14.44.020 Definitions.
For the purpose of this chapter, the following words and phrases shall have the meaning respectively ascribed to them in this section:
A. "Antenna" means any system of wires, poles, rods, reflecting discs, or similar devices used for the transmission or reception of electromagnetic waves when such system is either external to or attached to the exterior of a structure. Antennas shall include devices having active elements extending in any direction, and directional beam-type arrays having elements carried by and disposed from a generally horizontal boom that may be mounted upon and rotated through a vertical mast or tower interconnecting the boom and antenna support, all of which elements are deemed to be a part of the antenna. Antennas shall include cellular on wheels (COWs) and cellular on light trucks (COLTs) facilities; as well as dispatch carriers for Specialized Mobile Radio (SMR) services and Enhanced SMR (ESMR).
1. "Antenna - building mounted" means any antenna, other than an antenna with its supports resting on the ground, directly attached or affixed to a building, tank, tower, building mounted mast less than ten feet tall and six inches in diameter, or structure other than a telecommunication tower.
2. "Antenna - directional" (also known as a "panel" antenna) transmits and/or receives radio frequency signals in a directional pattern of less than three hundred sixty degrees.
3. "Antenna - ground mounted" means any antenna with its base, single or multiple posts, placed directly on the ground or a mast less than ten feet tall and six inches in diameter.
4. "Antenna - omni-directional" transmits and/or receives radio frequency signals in a three hundred sixty degree radial pattern For the purpose of this chapter, an omni-directional antenna is up to fifteen feet in height and up to four inches in diameter.
5. "Antenna - parabolic" (also known as satellite dish antenna) means any device incorporating a reflective surface that is solid, open mesh, or bar configured that is shallow dish, cone, horn, bowl or cornucopia shaped and is used to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic or radio frequency communication/signals in a specific directional pattern This definition is meant to include, but is not limited to, what are commonly referred to as satellite earth stations, TVROs and satellite microwave antennas.
6. "Antenna - portable" means any device used to transmit and/or receive electromagnetic or radio frequency communication/signals in a specific directional pattern located on a portable or moveable base designed to be placed either for temporary or long-term use at a given site.
7. "Antenna - vertical" means a vertical type antenna without horizontal cross-sections greater than one-half inch in diameter.
B. "Co-location" — See "telecommunication facility - co-located."
C. "Commercial use" means a use that involves the exchange of cash, goods or services, barter, forgiveness of indebtedness, or any other remuneration in exchange for goods, services, lodging, meals, entertainment in any form, or the right to occupy space over any period of time.
D. "Direct broadcast satellite service" (DBS) means a system in which signals are transmitted directly from a satellite to a small (not exceeding eighteen inch) home receiving dish. DBS competes with cable television.
E. "Equipment building, shelter or cabinet" means a cabinet or building used to house equipment used by telecommunication providers to house equipment at a facility.
F. "Inhabited area" means any residence, any other structure regularly occupied by people, or any outdoor area used by people on a regular basis.
G. "Lattice tower" means a self-supporting support structure, erected on the ground, which consists of metal crossed strips or bars to support antennas and related equipment.
H. "Maximum credible earthquake" means the maximum earthquake predicted to affect a given location based on the known lengths of the active faults in the vicinity.
I. "Monopole" is a wireless communication facility which consists of a monopolar structure, erected on the ground to support wireless communication antennas and connecting appurtenances.
J. "NIER" means non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (i.e., electromagnetic radiation primarily in the visible, infrared, and radio frequency portions of the electromagnetic spectrum).
K. "Public service use or facility" means a use operated or used by a public body or public utility in connection with any of the following services: water, waste water management, public education, parks and recreation, fire and police protection, solid waste management, transportation or utilities.
L. "Public way" means and includes all public streets and utility easements, now and hereafter owned by the city, but only to the extent of the city’s right, title, interest or authority to grant a license to occupy and use such streets and easements for telecommunications facilities.
M. "Quasi-public use" means a use serving the public at large, and operated by a private entity under a franchise or other similar governmental authorization, designed to promote the interests of the general public or operated by a recognized civic organization for the benefit of the general public.
N. "Readily visible" means an object that stands out as a prominent feature of the landscape when viewed with the naked eye.
O. "Related equipment" means all equipment ancillary to the transmission and reception of voice and data via radio frequencies. Such equipment may include, but is not limited to, cable, conduit and connectors.
P. "Satellite earth station" means a telecommunication facility consisting of more than a single satellite dish smaller than ten feet in diameter that transmits to and/or receives signals from an orbiting satellite.
Q. "Silhouette" means a representation of the outline of the towers and antenna associated with a telecommunication facility, as seen from an elevation perspective.
R. "Structure ridgeline" means the line along the top of a roof or top of a structure, if it has no roof.
S. "Telecommunications facility" means a facility that transmits and/or receives electromagnetic signals. It includes antennas, microwave dishes, horns, and other types of equipment for the transmission or receipt of such signals, telecommunication towers or similar structures supporting said equipment, equipment buildings, parking area, and other accessory development.
