1. Documents Accompanying Application. All applicants who wish to locate a communications antenna or tower on City-owned or private property must submit to the City Administrator a completed application accompanied by a fee of two hundred dollars ($200.00) and the following documents, if applicable:
A. One copy of typical specifications for proposed structures and antennas, including description of design characteristics and material.
B. A site plan drawn to scale showing property lines, tower location, tower height, guy wires and anchors, existing structures, photographs or elevation drawings depicting typical design of proposed structures, parking, fences, landscape plan, and existing land uses on adjacent property. A site plan is not required if the antenna is to be mounted on an approved existing structure.
C. A current map or update for an existing map on file showing locations of applicant’s antennas, facilities, existing towers and proposed towers which are reflected in public records, serving any property within the City.
D. A report from a structural engineer showing the tower antenna capacity by type and number, and a certification that the tower is designed to withstand winds in accordance with ANS/EIA/TIA 222, latest revision, standards.
E. Identification of the owners of all antennas and equipment to be located on the site.
F. Written authorization from the site owner for the application.
G. Evidence that a valid FCC license for the proposed activity has been issued.
H. A line of sight analysis showing the potential visual and aesthetic impacts on adjacent residential districts.
I. A written agreement to remove the tower and/or antenna within 180 days after cessation of use.
J. Additional information, as required, to determine that all applicable zoning regulations are met.
K. Any communications facilities located on the roof of an antenna support structure must be set back at least one foot from the edge of the roof of the structure. This setback requirement shall not apply to (i) communications facilities located above the roof of the structure if the facilities are appropriately screened from view through the use of panels, walls, fences or other screening techniques approved by the City, or (ii) camouflage antennas that are mounted to the exterior of the antenna support structures below the roof, but do not protrude more than 24 inches from the side of such an antenna support structure.
2. Additional Requirements. Applicant must also show evidence that all of the following conditions which are applicable are met:
A. Applicant must show that the proposed communications tower, antenna or accessory structure will be placed in a reasonably available location that will minimize the visual impact on the surrounding area and allow the facility to function in accordance with minimum standards imposed by applicable communications regulations and applicant’s technical design requirements.
B. Applicant must show that a proposed antenna and equipment cannot be accommodated and function as required by applicable regulations and applicant’s technical design requirement without unreasonable modifications on any existing structure or tower under the control of the applicant.
C. Applicant for a permit in a residential district must show that the area cannot be adequately served by a facility placed in a nonresidential district for valid technical reasons.
D. Prior to consideration of a permit for location on private property which must be acquired, applicant must show that available publicly owned sites, and available privately owned sites occupied by a compatible use, are unsuitable for operation of the facility under applicable communications regulations and applicant’s technical design requirements.
E. Applicant must provide the names, addresses and telephone numbers of all owners of other towers or useable antenna support structures within a one-half mile radius of the proposed new tower site, including City-owned property, and written documentation that the applicant (i) made diligent but unsuccessful efforts for a minimum of forty (40) days prior to the submission of the application to install or collocate the applicant’s telecommunications facilities on towers or useable antenna support structures owned by the City and other persons located within a one-half mile radius of the proposed tower site, or (ii) written technical evidence from an engineer that the proposed tower or facilities cannot be installed or collocated on another person’s tower or support structure within a one-half mile radius of the proposed tower and must be located at the proposed site in order to meet the coverage requirements of the applicant’s wireless communications system.
F. Applicants must show that a new tower is designed to accommodate additional antenna equal in number to applicant’s present and future requirements.
G. Applicant must show that all applicable health, nuisance, noise, fire, building and safety code requirements are met.
H. All towers and communications facilities shall be of camouflage design standards. Examples of camouflage facilities include, but are not limited to, architecturally screened roof, roof-mounted antennas, antennas integrated into architectural elements, telecommunications towers designed to blend into the surrounding environment or to look other than a tower, such as light poles, power poles and trees. At a minimum, all towers not requiring FAA painting or markings shall have an exterior finish which is galvanized or painted dull blue, gray or black.
I. Applicant must show by certificate from a registered engineer that the proposed facility will contain only equipment meeting FCC rules, and must file with the Clerk a written indemnification of the municipality and proof of liability insurance or financial ability to respond to claims up to $1,000,000.00 in the aggregate which may arise from operation of the facility during its life, at no cost to the City, in form approved by the City Attorney.
J. Land use regulations, visibility, fencing, screening, landscaping, parking access, lot size, exterior illumination, sign, storage, and all other general zoning district regulations except setback and height, shall apply to the use. Setbacks on all sides shall be a distance equal to the height of the tower, except no antenna or tower shall be closer than 500 feet to any structure used as a residence. The following height conditions apply:
1 Commercial (“C” District) – Free-standing (unipole) tower with height not exceeding 150 feet is a permitted conditional use; height exceeding 150 feet requires special exception.
2 Industrial (“M” District) – Free-standing (unipole) tower with height not exceeding 200 feet is a permitted conditional use; height exceeding 200 feet requires special exception.
3 Agricultural (“A” District) – Free-standing (unipole) or guyed tower with height not exceeding 300 feet is a permitted conditional use; height exceeding 300 feet requires special exception.
K. A tower must be a minimum distance equal to one and one-half the height of the tower from any structure, historic property, or architecturally significant property, and must be set back from all lot line distances equal to the district setback requirements or 125% of the tower height, whichever is greater. This does not apply to any structure used in conjunction with the tower operation. See also, restriction regarding distance from residences in Section 156.07.
All responses to applications for siting of telecommunications towers and facilities shall be in writing and shall be made within sixty (60) days after all application materials are received.