HomeMy WebLinkAbout2022-04-25 PACKET 08.2. - RESPONSE TO REQUEST (EMCF)
TO: Planning Commission
Councilmember Thiede, Planning Commission Liaison
FROM: Christine Costello, Community Development Director
DATE: April 20, 2022
SUBJECT: Planning Commission Request – Electromagnetic Communication Facilities
(EMCF)
Introduction/Discussion
The City of Cottage Grove’s Electromagnetic Communication Facilities (EMCF) Ordinance, or more
commonly known as communication or cellular towers, was added to the City’s Zoning Ordinance
in 1996. Since 1996, the ordinance has not been updated or amended to reflect any changes in
technology.
The current EMCF Ordinance requires utility buildings and/or structures accessory to an EMCF be
screened and blend into the surrounding environment and architectural character. The current ordi-
nance also does not provide any definitions to define what is meant by a utility building, structure, or
an accessory, since it was written over 26 years ago. The Community Development Planning staff
has always assumed the intent of the ordinance was that any utility building, structure, or accessory
be screened from any right-of-way. The screening can be done through landscaping and requiring
a condition of regular maintenance of EMCF in any approval. In addition, telecommunications com-
panies have shared with Planning staff that equipment is getting smaller and the need for a utility
building at the base of a EMCF tower is not always required or necessary.
Currently Cottage Grove’s Planning staff is going through a zoning ordinance rewrite, and this is one
section that will be reviewed for any needed changes to the ordinance.