1. "Telecommunications facility - exempt" includes, but is not limited to, the following unless located within a recognized historic district:
a. A single ground- or building-mounted receive-only radio or television antenna including any mast, for the sole use of the tenant occupying the residential parcel on which the radio or television antenna is located, with an antenna height not exceeding twenty-five feet;
b. A ground- or building-mounted citizens band radio antenna including any mast, if the height (post and antenna) does not exceed thirty-five feet;
c. A ground-, building-, or tower-mounted antenna operated by a federally licensed amateur radio operator as part of the amateur radio service, if the height (post and antenna) does not exceed thirty-five feet;
d. A ground- or building-mounted receive-only radio or television satellite dish antenna, which does not exceed thirty-six inches in diameter, for the sole use of the resident occupying a residential parcel on which the satellite dish is located; provided the height of said dish does not exceed the height of the ridgeline of the primary structure on said parcel;
e. All citizens band radio antenna or antenna operated by a federally licensed amateur radio operator as part of the amateur radio service which existed at the time of the adoption of this chapter (September 1996).
f. Mobile services providing public information coverage of news events of a temporary nature.
g. Handheld devices such as cell phones, business-band mobile radios, walkie-talkies, cordless telephones, garage door openers and similar devices as determined by the planning director.
h. City government owned and operated receive and/or transmit telemetry station antennas for supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA) systems for water, flood alert, traffic control devices and signals, storm water, pump stations and/or irrigation systems, with heights not exceeding thirty-five feet.
2. "Telecommunications facilities - major" are all telecommunications facilities not clearly set forth and included in the definition of exempt, minor or mini facilities.
3. "Telecommunications facility - mini" is an attached wireless communication facility consisting of, but not limited to, the following unless located on a structure recognized as a historic landmark:
a. A single ground- or building-mounted receive-only radio or television antenna including any mast, for the sole use of the tenant occupying the parcel on which the radio or television antenna is located, with an antenna height not exceeding fifty feet;
b. A ground- or building-mounted citizens band radio antenna including any mast, if the height (tower, support structure, post and antenna) does not exceed seventy feet;
c. A ground-, building-, or tower-mounted antenna operated by a federally licensed amateur radio operator as part of the amateur radio service, if the height (post and antenna) does not exceed seventy feet.
d. A ground- or building-mounted receive-only radio or television satellite dish antenna, with diameter exceeding thirty-six inches but less than eight feet in diameter, for the sole use of the resident occupying a residential parcel on which the satellite dish is located; provided the height of said dish does not exceed the height of the ridgeline of the primary structure on said parcel.
e. Exempt telecommunication facility located within a recognized historic district.
f. City owned and operated antennas used for emergency response services, public utilities, operations and maintenance if the height does not exceed seventy feet.
If a facility does not meet these criteria then it is considered either an "exempt," "minor" or "major" telecommunication facility.
4. "Telecommunications facility - minor" means any of the following:
a. Antennas which meet the definition of "mini" with the exception of the height limit.
b. Telecommunications facilities less than thirty-five feet in height and that adhere to Section 14.44.090.
c. A single ground- or building-mounted whip (omni-) antenna without a reflector, less than four inches in diameter, whose total height does not exceed thirty-five feet, including any mast to which it is attached, located on commercial- and/or industrial-zoned property.
d. A ground- or building-mounted panel antenna whose height is equal to or less than four feet and whose area is not more than four hundred eighty square inches in the aggregate (e.g., one-foot diameter parabola or two-foot by one-and-one-half-foot panel) as viewed from any one point, located on commercial- or industrial-zoned property. The equipment cabinets shall be designed, placed and screened to be unobtrusive and effectively unnoticeable.
e. More than three antennas, satellite dishes (greater than three feet in diameter), panel antennas, or combination thereof, are proposed to be placed on the commercial or industrial parcel, including existing facilities.
f. Building-mounted antennas which, in the opinion of the planning director, are unobtrusive or undetectable by way of design and/or placement on the building, regardless of number, when located on commercial- or industrial-zoned property.
g. Telecommunications facilities less than fifty feet in height, in compliance with the applicable sections of this chapter, located on a parcel owned by the city of Petaluma and utilized for public and/or quasi-public uses where it is found by the planning director to be compatible with the existing city uses of the property.
h. Telecommunication facilities, including multiple antennas, in compliance with the applicable sections of this chapter, located on an industrial parcel and utilized for the sole use and purpose of a research and development tenant of said parcel, where it is found by the planning director to be aesthetically compatible with the existing and surrounding structures.
i. Telecommunication facilities located on a structure recognized as a historic landmark.
If a facility does not meet these criteria then it is considered a "major" telecommunication facility.
5. "Telecommunication facility - colocated" means a telecommunication facility comprised of a single telecommunication tower or building supporting one or more antennas, dishes, or similar devices owned or used by more than one public or private entity.
6. "Telecommunication facility - commercial" means a telecommunication facility that is operated primarily for a business purpose or purposes.
7. "Telecommunication facility - multiple user" means a telecommunication facility comprised of multiple telecommunication towers or buildings supporting one or more antennas owned or used by more than one public or private entity, excluding research and development industries with antennas to serve internal uses only.
8. "Telecommunication facility - noncommercial" means a telecommunication facility that is operated solely for a nonbusiness purpose.
9. "Telecommunications facility - small cell" means a telecommunications facility that is pole mounted to existing public utility infrastructure.
T. "Telecommunications tower" means a mast, pole, monopole, guyed tower, lattice tower, freestanding tower, or other structure designed and primarily used to support antennas. A ground- or building-mounted mast greater than ten feet tall and six inches in diameter supporting one or more antennas, dishes, arrays, etc. shall be considered a telecommunications tower.
(Ord. 2662 NCS § 2 (part), 2018; Ord. 2029 NCS (part), 1996.)