HomeMy WebLinkAboutWORK SESSION SUMMARY-01/25/2022-Work Session (3)
Community
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Planning & Development
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281 North College Avenue
P.O. Box 580
Fort Collins, CO
80522.0580
970.221.6376
970.224.6111- fax
M E M O R A N D U M
Date: January 28, 2022
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Thru: Kelly DiMartino, Interim City Manager
Kyle Stannert, Deputy City Manager
Caryn Champine, Director of Planning, Development and Transportation
Paul Sizemore, Director of Community Development and Neighborhood Services
From: Will Lindsey, City Planner
Re: January 25, 2022 Work Session Summary: Wireless Telecommunications Master Plan
Strategies
On January 25, 2022 City Planner Will Lindsey presented on the Strategies from the Wireless
Telecommunications Master Plan adopted in October 2021. All Councilmembers were present. The
purpose of the presentation and discussion was to obtain feedback and d irection from Council on the
strategies that will help guide the subsequent Land Use Code updates related to wireless
telecommunication projects.
Specifically, staff was asking Council the following:
What feedback does Council have on the Key Strategies as detailed in the adopted Plan?
Are there any strategies that Council believes staff should focus on more than others?
Council’s feedback on the various strategies is summarized below:
1. Further incentivize roof or wall mounted installations.
Support from Council for this strategy as it aligns with the City’s current standards, and
process incentives to expediate the review time for these types of installations were
indicated as a positive step towards better coverage for the community.
2. Create a conditional use process for reviewing wireless proposals in residential zone districts.
Some support from Council on the creation of an alternative process to the current
Addition of Permitted Use process for wireless projects. The importance of dialing in
aesthetic preferences was seen as an important component of making sure this strategy
is feasible.
3. Consider the use of certain City-owned properties.
Some support from Council in further exploration of this strategy, but there were concerns
about what was appropriate as far as design on City-owned properties. Additionally,
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some Council members were uncomfortable with the possibility of the City getting too
involved in managing telecom providers as lessees of City properties.
4. Develop design standards and expectations for wireless facilities.
Strong support from Council on the Plan’s directive to deliver on the community’s desire
for better aesthetics for wireless facilities. Council indicated that the future Land Use
Code changes should focus on techniques for good stealth facilities and for additional
design standards and guidelines.
5. Encourage the use of art as a stealth deployment method for future wireless telecommunication
facilities.
Support from Council on incorporating creative design solutions into future aesthetic
standards.
6. Update the City's Land Use Code to comply with Federal and State timing requirements.
Support from Council to bring the Land Use Code into compliance with Federal and State
timing requirements for wireless facilities.
7. Amend zoning standards to match federal definitions.
Support from Council to bring the Land Use Code into alignment with Federal definitions
for wireless processes and infrastructure.
8. Publish and update a wireless inventory map for the City.
No comment from Council on this strategy.
Overall, there was recognition of the tension between providing good wireless service and good
aesthetics.
Next steps following the work session discussion include:
Staff to clarify how the Land Use Code amendments will address aesthetic standards.
Staff to schedule additional follow-up work session to further discuss the Land Use Code changes
prior to projected adoption in Q3 2022.
Strategies 4 & 5 related to Design Guidelines and Encouraging Art as a Stealth Method will
require future funding to develop as they are not encapsulated in the Land Use Code amendment
that the project was originally scoped and budgeted for. If funded in the 2023/2024 budget cycle
the Design Guidelines would be developed and implemented in the next 1-2 years.
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