Pleasanton council moves proposal forward to ease small-cell and tower approvals

Pleasanton’s City Council moved ahead with a rewrite of the city’s wireless rules on April 21, introducing an ordinance and companion policies to make cell-site approvals easier. (pleasantonca.portal.civicclerk.com) The package would update Chapter 18.110 of the Pleasanton Municipal Code and add separate city policies for three kinds of projects: new macro facilities, small-cell sites and modifications to existing wireless equipment. (pleasantonca.portal.civicclerk.com) (pleasantonweekly.com) Pleasanton Weekly reported the changes are meant to make it easier for carriers to install or modify facilities across the city after staff identified gaps in wireless coverage and service quality. (pleasantonweekly.com) Under the current code, personal wireless service facilities generally go through design review and trigger mailed notice to property owners within 600 feet. Staff proposed a more tailored system that separates large towers from lower-power small cells and routine upgrades. (weblink.cityofpleasantonca.gov) (pleasantonweekly.com) Small cells are the shoebox-sized antennas carriers attach to utility poles or streetlights to boost signal on specific blocks, while macro facilities are the taller tower-style sites that cover wider areas. Pleasanton’s new rules are aimed at both. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) (pleasantonweekly.com) The Planning Commission unanimously recommended the proposal in late March before it went to the council in April. Pleasanton Weekly said commissioners backed the update as a way to improve service while still limiting visual clutter. (pleasantonweekly.com 1) (pleasantonweekly.com 2) The April 21 council agenda also included a resolution to add wireless application fees to the city’s master fee schedule, tying the ordinance change to a formal permitting system for future filings. (pleasantonca.portal.civicclerk.com) Pleasanton’s council rules require ordinances to be adopted in two readings and take effect 30 days after the second approval. That means the April 21 vote advanced the rewrite, but did not make it operative that night. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) If the council gives final approval on a second reading, wireless carriers would face a clearer path to propose new towers, pole-mounted small cells and equipment upgrades under Pleasanton’s revised rules. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) (pleasantonca.portal.civicclerk.com)