(A) Residential neighborhoods. It is strongly preferred that the location of new wireless telecommunication facilities be located outside of residential neighborhoods. In an R District, all new wireless telecommunications facilities, not including co-location with an existing permitted facility, shall submit with the conditional use permit application factual information and data proving that there is no site outside the R District where the facility can be located to provide the same level of service.
(B) Design standards. All wireless telecommunication facilities are subject to the following design standards:
(1) Facilities shall be designed to be visually unobtrusive. Colors and designs should be compatible with the existing improvements on or adjacent to the site;
(2) In an R District or within 100 feet of an R District, or in the HM District within 150 feet of an R District, facilities located shall be camouflaged or of an innovative design to minimize negative visual impacts of the facility on the surrounding residential neighborhood;
(3) Screening and landscaping:
(a) In an R, OR, or C District, or within 100 feet of an R District, or in the HM District within 150 feet of an R District, for facilities located at or near ground level screening six feet in height shall be located adjoining the facility, and an area ten feet in depth adjoining the facility shall be landscaped with plant materials including a buffer of trees, unless the Planning Commission finds that topographic or other conditions make screening or landscaping unnecessary;
(b) In all other districts, for facilities located at or near ground level screening six feet in height shall be located adjoining the facility including a buffer of trees, unless the Planning Commission finds that topographic or other conditions make screening unnecessary;
(c) Screening of the facility should take into account the existing improvements on or adjacent to the site, including landscaping, walls, fences, berms or other devices specifically designed to screen development.
(4) Facilities shall be sited to avoid or minimize obstruction of scenic views;
(5) Facilities shall not be of a bright, shiny or glare reflective finish;
(6) If feasible, the base station and all wires and cables necessary for the operation shall be placed underground; and
(7) If the base station is located within or on the roof of a building, it may be placed in any location not visible from the surrounding neighborhood, with any wires and cables attached to the base station screened from public view.
(C) Noise.
(1) For a wireless telecommunication facility in an R District, non-transportation noise levels generated by the proposed wireless telecommunication facility, measured immediately within the property line on which the facility is located, shall not exceed the following performance standards:
Noise level descriptor | Daytime (7:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.) | Nighttime (10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m.) |
Hourly Leq, dB | 50 | 45 |
Maximum level, dB | 70 | 65 |
Each of the noise levels specified above shall be lowered by five dB for simple tone noises, noises consisting primarily of speech or music, or for recurring impulsive noises. | ||
(2) For a wireless telecommunication facility located in an HM District within 150 feet of an R District, or in any other district within 100 feet of an R District, the noise performance standards listed above shall be measured at the boundary of the R District.
(D) Height limits. The maximum height of all structures and accessory structures shall be as prescribed for the district in which the facility is located. The maximum height of towers and other support structures for a wireless telecommunication facility and including the maximum height of all antennas, dishes, and the like shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
District | Maximum Height (feet) | |
Free-standing | On top of building | |
A | 100 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
RS-6000 | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 60 feet |
RS-12000 | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 60 feet |
RM-2500 | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 60 feet |
RM-1000 | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
OR | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 60 feet |
HM | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
CN | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 60 feet |
CP | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
CC | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
CW | 60 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 60 feet |
CS | 100 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
ML | 100 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
MG | 150 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 150 feet |
MC | 150 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 150 feet |
P | 100 | 25 feet above the height of the building, not to exceed 100 feet |
(E) Minimum yards. The minimum yards for all structures and accessory structures shall be as prescribed for the district in which the facility is located. The minimum yards for free standing towers and other free-standing support structures for a wireless telecommunication facility shall be in accordance with the following schedule:
District | Minimum yards (feet) | |||||
Within 100 feet of an R District | More than 100 feet from an R District | |||||
front | side | rear | front | side | rear | |
A | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 | 30 |
RS-6000 | 25 | 25 | 25 | - | - | - |
RS-12000 | 25 | 25 | 25 | - | - | - |
RM-2500 | 20 | 20 | 20 | - | - | - |
RM-1000 | 20 | 20 | 20 | - | - | - |
OR | 20 | 20 | 20 | - | - | - |
HM | 20* | 20* | 20* | 0* | 0* | 0* |
CN | 20 | 20 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
CP | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 | 50 |
CC | 20 | 20 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
CW | 20 | 20 | 20 | 5 | 5 | 5 |
CS | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
ML | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MG | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
MC | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
P | 20 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
* in the HM District the distance from an R District is measured at 150 feet not 100 feet.
