Valleywide : City Closer to Rules for Cell Phone Firms

A committee of the Los Angeles City Council this week approved a motion that could result in tough restrictions on where cellular telephone antennas can be located, how high they can be and how they must be camouflaged.

The motion approved Tuesday by the council’s planning and land use management asks the city Planning Department and Information Technology Agency to create recommendations for a citywide approval policy for the siting of such antennas.

The motion was sent for review to the City Council’s administrative services committee, which has jurisdiction over telecommunications issues.

Introduced by City Councilman Michael Feuer, the motion would expect the two city agencies to consult with community groups and cellular company officials in developing the city policy.

If cellular firms comply with the restrictions, they could win the right, in some cases, to build antennas under an expedited public hearing process.