelines
2 Building Codes To ensure the structural integrity of wireless communication facilities
the owners of a facility shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards
contained in applicable state or local building codes and the applicable standards for
facilities that are published by the Electronic Industries Association, as amended from
time to time
3 Conditions of Approval Acceptance of conditions by the applicant and property owner
shall be ensured by recordation of the conditions on the property title
4 Federal Requirements All Wireless Communication Facilities must meet or exceed
current standards and regulations of the FCC, and any other agency of the state or federal
government with the authority to regulate wireless communication facilities
5 Lighting All outside lighting shall be directed to prevent spillage onto adjacent
properties, unless required by the FAA or other applicable authority, and shall be shown
on the site plan and elevations
6 Maintenance All facilities and appurtenant equipment including landscaping shall be
maintained to remain consistent with the original appearance of the facility Ground
mounted facilities shall be covered with anti-graffiti coating
7 Monitoring For all wireless communication facilities, the applicant shall provide a copy
of the lease agreement between the property owner and the applicant prior to the issuance
of a building permit
8 Signs The facility shall not bear any signs or advertising devices other than owner
identification, certification, warning, or other required seals of signage
9 Facilities on Public Property Any wireless communication facility to be placed over,
within, on or beneath City property shall obtain a lease or franchise from the City prior
to applying for a Wireless Permit and an administrative or conditional use permit
10 Landscaping Landscape planting, irrigation and hardscape improvements may be
imposed depending on the location, the projected vehicular traffic, the impact on existing
facilities and landscape areas, and the visibility of the proposed facility Submittal of
6
06 595/9103
Ordmance No 3779
complete landscape and architectural plans for review and approval by the Directors of
Public Works and Planning may be required
11 Utility greement If the proposed facility will require electrical power or any other
utility services to the site, the applicant will be required to furnish the City s Real Estate
Services Manager either a drafted utility franchise agreement between the City of
Huntington Beach and the applicant to place those lines in the public right-of-way, or a
written statement from the utility company that will be supplying the power or other
services that they accept all responsibility for those lines in the public right of way
12 Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way Any wireless communication facility to be placed
over, within, on or beneath the public right-of way shall comply with the following
standards
a Any wireless communication facilities to be constructed on or beneath the public
right-of-way must obtain an encroachment permit from the City and the applicant
must provide documentation demonstrating that the applicant is a state-franchised
telephone corporation exempt from local franchise requirements
b All equipment associated with the operation of a facility, including but not limited to
cabinets, transmission cables but excepting antennas shall be placed underground in
those portions of the street, sidewalks and public rights-of-way where cable television
telephone or electric lines are underground At no time shall equipment be placed
underground without appropriate conduit
c The City Engineer shall approve the location and method of construction of all
facilities located within public rights-of-way and the installation of facilities within
the public rights-of-way must comply with Title 12 of the Huntington Beach
Municipal Code as the same may be amended from time to time
d All wireless communication facilities shall be subject to applicable City permit and
inspection fees, including, but not limited to, those pertaining to encroachment
permits administrative or conditional use permits, and all applicable fees
e Any wireless communication facility installed, used or maintained within the public
rights-of-way shall be removed or relocated when made necessary by any'project '
For purposes of this section, project shall mean any lawful change of grade,
alignment or width of any public right-of-way, including but not limited to, the
construction of any subway or viaduct that the City may initiate either through itself,
or any redevelopment agency, community facility district, assessment district, area of
benefit, reimbursement agreement or generally applicable impact fee program
f If the facility is attached to a utility pole, the facility shall be removed at no cost to
the City, if the utility pole is removed pursuant to an undergrounding project
g The service provider shall enter into a franchise agreement with the City As of
March 17, 2007, the California Supreme Court, in the case entitled Spring Telephony
PCS v County of San Diego, will determine whether California Public Utilities Code
