Sec. 5C-7. Small wireless facilities and pole structures.
A. The following six wireless pole structure-types will be permitted in local public right-of-way:
1. Pole-type structure No. 1—Existing non-City pole (no modification or replacement). An existing utility pole not owned by the City of Phoenix but located in local public right-of-way. No modification or replacement of the pole is necessary to install small wireless facilities.
2. Pole-type structure No. 2—Existing City pole (no modification or replacement). An existing utility pole owned by the City of Phoenix and located in local public right-of-way, and is typically a street light or traffic signal pole. No modification to or replacement of the pole is necessary to install small wireless facilities.
3. Pole-type structure No. 3—Existing non-City pole (modification or replacement required). An existing utility pole not owned by the City of Phoenix but located in local public right-of-way. Modification or replacement of the pole is necessary to install small wireless facilities.
4. Pole-type structure No. 4—Existing City pole (modification or replacement required). An existing utility pole owned by the City of Phoenix and located in local public right-of-way, and is typically a street light or traffic signal pole. Modification or replacement of the pole is necessary to install small wireless facilities.
5. Pole-type structure No. 5—New City pole (less than 50 feet tall). A new City owned utility pole located in local public right-of-way for the installation of a new small wireless facility, that will also function as a street light or traffic signal pole.
6. Pole-type structure No. 6—New non-City pole (less than 50 feet tall). A new utility pole owned by others located in local public right-of-way for the sole function of small wireless facilities.
B. The City Manager, or designee, will formulate and adopt design standards, concepts and requirements for small wireless facilities in the local public right-of-way. The City Manager may update the design standards and guidelines periodically to keep current with technology, equipment, and industry best practices. Design guidelines, along with the standard design specifications, constitute the City’s objective design standards and stealth and concealment regulations. Any deviation from these design guidelines may be a basis for the City to deny any application submitted under this chapter. All small wireless facilities installed, operated, and maintained under this chapter must be designed and installed in a way that: (1) minimizes the visual impact of the facilities to the public; (2) matches the visual context and character of the local public right-of-way and the surrounding neighborhood and development; and (3) meets the highest standards of visual and functional quality. City reserves the right to deny small wireless facility installations if the installations do not meet the City’s design standards for stealth and concealment.
C. Concealment of pole mounted small wireless facilities equipment. All pole mounted equipment, including the antenna, must be concealed in a manner that minimizes the visual impact of the pole mounted equipment. The concealment method and materials must receive prior approval by the City. Antenna size limitations are exclusive of any concealment materials or fabrication. Concealment materials shall have a color and finish consistent and appropriate with the pole they are mounted on.
D. Screening of ground mounted equipment. Equipment and equipment enclosures must be screened by a screen wall, painted, and/or landscaped.
1. Screening and equipment enclosures shall blend with or enhance the surrounding context in terms of scale, form, texture, materials, and color. Equipment shall be concealed as much as possible by blending into the natural and/or physical environment. All screening shall be at the discretion of the City.
2. When trees, bushes, rocks, and other forms of landscaping are used for screening, such landscaping must match the predominant landscaping form and species within one block of the facilities, and may only be used for screening when water for irrigation of landscaping is paid by the City or when the abutting property owner agrees in writing to assume all irrigation costs.
E. Any new, modified, or replacement poles installed in the local public right-of-way in conjunction with the installation of a small wireless facility, including any ground mounted equipment, electrical service meter, and screening must:
1. Be designed to blend in with the surrounding streetscape with minimal visual impact;
2. Satisfy all required Americans with Disabilities Act requirements;
3. At the time of installation, maintain a minimum 20-foot distance from existing fire hydrants, existing driveways, and sight visibility triangles for new poles, replacement poles and ground mounted equipment only;
4. Equipment must be installed to not impair or interfere with the sight visibility triangle requirements as dictated in Section 31-13;
5. Not impact existing local public right-of-way and replace any landscaping or irrigation system damaged by the installation like-for-like;
6. For new poles and new ground mounted equipment only, maintain a minimum 25-foot distance from the primary doorway of businesses or residences measured from the outer door frame and a minimum ten-foot distance from the primary entrance of businesses or residences measured at the edge of local public right-of-way;
7. Not block or obstruct existing roadway, or commercial signage;
8. Match the color and finish of similar poles within one block; and
9. Contain internal wiring to the pole and ground mounted equipment.
10. All bottom-fed antennas must have a shroud to conceal the cables from the cable port or hand hole to the antenna.
11. On a case-by-case basis, canister style antennas must have a transition shroud to conceal the mounting section from the top of the pole to the base of the canister.
F. All small wireless facilities within historic districts, the provider must obtain all required approvals before any site application may be submitted to locate small wireless facilities within the historic district.
G. No new wireless pole structures will be permitted in local public right-of-way if there is an existing City pole in the local public right-of-way within 100 feet of the proposed location that may be used to install a small wireless facility. To the extent possible, all new wireless pole structures in the local public right-of-way must serve a dual purpose as a street light or traffic signal pole, unless otherwise approved by the City.
H. Any new wireless pole structure that will serve solely as a wireless facility support structure may be required to incorporate shade for adjacent pedestrian pathways or sidewalks, and may be required to incorporate art into any structured shade element, as approved by the City.
I. Availability and use of existing City poles for small wireless facilities installations are on a first-come, first-served basis. Requests to install new small wireless facilities on a City pole with a previously installed small wireless facility must be reviewed by and coordinated with both the City and the provider with the existing small wireless facility installation on the pole.
J. All small wireless facilities must be maintained in a good and safe condition, including kept free of graffiti. Consistent with the City of Phoenix Graffiti Busters Program, all graffiti must be removed in its entirety from all small wireless facilities within ten calendar days after notice from the City at the provider’s sole expense and cost. If provider fails to cure after notice, the City may remove any graffiti using City standard techniques and assess provider the City’s costs to remove such graffiti. Providers acknowledge and agree that the City’s standard techniques for graffiti removal include power washing and providers agree and accept that the City is not liable for any damage to small wireless facilities caused by the City as part of graffiti removal.
K. All small wireless facilities designs including poles, antennas, and associated equipment placed in local public right-of-way must be sealed by a registered Arizona professional engineer. (Ord. No. G-6407, 2018)