For purposes of this article, the following terms shall have the meanings set forth below:
ANTENNA: Any exterior transmitting or receiving device mounted on a tower, building or structure and used in communications that radiates or captures electromagnetic waves, digital signals, analog signals, radio frequencies (excluding radar signals), wireless telecommunications signals or other communication signals.
BACK HAUL NETWORK: The lines that connect any provider's towers/cell sites to one or more cellular telephone switching offices, and/or long distance providers, or the public switched telephone network.
FAA: The federal aviation administration.
FCC: The federal communications commission.
FACILITIES: Any tower, antenna, support structure(s), pad, and/or equipment building or cabinet related thereto.
HEIGHT: When referring to a tower or other structure, the distance measured from the finished grade of the ground beneath the tower to the highest point on the tower or other structure, including the base pad and any antenna.
NO IMPACT ANTENNA FACILITY: An antenna facility which is either: a) virtually invisible to the casual observer, such as an antenna behind louvers on a building, or inside a steeple or similar structure; or b) camouflaged so as to blend in with its surroundings to such an extent that it is no more obtrusive to the casual observer than the structure which it is: 1) placed on, such as a rooftop, lighting standard, or existing tower; or 2) replacing, such as a school athletic field light standard.
PREEXISTING TOWERS AND PREEXISTING ANTENNAS: Any tower or antenna for which a building permit or special use permit has been properly issued prior to the effective date hereof, including permitted towers or antennas that have not yet been constructed so long as such approval is current and not expired.
TOWER: Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas for telephone, radio and similar communication purposes, including self-supporting lattice towers, guyed towers, or monopole towers. The term includes radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, common carrier towers, cellular telephone towers, alternative tower structures, and the like. The term includes the structure and any support thereto. (Ord. 06-54, 9-21-2006)