City planning officials in Woodland, CA recommend approval for a 75-foot stealth water tank if AT&T, represented by Epic Wireless Group, fulfills the city’s public art requirement. The structure industry old-timers have called a “Petticoat Junction” tower, in reference to the 1960’s TV comedy, could be approved in a teleconference meeting on Thursday.
According to Section 25-21-8 of Woodland’s Wireless Communications Facility ordinance, “towers located in high visibility locations shall incorporate ‘stealth’ design techniques to camouflage the tower to the maximum extent feasible as art/sculpture, clock tower, flag pole, tree or any other appropriate and compatible visual form.”
The Daily Democrat reported that AT&T originally proposed an 87’ tower. After reviewing their coverage model and considering the height of existing telecommunications facilities in the city, AT&T agreed to revise the design by lowering the height to 75’. The proposed tower will be designed to look like an old-time water tank and has the capacity to house 12 cellular antennas.
“The proposed 75-foot faux water tower is designed to be visually compatible with the agricultural identity of the city and as a condition, additional landscaping has been added to enhance the visual corridor from Main Street at eye level,” states city staff.
Woodland planning officials are familiar with wireless facilities and have two similar stealth facilities in their community – a stealth redwood tree and another water tank that is painted with the city’s official agricultural logo, “Food Front.”
To expedite the approval process, Epic is proposing the payment of a “public art in-lieu fee” to the city. According to The Daily Democrat, the city intends to use the in-lieu fee to work with YoloArts, a local community arts initiative funded in part by the California Arts Council, the National Endowment for the Arts, and by YoloArts’ membership and partners. The city and YoloArts plan to collaborate with AT&T to fabricate the art for the water tank.
Since COVID-19 stay-at-home orders have restricted public meetings, Woodland City organized a teleconference to be held on April 16, to continue working on the tower proposal. Residents can listen to the meeting on Woodland TV Channel 20 or at www.cityofwoodland.org/meetings, and can comment on the proposal.
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