(a) The purpose of this chapter is to establish uniform standards for the siting, design, permitting, maintenance and use of wireless communications facilities in township. While the township recognizes the importance of wireless communications facilities in providing high quality communications service to its residents and businesses, the township also recognizes that it has an obligation to protect public safety and to minimize the adverse visual effects of such facilities through the standards set forth in the following provisions.
(b) By enacting these provisions, the township intends to:
(1) Accommodate the need for wireless communications facilities while regulating their location and number so as to ensure the provision of necessary services;
(2) Provide for the managed development of wireless communications facilities in a manner that enhances the benefits of wireless communication and accommodates the needs of both township residents and wireless carriers in accordance with federal and state laws and regulations;
(3) Establish procedures for the design, siting, construction, installation, maintenance and removal of both wireless telecommunications towers and wireless telecommunications antennas in the township, including facilities both inside and outside the public rights-of-way;
(4) Address new wireless technologies, including but not limited to, distributed antenna systems, data collection units and other wireless communications facilities;
(5) Minimize the adverse visual effects and the number of such facilities through proper design, siting, screening, material, color and finish, and by requiring that competing providers of wireless communications services co-locate their wireless telecommunications antenna and related facilities on existing towers; and
(6) Promote the health, safety and welfare of the township’s residents.
(Ord. 984, passed 11-20-2018)