8-6-11: DESIGN STANDARDS:
   A.   Standards:
      1.   Color: The antenna array shall be placed and colored to blend into the architectural detail and coloring of the host structure. Support towers shall be painted a color that best allows it to blend into the surroundings. The use of grays, blues, greens, dark bronze, browns or other site specific colors may be appropriate; however, each case should be evaluated individually.
      2.   Lighting: For support towers, only such lighting as is necessary to satisfy FAA requirements is permitted. White strobe lighting will not be allowed, unless specifically required by the FAA. Security lighting for the equipment shelters or cabinets and other on the ground ancillary equipment is also permitted, as long as it is appropriately down shielded to keep light within the boundaries of the site. All such lighting shall be fully shielded, and all lighting shall be contained on the lot. When lighting is proposed a photometric plan shall be submitted which demonstrates compliance with these standards. "Fully shielded" lighting shall meet the definition of subsection 11-18-5J of this Code.
      3.   State Or Federal Requirements: All towers and antennas must meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, the FCC, and any other agency of the State or Federal government with the authority to regulate towers and antennas. If such standards and regulations are changed, and if WCF equipment is added either through colocation or replacement, then the owners of the towers and antennas governed by this chapter shall bring such towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations within six (6) months of the effective date of such standards and regulations, unless a different compliance schedule is mandated by the controlling State or Federal agency. Failure to bring towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower or antenna at the owner's expense.
      4.   Site Development And Building Permit: All utility infrastructures shall be required to obtain a permit and shall be subject to the site development standards identified in subsection 8-5-5A3 of this title.
      5.   Building Codes; Safety Standards: To ensure the structural integrity of towers, the owner of a tower shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable State or local Building Codes and the applicable industry standards for towers, as amended from time to time. If, upon inspection, the City concludes that a tower fails to comply with such codes and standards and constitutes a danger to persons or property, then upon written notice being provided to the owner of the tower, the owner shall have thirty (30) days to bring such tower into compliance with such standards and/or identify a plan to bring the infrastructure into compliance that is acceptable to the City. Should the City determine that imminent failure or public safety is at risk or in jeopardy; the City shall remove the tower at the owner's expense. Failure to bring such tower into compliance within said thirty (30) days shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower at the owner's expense. Compliance with this subsection is also subject to the City's Code enforcement pursuant to the International Building Code, regarding unsafe building and related provisions.
      6.   Signs: No facilities may bear any signage or advertisement(s) other than signage required by law or expressly permitted or required by the City.
      7.   Visual Impact: All utility infrastructures shall be sited and designed to meet the site development standards identified in subsection 8-5-5A6 of this title.
      8.   Use Of Stealth Design/Technology: Aesthetic requirements shall be: a) reasonable and b) no more burdensome than those applied to other types of infrastructure deployments. The applicant shall provide justification why it is not employing stealth technology for all above ground utility infrastructure. Stealth design is required for macrocell facilities in Residential Zones, and to the extent shown in subsection 8-6-9A4, table 2 of this chapter and elsewhere as provided in this chapter, concealment techniques must be appropriate given the proposed location, design, visual environment, and nearby uses, structures, and natural features. Stealth design shall be designed and constructed to substantially conform to surrounding building designs or natural settings, so as to be visually unobtrusive. Stealth design that relies on screening wireless communication facilities in order to reduce visual impact must screen all substantial portions of the facility from view. Stealth and concealment techniques do not include incorporating faux-tree designs of a kind that are not native to the North Idaho region.
      9.   Building-Mounted Transmission Equipment:
         a.   All transmission equipment shall be concealed within existing architectural features to the maximum extent feasible. Any new architectural features proposed to conceal the transmission equipment shall be designed to mimic the existing underlying structure, shall be proportional to the existing underlying structure or conform to the underlying use and shall use materials in similar quality, finish, color and texture as the existing underlying structure.
         b.   All roof-mounted transmission equipment shall be set back from all roof edges to the maximum extent feasible consistent with the need for "line-of-sight" transmission and reception of signals.
         c.   Antenna arrays and supporting transmission equipment shall be installed so as to camouflage, disguise or conceal them to make them closely compatible with and blend into the setting or host structure.
      10.   Antenna Arrays: Antenna arrays are permitted in any zone as long as they are located upon an existing structure (except on single family houses, duplexes, or signage or a building less than 30 feet in height), that provides sufficient elevation for the array's operation without the necessity of constructing a tower or other apparatus to extend the antenna array more than fifteen feet (15') above the structure. Installation on City property and/or right-of-way requires a right-of-way encroachment permit as defined in title 7, chapter 2 of this Code. However, if any support tower is required to achieve the necessary elevation, then a utilities compliance permit shall be required. If a new equipment cabinet is to be installed, it must be screened if it is higher than the existing screened facility.
      11.   WCFs In The Public Rights-Of-Way:
         a.   Utility Support Structure - Mounted Equipment: All pole- mounted transmission equipment shall be mounted as close as possible to the pole so as to reduce the overall visual profile to the maximum extent feasible.
         b.   License Or Agreement: For all WCFs to be located within the right-of-way, the applicant must have a valid utility compliance permit, license, franchise agreement, right-of-way agreement, encroachment permit or exemption otherwise granted by applicable law. If the applicant is willing to install its ancillary facilities underground, that determination shall be subject to utilities compliance review.
      12.   Accessory Uses:
         a.   Accessory uses shall be limited to such structures and equipment that are necessary for transmission or reception functions, and shall not include broadcast studios, offices, vehicle or equipment storage, or other uses not essential to the transmission or reception functions.
         b.   All accessory buildings shall be subject to applicable building, site, and right-of-way permits.
         c.   No equipment shall be stored or parked on the site of a tower, unless used in direct support of the antennas or the tower that is being repaired.
      13.   Accessory Equipment: In Residential Zones, all accessory equipment shall be located or placed (at the applicant's choice) in an existing building, underground, or in an equipment shelter or cabinet that is: a) designed to blend in with existing surroundings, using architecturally compatible construction and colors; and b) located so as to be unobtrusive as possible consistent with the proper functioning of the equipment.
      14.   Site Design Flexibility: Individual sites vary in the location of adjacent buildings, existing trees, topography and other local variables. Therefore, the utility infrastructure and supporting equipment shall be installed so as to best camouflage, disguise, or conceal them, to be more closely compatible with and blend into the setting or host structure, as determined by the City.
      15.   General Standards And Construction Provisions: The general standards and construction provisions shall meet those identified for major and minor utilities in subsection 8-5-5A12 of this title in addition to all structures shall conform to FCC and FAA regulations, if applicable. A description of compliance with all applicable Federal, State and local laws may be required. (Ord. 596, 5-24-2019)