§ 7901 grants a state-wide franchise to use the public rights-of-way for the purpose of
7
06 595/9103
Ordinance No 3779
installation of wireless communications facilities Pending resolution of this legal
question, any applicant seeking to use the public right-of-way must enter into a City
franchise to install wireless communications facilities The franchise shall provide
that the franchise fee payments shall be refunded to the applicant and the franchise
become null and void if and when the California Supreme Court establishes that the
provider has a state wide franchise to install a wireless communications facility in the
public right-of-way
13 Facility Removal
a Wireless communication facilities affecting the public view and/or located in areas
designated Water Recreation Conservation, Parks and Shoreline, and Public Right of
Ways shall be removed in its entirety within six (6) months of termination of use and
the site restored to its natural state
b Cessation of Operation Within thirty(30) calendar days of cessation of operations of
any wireless communication facility approved under this section, the operator shall
notify the Planning Department in writing The facility shall be deemed abandoned
pursuant to the following sections unless
1 The City has determined that the operator has resumed operation of the wireless
communication facility within six (6) months of the notice, or
2 The City has received written notification of a transfer of wireless communication
operators
c Abandonment A facility that is inoperative or unused for a period of six (6)
continuous months shall be deemed abandoned Written notice of the City's
determination of abandonment shall be provided to the operator of the facility and the
owner(s) of the premises upon which the facility is located Such notice may be
delivered in person, or mailed to the address(es) stated on the facility permit
application, and shall be deemed abandoned at the time delivered or placed in the
mail
d Removal of Abandoned Facility The operator of the facility and the owner(s) of the
property on which it is located, shall within thirty(30) calendar days after notice of
abandonment is given either(1) remove the facility in its entirety and restore the
premises, or(2) provide the Planning Department with written objection to the City's
determination of abandonment
Any such objection shall include evidence that the facility was in use during the
relevant six- (6) month period and that it is presently operational The Director shall
review all evidence determine whether or not the facility was properly deemed
abandoned, and provide the operator notice of its determination
e Removal by City At any time after thirty-one (31) calendar days following the
notice of abandonment or immediately following a notice of determination by the
Director, if applicable, the City may remove the abandoned facility and/or repair any
and all damage to the premises as necessary to be in compliance with applicable
06 595/9103 g
Ordinance No 3779
codes The City may,but shall not be required to, store the removed facility(or any
part thereof) The owner of the premises upon which the abandoned facility was
located, and all prior operators of the facility, shall be jointly liable for the entire cost
of such removal repair, restoration and/or storage, and shall remit payment to the
City promptly after demand thereof is made The City may, in lieu of storing the
removed facility, convert it to the City's use, sell it, or dispose of it in any manner
deemed appropriate by the City
SECTION 2 This ordinance shall become effective 30 days after its adoption
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Huntington Beach at a
regular meeting thereof held on the 1st day of October 52007
Af
Ai 4
ay c-
ATTEST APPROVED AS TO FORM
City Clerk V �Z City Attorney 111011ol
REVIEWED AND APPROVED INITIAT A D !ROVED 7
Zn—,� azo_1�0-4A :)
City A ministrator 'tanning Director
9
06 595/9103
i
Ord No 3779
STATE OF CALIFORNIA )
COUNTY OF ORANGE ) ss
CITY OF HUNTINGTON BEACH )
I, JOAN L FLYNN,the duly elected, qualified City Clerk of the City of
Huntington Beach, and ex-officio Clerk of the City Council of said City, do hereby
certify that the whole number of members of the City Council of the City of Huntington
Beach is seven, that the foregoing ordinance was read to said City Council at a regular
meeting thereof held on the 17th day of September,2007, and was again read to said
City Council at a regular meeting thereof held on the 1st day of October,2007, and was
passed and adopted by the affirmative vote of at least a majority of all the members of
said City Council
AYES Bohr, Carchio, Cook, Coerper, Green, Hardy
NOES Hansen
ABSENT None
ABSTAIN None
I Joan L Flynn CITY CLERK of the City of Huntington
Beach and ex officio Clerk of the City Council do hereby
certify that a synopsis of this ordinance has been
published in the Huntington Beach Fountain Valley
Independent on Octoberil 2007
In accordance with the City Charter of said City
J an L Flynn,Ci1y Clerk Cit lerk and ex-officio k
Deputy City clerk of the City Council of the City
of Huntington Beach, California