(a) A facilities operator shall be required to replace an existing wireless support structure in the following circumstances:
(1) The wireless support structure upon which the applicant has proposed to collocate small cell equipment is deemed incapable of bearing the added weight of the small cell equipment; or
(2) An existing wireless support structure is located within one hundred (100) feet of the proposed site of a new wireless support structure but the existing wireless support structure is incapable of bearing the additional weight of the small cell equipment.
(b) Designs for replacement of wireless support structures shall be as architecturally similar as possible to the existing wireless support structure to be replaced unless otherwise approved by the City.
(1) All luminaire mast arms shall be the same length, arch, and style as the original luminaire arm, unless otherwise specified by the City.
(2) The City may require the facilities operator to install a new metal wireless support structure rather than a new wood support structure.
(c) All replacement wireless support structures shall be subject to review by the Amherst Electric Department for potential conflicts with municipal electrical services, systems, and equipment. The overall height of a replacement wireless support structure, including proposed collocated antenna, shall not be more than forty (40) feet in height above ground level or not be more than thirty-five (35) feet in height above ground level, where no other wireless support structures or utility poles exceeding thirty (30) feet are located within three hundred (300) feet of the proposed location of the replacement wireless support structure in any zoning districts within the City.
(d) All existing signs, traffic signals, emergency signal detection units, video detection cameras, video cameras, crosswalk service buttons, crosswalk signals, and any other municipally owned or operated devices shall be reinstalled or replaced with new units by the facilities operator at no cost to the City.
(e) The concrete wireless support structure foundation for the original wireless support structure shall be removed either partially or completely by the facilities operator as instructed by the City.
(1) For partially removed wireless support structure foundations, the original wireless support structure foundation shall be taken back to a level that is twelve (12) inches below the existing grade and covered with four (4) inches of premium #57 washed limestone (or equivalent) with the remaining eight (8) inches consisting of clean top soil with appropriate stabilization of denuded soil pursuant to state and local regulations.
(2) For fully removed wireless support structure foundations, all foundation materials (concrete, rebar, metals, bolts, etc.) shall be removed and properly disposed of. The method of backfill shall consist of premium fill (properly compacted) or controlled low strength material (LSM) the full depth of the excavation to within twelve (12) inches of grade with the remaining twelve (12) inches consisting of clean top soil with appropriate stabilization of denuded soil pursuant to state and local regulations.
(Ord. 20-30. Passed 10-26-20.)