Item 08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Public Works Agency https://www.santa-ana.org/pw Item # 8 City of Santa Ana 20 Civic Center Plaza, Santa Ana, CA 92701 Staff Report May 4, 2021 TOPIC: Wireless Telecommunication Facilities Guidelines AGENDA TITLE Receive and File Standards and Guidelines for Wireless Telecommunication Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way RECOMMENDED ACTION Receive and file Standards and Guidelines for Wireless Telecommunication Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way. DISCUSSION In 2018, the City Council adopted Ordinance NS-2954, revising Article X to Chapter 33 of the Santa Ana Municipal Code to regulate wireless facilities in the public right-of-way. The revision was to accommodate wireless technology advancements and new Federal and State laws. In addition, the ordinance also authorized the Director of Public Works to create the Standards and Guidelines for Wireless Facilities in the Public Right-of-Way (Guidelines) to provide procedural and design guidance, and specific design standards and requirements for project applicants proposing wireless facilities in the public right- of-way (Exhibit 1). Staff initially prepared the Guidelines in April 2019 and they have been revised to provide control and hierarchy of the proposed wireless facilities on support structures, which will facilitate staff’s review of wireless facility applications. BACKGROUND Telecommunications advancements and consumer demand network data capacity have led to the need for smaller and more densified wireless antenna locations. Different types of antennas are required to deliver various wireless coverages and capacities. A “macro cell” is used for larger coverage, with a radius of several miles. These facilities are typically located on freestanding towers, faux tree poles, tall buildings, water tanks, etc., and until recently, have been the most common cell type utilized. In recent years, wireless telecommunication providers have increasingly proposed placing single, “small cell” antennas and equipment on existing infrastructure located within the public right-of-way. The small cell antennas are usually deployed in areas that cannot be effectively served by a traditional macro cell, or areas that may have coverage but not enough capacity. A small cell is not intended to replace macro cell sites, but to fill