P&Z OKs wireless code update

Tech advances prompt changes

The Yuma Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved an update to the City Code on Monday to reflect technological advances and modern development standards.

Bob Blevins, the city’s principal planner, explained that as technology changes and the ability to transmit and receive cell phone calls, Wi-Fi and other streaming data by a wireless connection has increased, new equipment has been developed to allow smaller antennas, amplifiers and ground-based stations.

This broadens opportunities to place such “small cell” equipment in compact physical locations not possible in the past. Incorporating such uses on poles in the right-of-way is an example, Blevins noted.

The text amendment clarifies development standards for personal wireless communication facilities in the public right-of-way and adds definitions to bring the code up-to-date with current state and federal standards.

This case was originally heard by the commission at its Jan. 22 meeting. Staff presented it again “to ensure the placement and numbering of the Sections, Illustrative Examples and Table of Uses are shown in a clear and more understandable sequence. No changes to the ordinance wording have been made,” Blevins said.

“We did more thinking and talking and wanted to make sure we got it right,” he told the commissioners.

The existing code already allowed such uses in the right-of-way. However, technological advances have expanded to a point where the code needed to be updated.

During the Jan. 22 hearing, Chairman Chris Hamel noted that it was just a ver-

biage change and the city wasn’t “opening the gate for anybody” nor does it prevent someone from putting antennas, such as monopalms, on private property.

Cell sites have shrunken and can be very small. Nevertheless, “the old style is still welcome,” Hamel quipped.

This text amendment goes with the General Plan goal of reducing visual clutter and obstructions. The

plan states that the city should minimize the negative visual impacts from a proliferation of antennas through guidelines for cellular tower placement and provide additional capacity within existing and new rights-of-way.

Assistant City Attorney Dan White further clarified that the text amendment isn’t intended to set up WiFi across the city, but it would allow the city to have the proper tools for such a project. Although not directly related to the city’s agreement with anyCOMM

Holdings, which the council approved in August, the code update will help implement the goals of the agreement “by providing guidelines, processes and definitions for small cell deployment in the rightof-way, especially for locations with limited space,” Blevins pointed out in the staff report.

The agreement calls for anyCOMM to build a citywide mesh network “to address significant municipal concerns such as building a digitally connected community; to drive economic development; improving public safety and transportation; to assist and support national security; providing a citywide gigabit speed wireless mesh network for smart cities; and to address the digital divide by providing

an advanced high-speed, high-capacity network for the citizens and guests of Yuma.”

In other action, the commission approved a request by Vega and Vega Engineering, on behalf of TNNA Investments, to rezone .16 acres located at 978 S. 1st Ave. from the Light Industrial/Infill Overlay District to the Low Density Residential/Infill Overlay District.

Vianey Vega, the applicant’s agent, said the property owner wants to build a single family home. The property is currently undeveloped.

The property was originally subdivided for residential uses in 1925 and was developed with a dwelling at some point. This residence was later demolished prior to the year 1992.