Napa Valley Town Takes Camouflage Seriously

Only camo-style wireless communication transmitters will be installed in Yountville, CA if the second of two required approvals are passed by the Yountville Town Council. The tower concealment ordinance, which passed the first approval earlier this month, avoids some of the conflict that arises between area residents and tourists who want the mobility of a wireless data networks without creating what opponents call eyesores.
The ordinance would require all future wireless installations to blend with buildings, trees, or other objects in the vicinity. The town manager said the effort to pass the ordinance is an attempt “to get in front of the issue, or else we might not like the outcome,” according to the Napa Valley Register. The issue is avoiding future construction of large towers that would change the scenic landscape of the Napa Valley town.
In the past year, four separate companies have approached the town to expand the wireless service in the region, and lease new installations to carriers. The ordinance will only limit what carriers can install within town limits. It will require that sheds and other buildings housing equipment be built in the same architecture style as nearby buildings, and exposed equipment must be painted the same color. Camouflaged equipment does not have the range of much taller towers, but are more suitable for some residential or historic areas.