The following requirements apply to all wireless telecommunications facilities regardless of the zoning district in which they are to be located.
(A) Prior to the issuance of any permit to construct, alter or modify any wireless telecommunications tower existing on the effective date of this chapter (Ordinance 16-97, passed June 2, 1997), the owner shall provide to the city a written and notarized statement agreeing to make said wireless telecommunications tower available for use by others, subject to reasonable technical limitations. The willful and knowing failure of a wireless telecommunications tower owner to agree to a shared use or to negotiate in good faith with potential users shall be cause for the withholding of a requested permit as well as future permits to the same owner to install, build or modify antennas or wireless telecommunications towers within the city.
(B) Prior to the issuance of any permit to install, build or modify any wireless telecommunications tower, the wireless telecommunications facility owner shall furnish the Building Department with an inventory of all wireless telecommunications facilities in or within one mile of the proposed site, including adjoining cities and counties, and agree to the shared use of such facilities subject to such technical limitations as are reasonable. The inventory shall include the wireless telecommunications facilities reference name or number, the street location, latitude and longitude, structure type and height.
(C) (1) Any new wireless telecommunications tower shall be designed and constructed to accommodate additional users as set forth below:
Maximum Height (Ft.) | Number of Antenna Arrays to Be Supported (Each Array to Consist of Not less than 12 Panel Antennas) |
Up to 99 | Up to 1 |
100 to 119 | Up to 2 |
120 and over | Up to 3 |
(2) The maximum height, irrespective of the number of antenna arrays, shall be 199 feet.
(D) When the proposed wireless telecommunications facility is to include a new wireless telecommunications tower, a plot plan at a scale of not less than one inch equal to 100 feet shall be submitted as a part of the application for Planning Commission approval. This plot plan shall include the tower height, type of materials, the name of the tower manufacturer, a soil investigation (where required for footing design), a listing of the type and location of all antennas, cables or other appurtenances which will be installed at the time the tower is erected, all lot lines, all structures and all uses within 300 feet of the proposed wireless telecommunications facility and an actual construction drawing bearing the seal of a registered professional engineer. Aerial photographs and architectural renderings may also be submitted to support the application.
(E) Security fencing eight feet in height shall surround the wireless telecommunications tower and equipment shelter either completely or individually as determined by the Planning Commission. Security fencing may not include any barbed wire and/or electrified wire or razor wire.
(F) A landscaping plan shall be submitted to the Planning Commission showing buffer plantings located around the perimeter of the security fence as deemed appropriate by the Planning Commission. Existing vegetation (trees and shrubs) shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible, during and after the proposed construction. The wireless telecommunications facility owner shall be responsible for securing regular maintenance of said landscaping.
(G) The wireless telecommunications tower shall be painted or finished a non-contrasting gray or similar color minimizing its visibility, unless otherwise required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) or the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA).
(H) No advertising is permitted anywhere on the wireless telecommunications facility. Identification signage as approved by the Planning Commission is permitted. “No Trespassing” signs shall be posted around the wireless telecommunications facility, which signs shall include the telephone number to contact for emergency purposes.
(I) All towers above 100 feet shall be artificially lighted. In addition, all FAA regulations addressing safety marking and obstruction lighting shall be followed when necessary. Security lighting around the equipment shelter is permitted, provided that it is shielded when required by the Planning Commission. A description of the lighting scheme(s) shall be made part of the application to install, build or modify the telecommunications antenna or support structure.
(J) Underground wireless telecommunications equipment shelters are encouraged and may be requested by the Planning Commission.
(K) Applicants will provide evidence of legal access to the wireless telecommunications facilities site and shall maintain this access regardless of other developments and/or improvements that may take place on the site. This must include a hard surface driveway for emergency vehicles.
(L) No two wireless telecommunications towers shall be located within a one-mile radius of each other. Separation distances between wireless telecommunications towers shall be applicable for and measured between the proposed wireless telecommunications tower and those wireless telecommunications towers that are existing or have received approval on the effective date of this chapter (Ordinance 16-97, passed June 2, 1997) from any governmental entity, including wireless telecommunications towers located in the city, adjoining cities and adjoining counties. The separation distances shall be measured by drawing or following a straight line between the base of the existing wireless telecommunications tower and the proposed base, pursuant to a site plan, of the proposed wireless telecommunications tower.
(M) The one-time replacement of any wireless telecommunications tower existing on the effective date of this chapter (Ordinance 16-97, passed June 2, 1997), or subsequently approved in accordance with these regulations, is permitted so long as the purpose of the replacement is to accommodate shared use of the site or to eliminate a safety hazard. The new wireless telecommunications tower must be replaced by a monopole and meet the requirements set forth in this chapter.
(Ord. 16-97, passed 6-2-1997; Ord. 159-98, passed 9-8-1998; Ord. 137-12, passed 9-17-2012)