This bill amends the Municipal Land Use Law to streamline the process for collocating wireless communications equipment on existing support structures. It establishes that applications for zoning permits related to such collocations will be reviewed and approved by an administrative officer, rather than undergoing site plan or land use board review. The administrative officer is required to issue or deny the zoning permit within 30 business days, and if they fail to do so, the application is automatically deemed approved. Furthermore, once a zoning permit is granted, it must be accepted for all related applications, including building and electrical permits.

The bill also revises the criteria for approving collocation applications. It allows for greater flexibility in increasing the height and width of wireless communications support structures, with specific limits depending on whether the structure is located in a public right-of-way. The maximum increase in height is set to either 10 percent of the original height or the height of one additional antenna array (up to 20 feet), while the width can increase by 20 feet or the width of the original structure at the level of the expansion, with a limit of six feet for structures in public rights-of-way. Additionally, the bill changes the maximum increase in the existing equipment compound's size from 2,500 square feet to a maximum of 30 feet in any direction. These changes aim to facilitate the deployment of wireless infrastructure while maintaining regulatory oversight.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 40:55D-46.2