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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVII.B.Telecommunication Facilities.2 PowerPointZoning Code Amendment County Initiated (ZCA22-0003) August 11, 2022 Planning Commission Hearing Staff Recommendation •Adopt the Resolution making findings and recommending the amendment of Butte County Code Chapter 24,Zoning Ordinance,Article 26,Telecommunication Facilities to the Board of Supervisors,and find this Zoning Ordinance amendment is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). Article 26 –Telecommunication Facilities The purpose of the Telecommunication Facilities ordinance is to establish standards for the placement and design of wireless telecommunication facilities. It applies to all commercial wireless telecommunications facilities for the transmission or reception of wireless telephone,radio,television,and other telecommunication signals. The facilities subject to these standards include all equipment and network components such as towers,utility poles,transmitters,base stations,and emergency power systems that are integral to providing wireless telecommunications services. CEQA •This Ordinance amends the Zoning Ordinance to make it conform to federal and State law by paraphrasing federal and State requirements regarding reasonable time periods for processing applications and which modifications constitute a substantial change. •The Ordinance does not expand or alter the locations in which a telecommunication facility may be located and does not expand or alter the size of a telecommunication facility except as required by federal law. •This Ordinance will not have a direct or reasonably foreseeable indirect effect on the environment and is thus not a project. Project Description •The proposed amendments include: -Bringing the ordinance into compliance with current State and federal laws regarding what does not constitute substantial changes to an existing communication facility and to include defined reasonable timeframes for processing applications. -Remove the requirements of the owner or operator of the communication facility to provide annual written verification that the RF/EMF emitted by the facility conforms to safety standards set by the FCC. (section 24-181 R) Project Description (Cont.) •The proposed amendments include: -Removing the language that the permit issued for the facility shall be valid for ten (10)years,unless extended by the Zoning Administrator.(section 24-185) -Removing the requirement for a bond for a one-time test after the facility is in operation and bond for the removal of the facility when if it is abandoned. (section 24-186 A &B) Project Description (Cont.) •The proposed amendments do not change the type of permit required for a new facility or collocation as identified in section 24-179 A. Public Comments •No public comments were received prior to this hearing. Next Step The Planning Commission’s recommendations concerning the proposed amendment will be provided to the Board of Supervisors for their consideration at a future public hearing.