Wireless telecommunications facilities, towers, and related structures may be located in any zoning district, other than residential districts, as established by Coshocton City Code and located according to the Official Zoning Map, as a conditional use. Said facilities are only permitted in residential zoning districts as set forth below. Generally, wireless telecommunications towers are objectionable in residential areas because their use is industrial in nature, and may be objectionable in the community at large because they are frequently considerably taller that surrounding structures, causing them to be seen from long distances. Their location is therefore regulated as permitted by the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, as may from time to time be amended. Prior to approval, the provider shall demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that if towers and related wireless telecommunications facilities are located in the City of Coshocton, they shall not adversely affect the natural or man-made environment or the architectural setting, and that their location shall not pose a reasonable risk to the health and safety of residents.
(a) Priority. In order to accommodate the communications needs of residents and businesses while protecting the health, safety, and general welfare, the City of Coshocton recommends and encourages the placement of wireless telecommunications facilities and towers in non-residential areas, in the following order of preference:
(1) City-owned property.
(2) Industrial areas.
(3) Quasi-public areas.
(4) Business districts, excluding the Old Town Coshocton and Roscoe Village.
(5) Other non-residential districts deemed appropriate by review of the Planning Commission and approval of City Council.
(b) Sole use on a lot. A wireless telecommunications tower and related facilities are permitted as the sole use on a lot, and may be permitted, by approval of the appropriate Board, on lots containing other uses where existing structures enable co-usage, including on City-owned property.
(c) Placement in residential zoning districts. In order to locate wireless telecommunications towers and related facilities in residential zoning districts, the applicant service provider shall demonstrate to the appropriate Board that there are sound technical and geographic reasons for doing so, such as: (i) written verification that offers to co-locate with other providers or placement as a co-usage with other structures within Coshocton or neighboring communities have proven ineffective, or (ii) evidence that, in order to provide wireless telecommunications services to the residents and businesses in a manner that serves their best interests, such towers and facilities may only be placed in a residential zoning district.
(d) Co-location and co-usage. In all districts, co-location and co-usage shall be explored as the primary means of locating towers and/or antennas. When a wireless telecommunications facility is located in conformity with this section, and the antenna(s) is (are) placed as a co-usage and is (are) attached to an institutional, recreational, public utility, office, industrial, or commercial structure or building, equipment and apparatus supporting a facility shall be stored on the premises inside the wireless telecommunications equipment building or other structure on the premises of the facility.
(e) Setbacks. For purposes of this section only, any provision of this Planning and Zoning Code notwithstanding, the setback for a tower of any variety, including monopole, shall be measured from the base of the tower at the point where it is placed in the ground to the property line. The exception to this regulation is when a tower or antenna is placed or affixed as a co-usage, in which case the setback shall be measured from the base of the tower or antenna at the point where it is placed on the existing structure to the property line.
(1) An equipment building and all other structures, except the tower, shall be set back the minimum distance required in the zoning district.
(2) Except as otherwise provided herein, in industrial zoning districts, the setback for the tower shall be at least fifty percent of the total height of the tower. A minimum of seventy-five feet shall be required.
(3) Except as otherwise provided herein, in non- industrial zoning districts, the setback for the tower shall be seventy-five percent of the total height of the tower. A minimum of seventy-five feet shall be required.
(4) In any zoning district where the lot on which a tower is located abuts another lot on which is located a school of any type, including institutions of higher learning beyond high school level, public or private parks (but not including golf courses), hospitals, playgrounds, day care centers, health centers, or other human services and educational uses, the setback for a tower shall be equal to the total height of the tower.
(5) In any zoning district where a lot on which a tower is located abuts any lot within a residential zoning district of any classification, the setback for a tower shall be equal to the total height of the tower.
(6) Guy wires may be anchored within the required setback area only if the tower itself is placed in conformity with this section regarding setbacks, but guy wires and other similar supporting devices shall be not less than ten feet from any adjoining lot, regardless of the underlying zoning district.
(f) Amateur radio towers. Towers supporting amateur radio antennas and conforming to all applicable provisions of this section shall be permitted in residential zoning districts, but not as a sole use of a lot, and only in the rear yard of such parcels, as defined in this Planning and Zoning Code.
(g) Government placement. The City of Coshocton may locate wireless telecommunications towers and related facilities in residential zoning districts, even as the sole use of the lot, but only on publicly owned property. The City of Coshocton may contract with private wireless telecommunications service providers to locate a tower and related facilities on City-owned property in residential zoning districts, provided that all provisions of this section are followed.
(h) Open space. Wireless telecommunications towers and related facilities are permitted on land which has been established as permanent open space or a park, subject to the following conditions:
(1) In order to locate wireless telecommunications towers and related facilities in permanent open space or park lands, the applicant/service provider shall demonstrate to the appropriate Board that there are sound technical and geographic reasons for doing so, such as: (i) written verification that offers to co-locate with other providers or placement as a co-usage with other structures within the City of Coshocton or neighboring communities have proven ineffective, or (ii) evidence that, in order to provide wireless telecommunications services to the residents and businesses in a manner that serves their best interests, such towers and facilities may only be placed in open space or in park lands.
(2) The open space shall be owned and overseen by the City of Coshocton, the State of Ohio, the United States of America, other governmental or quasi-governmental agencies, a private homeowners association, or a private, non-profit conservation organization.
(3) In permanent open space or park lands, all towers shall be camouflaged using the best and most advanced techniques possible.
(4) Other setback provisions of this section notwithstanding, the tower shall be set back a minimum of 200 feet from any single family residential zoning district.
(i) Subordinate to surrounding uses. Towers and related wireless telecommunications facilities shall be placed, constructed, and modified subordinate and in deference to the use of private, residentially zoned or used property, by minimizing the visual effect on residential properties, and to minimize the visual, often unattractive, impact towers and related wireless telecommunications facilities create when viewing them from a distance.
(Ord. 21-16. Passed 6-27-16.)