Hello Neighbors, This Wednesday, the Planning Commission will evaluate public feedback on its wireless ordinance draft for the city.
As you know, our resident group is for cellular service and simply advocates for the City to have maximum control over where cell towers GO in our community, to protect the Village’s character, especially the residential zones.
Citizen funded telecom attorney Andrew Campanelli will be speaking at this special Planning Commission Meeting. He wrote a best-practices wireless ordinance which was donated to the City back in mid-2022. Campanelli’s ordinance is not designed to stop all wireless facilities but does give the City the maximum power to decide where they go.
Here is a 4 minute video outlining our resident’s group’s feedback on the City’s wireless ordinance:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFVL2J0XyXk
We appreciate your support by sending a quick email to the Planning Commissioners in support of our group’s efforts.
Email Subject Line: Wireless Ordinance Workshop Email the Planning Commissioners & City Clerk at:
mlepage@ci.carmel.ca.us, rdelves@ci.carmel.ca.us, eallen@ci.carmel.ca.us, slocke@ci.carmel. ca.us, cbolton@ci.carmel.ca.us, cityclerk@ci.carmel.ca.us
Address Your Email: To Planning Commissioners
Here is the meeting information for this Wednesday 3/29 at 4pm In person, zoom, or call in. Zoom Link( copy and paste link into your browser):
https://ci-carmel-ca-us.zoom.us/j/87076370553?pwd=cmtneitLWXI4TnZDTkVKMVhtYTRSQT09
Meeting ID (if needed) is 8707 6370 553
Passcode (if needed) is 249 568
To attend Zoom via telephone, dial +1 312-626-6799
Letter Writing Talking Points:
1. Within the Ordinance. All of the findings to make denials must be listed within the ordinance. A judge will say you can’t make decisions on codes that are not in your ordinance.
2. The Planning Commission as the reviewing authority. The state of California specifically grants authority to our Planning Commission to make factual determinations based on our zoning laws and discretionary aesthetics. The ordinance must identify the Planning Commission to review cell tower permits on a case-by-case basis to protect a community’s character.
3. Prevent Unnecessary Cell Towers. Applicants seeking new cell tower permits must be required to submit specific data with their application to prove the validity of significant gap and capacity deficiency claims to an area to prove a new cell tower is necessary to provide service to an area. The evidence required must be listed within the ordinance to be determined by the Planning Commission.
4. Least Intrusive Means To Provide Service Telecom carriers have many options to provide service to customers by co-locating to existing towers within or outside the city, by updating equipment on existing towers, by activating already approved cell towers, by applying for new facility permits in preferred areas than non-preferred areas of the city. All of the evidence necessary to prove least intrusive means to provide service must be listed within the ordinance.
5. The Campanelli Wireless Ordinance for Carmel is stronger than the City Draft. The language is clear and easy to understand for the city, the public and the courts. It clearly outlines the Planning Commission’s authority. It clearly outlines all of the necessary findings to make legal denials. All of the evidence necessary is clearly listed within the ordinance. Campanelli’s ordinance is not designed to stop all wireless facilities but gives the city the maximum power to decide where they go.
Thank you for your support,
Stop Cell Towers in Carmel Neighborhoods
Christy Hollenbeck, Tasha Witt and Bob Kavner
“Our group is for cellular service in the least intrusive means to the residential neighborhoods”
