Pleasanton Eyes New Wireless Rules
- The Pleasanton City Council is set to vote Tuesday on a wireless ordinance rewrite that would ease approvals for new cell sites. - Staff says the changes would cover both large “macro” towers and street-level small cells, with concealment rules and co-location requirements. - Pleasanton last adopted its small-cell policy in 2019; the rewrite would update broader city code for faster reviews. (pleasantonweekly.com)
Pleasanton is preparing to loosen parts of its wireless siting rules as city leaders look for ways to close local cell-service gaps. (pleasantonweekly.com) The City Council was scheduled to vote Tuesday on a new ordinance and related policies that would make it easier for carriers to build new facilities or modify existing ones. The proposal follows a unanimous recommendation from the Planning Commission. (pleasantonweekly.com 1) (pleasantonweekly.com 2) In Pleasanton’s rules, a “personal wireless service facility” can mean a larger private-property installation, often called a macro cell, while a small wireless facility is the smaller equipment carriers attach to poles and similar structures. The city already regulates small wireless facilities under a 2019 council policy. (cityofpleasantonca.gov 1) (cityofpleasantonca.gov 2) The proposed rewrite would apply across the city’s zoning code and permitting process. Pleasanton Weekly reported that it would make it easier for carriers to install or modify facilities citywide while adding standards meant to limit visual impacts. (pleasantonweekly.com) Existing city materials show how the current process works now. For non-small-cell wireless projects, concealed facilities can move ahead without mailed notice, while other projects trigger mailed notice to owners and occupants within 300 feet, a seven-day comment period, and a 15-day appeal period if approved. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) Pleasanton’s current small-cell checklist already requires photo simulations, radio-frequency compliance reports, acoustic analysis, structural analysis, and a pole license agreement when applicable. The 2019 policy says the city is trying to balance stronger wireless service with neighborhood aesthetics and public welfare. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) (cityofpleasantonca.gov) Federal timing rules also shape what cities can do. Pleasanton’s applicant guide says the Federal Communications Commission’s “shot clock” generally gives local governments 90 days to act on collocation requests and 150 days on other wireless siting applications. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) The Planning Commission backed the package unanimously in early April, sending it to the council for final action. If the council approves it, Pleasanton would be updating a framework that now mixes older code provisions with a separate small-cell policy adopted on March 11, 2019. (pleasantonweekly.com) (cityofpleasantonca.gov)
