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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 2/22/2022 - Memorandum From Will Lindsey Re: Wireless Telecommunications Master Plan - Design Regulations Community Development & Neighborhood Services Planning & Development Services 281 North College Avenue P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522.0580 970.221.6376 970.224.6111- fax MEMORANDUM Date: February 17, 2022 To: Mayor and City Councilmembers Through: 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: Wireless Telecommunications Master Plan Design Regulations __________________________________________________________________ At the January 25th Work Session, a clarifying question regarding the strategy listed below from Wireless Telecommunications Master Plan was asked. 1. Develop design standards and expectations for wireless facilities. Currently, the Land Use Code requirements for the use of stealth technology to conceal wireless telecommunication infrastructure is somewhat vague and unpredictable for applicants as well as staff. The use of design guidelines for large wireless infrastructure would add a resource that clearly communicates the City s preferences for the design and placement of future facilities to applicants, thereby reducing the need for protracted negotiation related to aesthetics and location. Specifically, Council requested clarity on what standards related to design would be brought forward for review and adoption as part of the Land Use Code updated versus what standards would be encapsulated in a future design guidelines document. For clarity, a design standard is an obligatory design requirement for any project. These standards are not advisory, they must be followed just like the requirements in the building code, fire code, or electrical code. The development review process cannot waive compliance with these standards except through a formal modification request. Design guidelines are a set of design parameters for development which apply within a design certain zone districts or to specific uses. The guidelines are adopted public statements of intent An existing example of this are the City s Old Town Neighborhoods Design Guidelines that provides examples of context oriented design in the Old Town Neighborhood Plan area. While Design Standards and Design Guidelines are similar in that they are both about the standards are mandatory obligations applied to that project while guidelines are a list of relevant subjects, and examples, intended to improve the design of any project subject to development review. Regarding aesthetics for wireless telecommunication facilities, the table below summarizes our proposed approach to regulating design through the use of Design Standards in the Land Use Code and Design Guidelines in a separate document. This is followed by a Pro/Con summary of each method. Design Standards Pros Easily enforceable since the standards are a Code requirement Maximum-transparency for standards Standard approach across to design across all applicants Cons Harder to update than a design guidelines document Less flexibility in ability to meet standards Zone Districts Location Setbacks Landscaping Fencing/Screening Berming Land Use Code Design Standards Mandates zone districts where use is permitted. LUC is the better tool to regulate permitted uses. Provides generic language about preferred placement of facilities. Mandates minimum setbacks for facilities. Mandates minimum landscaping requirements. Mandates minimum fencing/screening requirements. Mandates when berming can be used to screen facilities as well as minimum height and landscaping required. Design Guidelines Could provide illustrative examples for preferred placement of facilities on properties and in neighborhood contexts Could provide illustrative examples for required setbacks Could provide illustrative examples, preferred plant types, and best practice examples of landscaping for facilities. Could provide illustrative examples, preferred materials, and best practice examples of fencing/screening for facilities. Could provide illustrative examples, and best practice examples of berming for facilities. Irrigation Color Materials Lighting Concealment Techniques Land Use Code Design Standards Mandates that irrigation installed must meet the City s current standards. Mandates minimum standards related to color used for facilities. Does not currently provide guidance on material requirements for concealment/camouflage. Could be updated to require particular materials for concealment (depending on the concealment technique). Mandates that lighting for facilities meets the requirements found in LUC Section 3.2.4. Mandates that stealth technology be employed to the extent reasonably feasible and provides generic examples. Could be refined to give guidance on preferred concealment specific to zone district or context. Design Guidelines Could provide preferred colors palette, and specific contextual guidance for facilities. Could provide preferred materials palette, and specific contextual guidance for facilities. Could provide guidance on contextual lighting scenarios that align with the requirements of the LUC. Could provide illustrative examples for preferred concealment techniques based on community preferences and neighborhood contexts Design Guidelines Pros More user friendly for the public Easier to update than the Land Use Code Illustrative approach to help staff and applicants More predictable design outcomes Cons Applicants not required to meet all guidelines Next Steps City Staff will bring a draft of the Land Use Code update for Council consideration in Q3 of 2022. The draft will reflect the scope outlined above and will be incorporated into the Land Use Code. This will then be followed by a supplemental design guidelines document that will provide additional guidance to applicants related to City preferences around concealment and/or camouflage techniques (i.e. materials, colors, landscaping, appearance, location). To that end, staff will be submitting a proposal for funding for a design guidelines document as part of the upcoming 2023/2024 budget cycle.