A. Sharing And Colocation:
1. Policy: Whereas the City understands the importance of critical deployments of utility infrastructure (i.e., SWFs, cable, telecommunications, fiber-optics, etc.), it is the policy of the City to minimize the number of support towers and/or utility poles, and to encourage the colocation of utilities of more than one service provider on a single utility infrastructure (i.e., water storage, support tower and/or utility pole).
2. Provisions: No new tower may be constructed within one-half (1/2) mile of an existing tower, unless it can be demonstrated that the existing tower is not available or feasible for colocation of an additional wireless communication facility, or that its specific location does not satisfy the operational requirements of the applicant. Factors to be considered in determining whether an applicant has made this demonstration include those listed in subsection A3 of this section.
3. Factors Considered In Granting Utility Compliance Permits For Towers: The following criteria in determining whether to issue a permit shall be used:
a. Height of the proposed tower.
(1) Towers exceeding a height of seventy five feet (75') shall be able to accommodate colocation of at least one additional service provider.
(2) Additional height to accommodate additional colocation may be approved if the applicant submits information certifying the tower has capacity for at least two (2) additional service providers.
(3) The applicant shall provide a letter indicating their good faith intent to encourage colocation on the tower.
b. Proximity of the utility infrastructure to residential structures and Residential District boundaries.
c. Surrounding topography, tree coverage and foliage, nature of uses on adjacent and nearby properties.
d. Design of the utility infrastructure, with particular reference to design characteristics that have the effect of reducing or eliminating visual obtrusiveness.
e. No existing structures are located within the geographic area which meet applicant's engineering requirements.
f. Existing towers or structures do not have sufficient structural strength to support applicant's proposed antenna and related equipment.
g. 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.
h. 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.
i. The applicant demonstrates that there are other limiting factors not enumerated herein that render existing towers and structures unsuitable.
4. Placement Provisions - Towers: Towers shall be located only in those areas described in table 2 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 8-5-3 of this title.
TABLE 2
NEW WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TOWER CRITERIA
Zone Category | May Be Located In Public Right- Of-Way (ROW)5 | Maximum Tower Height | Stealth (Camouflage) Design | Setback From Property Lines (Does Not Apply Within ROW) |
R-1, R-S, R-M/F | Yes | 75'1 | Required | 25', subject to section 8-6-10 of this chapter |
C | Yes | 90'2 | Optional2 | 20', subject to section 8-6-10 of this chapter |
CBD | Yes | 90'2 | Required3 | |
L-I, A | Yes | 120'4 | Optional4 | 20'; 25', subject to section 8-6-10 of this chapter |
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 shall be required.
2. An additional 20 feet in height is allowed if applicant uses stealth design.
3. CBD Zone shall require stealth design. Preferred location shall be on top of existing structure.
4. An additional 30 feet in height is allowed if applicant uses stealth design.
5. Location to be approved per title 7, chapter 2, "Right-Of-Way Encroachments", of this Code.
(Ord. 596, 5-24-2019)