(F) Utility poles. Co-location of wireless telecommunication facility antennas on utility poles shall be subject to the same permit requirements for all other wireless telecommunication facilities, and shall be subject to the following standards:
(1) The utility pole shall be located in a public right-of-way or in a utility easement and subject to any applicable franchise fees or lease agreements required by the city;
(2) The antenna(s) shall not extend more than ten feet above the top of the utility pole;
(3) If the utility pole must be replaced to accommodate the antenna(s), the replacement pole shall not be more than ten feet higher than the existing utility pole. If the replacement pole exceeds the height of the existing pole, the antenna(s) shall be mounted to the sides of the pole and shall not extend above the top of the replacement pole. Replacement of a utility pole shall be subject to a conditional use permit;
(4) Antenna(s) including the mounting structure with an outside diameter between 24 inches and 36 inches shall be subject to a conditional use permit;
(5) Antenna(s) including the mounting structure with an outside diameter greater than 36 inches are not permitted on utility poles;
(6) If the antenna(s) and mounting structure are narrower than the top of the utility pole, stealth shielding of the antenna(s) shall be used to make the antenna(s) appear as a vertical extension of the utility pole;
(7) Electrical equipment shall either be attached directly to the utility pole or placed underground. If the electrical equipment is attached to the pole, the box(es) shall not be larger than 36 inches in height, 12 inches deep and no wider than 20 inches. Not more than five such boxes shall be mounted on any one utility pole (excluding the power meter and network interface box). The boxes shall be stacked vertically, one above the other, and shall be at least ten feet above the ground. The power meter and network interface box may be installed below the ten-foot level;
(8) Antenna(s) and electrical boxes shall be painted to match the utility pole to minimize visual impact;
(9) Generators or noise-producing venting systems shall not be permitted;
(10) Lighting for aircraft is prohibited except where required by federal law;
(11) Electrical and utility cables between the utility pole and electrical boxes shall be placed underground;
(12) Prior to co-location the utility pole shall be certified by the utility company or an independent structural engineer as being structurally capable of supporting the existing and proposed equipment; and
(13) If the wired utilities using the pole are relocated or placed underground, the telecommunications antennas and equipment shall be relocated so that the utility pole can be removed at the same time as adjoining poles.
(G) Maintenance. All wireless telecommunication facilities shall be maintained in a neat and orderly manner on a regular and as-need basis. Maintenance shall include but not be limited to the following:
(1) Mowing, weeding, gardening and general maintenance of landscaping, and including replacement of diseased or dying plant material;
(2) Painting;
(3) Removal of debris, garbage and waste; and
(4) Graffiti removal.
(H) Removal. Wireless telecommunication towers or support structures shall be demolished, deconstructed or otherwise removed upon abandonment or termination of use, and all debris shall be recycled and/or disposed of in an appropriate manner. Removal shall be completed within 90 days of abandonment or termination of use. Upon notification by the city to the property owner that the tower or support structure appears abandoned, the property owner shall remove the tower or support structure within 90 days, or the property owner shall provide satisfactory evidence to the city that the tower or support structure has not been abandoned. Expenses incurred to demolish, deconstruct or otherwise remove wireless communication towers or support structures shall be fully paid by the company owning the tower or support structure and/or the property owner where the tower or support structure is located. Nothing in this provision shall have the effect nor shall it be construed to interfere with private contracts for facility uses in existence at the time of adoption of this chapter.
(Ord. 757-C.S., passed 10-19-10) Penalty, see § 159.028