Cell Tower Moratorium Extension Up For Debate

The discussion on wireless telecommunications facilities in Burlingame continues Monday night at the City Council regular meeting. A public hearing regarding extending the and a discussion on preparing a wireless facility ordinance are planned.

The public hearing comes just weeks after ExteNet, a wireless company with an application currently submitted to the Planning Commission for cell tower construction in Burlingame, for retroactively applying the moratorium to current applicants. The moratorium extension would exempt ExteNet and T-Mobile, another company with an application submitted to the City.

The City Council members unanimously approved a moratorium on cell phone antenna construction at their September 6 meeting. The decision came after months of discussing the necessity of an ordinance governing antenna construction after Extenet and T-Mobile submitted applications, for which Burlingame had no regulations.

Although initially the moratorium applied only to future applicants, residents and council members pushed for the moratorium to retroactively cover Extenet and T-Mobile’s applications, as well.

According to a staff report, "the purpose of the moratorium is to provide time for the City Council and the City to study and consider this issue prior to adopting a comprehensive city ordinance addressing this matter."

However, the moratorium expires Oct. 21. As the council only held a study session on the issue Oct. 5, it would like more time before the moratorium expires. The proposed extension would last 90 days, during which City staff believe a draft ordinance can be composed.

The moratorium requires a four out of five member vote and would become effective immediately.

For a full agenda of Monday’s meeting, click here.

The Burlingame City Council meets at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 501 Primrose Road.