Pleasanton Eyes Looser Wireless Rules Expansion
- Pleasanton City Council was set to vote April 21 on a wireless ordinance rewrite after the Planning Commission unanimously backed the proposal in March. - The update would cover macro towers, small cells and modifications, while adding new wireless application fees and keeping local design rules in place. - The push follows years of federal shot-clock limits on local review and old 2019 small-cell rules. (cityofpleasantonca.gov)
Pleasanton is moving to rewrite its wireless siting rules so phone carriers can add or upgrade more cell equipment across the city. (pleasantonweekly.com) The City Council’s April 21 agenda said members would introduce an ordinance amending Chapter 18.110, adopt new policies for wireless facilities, and add wireless application fees to the city’s master fee schedule. (pleasantonca.portal.civicclerk.com) (pleasantonweekly.com) Those rules would apply to three buckets of projects: macro towers, small cells and modifications to existing facilities. Pleasanton Weekly reported the package is meant to make it easier for providers to build or update service sites in town. (pleasantonca.portal.civicclerk.com) (pleasantonweekly.com) The immediate backdrop is a Planning Commission vote on March 11. Commissioners unanimously recommended the proposal after reviewing a broader overhaul of the city’s wireless ordinance and related policies. (pleasantonweekly.com 1) (pleasantonweekly.com 2) Pleasanton already has a separate small-wireless policy on the books from March 11, 2019. That policy says the city is trying to balance stronger wireless service with neighborhood aesthetics and other local values. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) For larger facilities on private property, Pleasanton’s current handout says applications are handled as design-review cases under Chapter 18.110. Concealed projects can avoid mailed notice, while other projects trigger notice to owners and occupants within 300 feet and a seven-day comment period. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) That process sits under federal timing rules known as the “shot clock.” Pleasanton’s own materials say local governments generally get 90 days for collocation applications and 150 days for other wireless siting applications. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) The city’s Planning Commission page says commissioners advise the council on zoning and land-use matters, which is why the proposal moved there before reaching the council dais. (cityofpleasantonca.gov) The council item was an introduction, not the final step. Pleasanton’s city website says ordinances require two readings at separate council meetings and take effect 30 days after second-reading approval. (cityofpleasantonca.gov)
