{"id":15687,"date":"2019-08-18T18:28:28","date_gmt":"2019-08-19T01:28:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=15687"},"modified":"2019-08-18T18:28:28","modified_gmt":"2019-08-19T01:28:28","slug":"los-altos-bans-node-antennas-for-the-most-part-in-residential-areas","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/emrabc.ca\/?p=15687","title":{"rendered":"Los Altos bans \u2018node\u2019 antennas for the most part in residential areas"},"content":{"rendered":"
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<\/i>August 8, 2019 7:30 am<\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<\/header>\n
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This is an example of a \u201cnode\u201d antenna located at Newell Road and Hopkins Avenue in Palo Alto. At left is the equipment box. At right is the top of the antenna. Photos were provided to the city by Verizon.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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BY EMILY MIBACH<\/a>
\nDaily Post Staff Writer<\/p>\n

Los Altos became the first city in the mid-Peninsula to largely ban small cell antennas, or \u201cnodes\u201d in residential neighborhoods, but not all residents were behind the idea.<\/p>\n

The council on Monday (Aug. 5) voted 4-0, with councilwoman Jeannie Bruins absent, to approve stringent regulations on the nodes after council members and residents expressed dismay over the aesthetics of the devices, along with the noises they make.<\/p>\n

Cellphone companies say that the nodes, which are mounted to the top of utility poles, will improve service.<\/p>\n

Resident Jim Fenton said that the city\u2019s residents are not in unanimity on this topic. Fenton said he\u2019s worried the ordinance will fly in the face of the FCC regulations and the city may get sued.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t want my tax dollars going to try to defend the city against something it will probably lose,\u201d said Fenton.<\/p>\n

Fenton and Verizon attorney Paul Albritton were the only two people to speak against the ordinance at Monday\u2019s hearing. About 20 people went to the microphone, and the others were in favor of the ordinance.<\/p>\n

Jeanine Valadez told the council that four of the proposed nodes would be near her Los Altos home.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know why such proximity would be necessary,\u201d Valadez said, adding that she is not happy with the humming noise the nodes make.<\/p>\n

The ordinance sets forth the city\u2019s preference order as to where these nodes can go. The lists puts neighborhoods at the bottom. The council also added in mixed-use buildings to the ordinance, they are not at the very bottom, but will require for cell phone companies to put the nodes a certain amount of feet away, so people in apartments or condos are not bothered.<\/p>\n

This means the nodes aren\u2019t completely banned in residential neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

Assistant City Attorney Gail Karish warned the council that an outright ban could lead to lawsuits from cellphone companies.<\/p>\n

FCC says cities can can\u2019t stop telecoms from adding capacity to current nodes, installing 5G networks or improving service.<\/p>\n

If telecom companies want to put a cell node in a neighborhood, they must file an application with the city that explains why the city must approve the project and how it will benefit the area\u2019s cell coverage.<\/p>\n

Applicants will also have to include the following:<\/p>\n

\u2022 A description identifying where service will be improved if the node is installed in the neighborhood,<\/p>\n

\u2022 A master plan of all proposed nodes in relation to the existing and potential locations in the city for nodes,<\/p>\n

\u2022 An analysis of at least five other places in the area where the company could put the node instead,<\/p>\n

\u2022 A sample of the proposed notice, and the envelope it will be mailed in, that will be sent to all residents within 1,000 feet of the new node.<\/p>\n

The ordinance also requires that the nodes cannot be within 500 feet of a school, the nodes must be separated by 1,500 feet and be placed mid-block so they are not as obvious when placed on street corners.<\/p>\n

Los Altos bans ‘node’ antennas for the most part in residential areas<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n