Council to Weigh Updates to Cell Tower Ordinance

The at its Wednesday meeting will discuss drafting a new version of the ordinance that regulates the placement of cellphone towers in the community.

Since last fall, several city commissions have worked to make 20 recommendations on what should be included in a new draft of the wireless telecommunications facilities ordinance.

Some suggestions the council will consider that would apply to future cell tower installations include:

• No wireless telecommunication facility shall be built in a residential area, including the public right-of-way, unless the applicant has proven with clear and convincing evidence that there is a significant gap.
• The council should consider requiring the maximum setback supportable for new towers and base stations from sensitive receptors such as schools, homes and parks.
• Before any new wireless telecommunication facility is approved, the applicant must prove a significant gap with clear and convincing evidence.

Additional recommendations include requiring all cellphone facilities to be installed underground "to the fullest extent possible" and prohibiting them from being built in the public right of way.

There are in Calabasas as of July 23, 2010, that are owned by companies such as T-Mobile, Cingular and Verizon.

Local residents have contacted the council via e-mail in droves, amassasing 172 pages of correspondence to the city commenting on Wednesday's agenda item.

A majority of homeowners wrote that they want to protect open spaces from cell tower installations as well as restricting such facilities from being placed in residential areas.

"Slapping these towers and facilities in residential zones or in the open spaces of our community will only serve to lower the property values within Calabasas, as has been proven throughout the country," wrote resident Marissa Feinstein.

If the council authorizes city staff to author a new ordinance, the first draft will go before the Planning Commission for review, according to staff reports.