A. Policy: It is the policy of the City to minimize the number of wireless communication support towers and to encourage the collocation of antenna arrays of more than one wireless communication service provider on a single support tower.
B. Provisions: No new tower may be constructed within three- quarters (3/4) of a mile of an existing tower, unless it can be demonstrated that an existing tower is not available or feasible for collocation of an additional wireless communication facility, or that its specific location does not satisfy the operational requirements of the applicant or that another departure from this standard is needed and the applicant can demonstrate that a significant gap in coverage or capacity exists and the applicant's submittal is the least intrusive means to fill the gap in coverage or capacity. Factors to be considered in determining whether applicant has made this demonstration include those listed in subsection C of this section.
C. Factors Considered In Granting Special Use Permits For Towers: In addition to any standards for consideration of special use permit applications pursuant to this Code, the Planning Commission shall consider the following factors in determining whether to issue a special use permit, although the commission may waive or reduce the burden on the applicant of one or more of these criteria if the commission concludes that the goals of this article are better served thereby.
1. Height of the proposed tower. Towers exceeding a height of seventy five feet (75') shall be able to accommodate collocation of one additional provider. Additional height to accommodate additional collocation may be approved if the applicant submits information certifying the tower has capacity for at least two (2) additional providers. The applicant shall provide a letter indicating their good faith intent to encourage collocation on the tower.
2. Proximity of the tower to residential structures and residential district boundaries.
3. Nature of uses on adjacent and nearby properties.
4. Surrounding topography.
5. Surrounding tree coverage and foliage.
6. Design of the tower, with particular reference to design characteristics that have the effect of reducing or eliminating visual obtrusiveness.
7. Proposed ingress and egress.
8. No existing structures are located within the geographic area which meet applicant's engineering requirements.
9. Existing towers or structures do not have sufficient structural strength to support applicant's proposed antenna and related equipment.
10. The applicant's proposed antenna would cause electromagnetic interference with the antenna on the existing towers or structures, or the antenna on the existing towers or structures would cause interference with the applicant's proposed antenna.
11. The fees, costs, or contractual provisions required by the owner in order to share an existing tower or structure or to adapt an existing tower or structure for sharing are unreasonable. Costs exceeding new tower development are presumed to be unreasonable.
12. The applicant demonstrates that there are other limiting factors not enumerated herein that render existing towers and structures unsuitable.
D. Placement Provisions - Towers: Towers shall be located only in those areas described in table 1 of this subsection, provided that towers that are proposed to be located in a residential zone or within two hundred feet (200') of a residential zone shall be subject to the siting priorities set forth for preferred tower locations in section 17.08.835 of this article.
TABLE 1
NEW TOWER CRITERIA
Zone Category | Located In Public Right-Of- Way (ROW) | Maximum Tower Height | Stealth Design | Setback From Property Lines (Does Not Apply Within ROW) |
Residential R-1 through R-34 (including Infill), MH-8, NC and CC | Yes or no | 75'
1 | Required | 20' |
Commercial C-17 and C-17L | Yes or no | 76' - 90' 2 | Optional2 | 20' |
DC | Yes or no | 76' - 90' 2 | Required3 | 20' |
Manufacturing M and LM | Yes or no | 91' - 120' 4 | Optional | 20' |
Notes:
1. If an applicant wants to construct a tower in a residential zone or within 200 feet of a residential zone, then stealth design is required.
2. An additional 20 feet in height is allowed if applicant uses stealth design.
3. DC Zone requires stealth design. Preferred location on top of existing structure.
4. An additional 30 feet in height is allowed if applicant uses stealth design.
Towers in industrial zones (M and LM) are subject to administrative review as long as the other requirements of this article are met. (Ord. 3590, 2017)