The Monterey Planning Commission is considering an amendment to its small cell wireless ordinance. The Monterey Herald reported that the updated guidelines would allow for more local oversight regarding the infrastructure.
According to Kimberly Cole, Monterey Community Development Director, the city is “trying to get ahead” of the “large-scale deployment of small cells.” “Bigger cities are already seeing the deployment of (facilities) on a comprehensive scale,” she said. Cole added that Monterey has not yet seen an uptick in applications to install small cell wireless facilities. However, the city anticipates a “substantial increase anytime.”
The proposed amendment is a preemptive attempt to retain control over public right-of-way and local aesthetic standards. The Herald reported that the city also wants to create a “transparent and public process” around the small cell installations.
Cole said that the city of Monterey currently upholds “fairly extensive requirements” for the wireless facility permitting process, including a detailed application submittal checklist. She said the amendment adds better-defined standards for small cell wireless communications and the public right-of-way. “We have requirements for the public right-of-way that didn’t use to exist,” Cole noted.
As a next step, the Planning Commission will decide whether to recommend the updated ordinance to the City Council, which will hold two public hearings on the matter. Cole said formal adoption of the ordinance could happen as quickly as two months from now or longer, depending on the decision-making process.
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