(A) Design.
(1) Monopoles shall be subject to the following.
(a) Monopoles shall be designed to accommodate at least three telecommunications providers.
(b) The compound area surrounding the monopole must be of sufficient size to accommodate accessory equipment for at least three telecommunications providers.
(c) Unless otherwise required by the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration or the Board, monopoles shall have a galvanized silver or gray finish.
(2) Towers shall be subject to the following.
(a) Towers shall be designed to accommodate at least four telecommunications providers.
(b) A compound area surrounding the tower must be of sufficient size to accommodate accessory equipment for at least four telecommunications providers.
(c) Unless otherwise required by the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration or the Board, towers shall have a galvanized silver or gray finish.
(3) Stealth telecommunications facilities shall be designed to accommodate the collocation of other antennas whenever economically and technically feasible or aesthetically appropriate, as determined by the Board or Administrator.
(4) Upon request of the applicant, the Board or Administrator may waive the requirement that new support structures accommodate the collocation of other service providers if it finds that collocation at the site is not essential to the public interest, or that the construction of a shorter support structure with fewer antennas will promote community compatibility.
(B) Setbacks.
(1) Unless otherwise stated herein, monopoles and towers shall be set back from all property lines a distance equal to their height measured from the base of the structure to its highest point. Other support structures shall be governed by the setbacks required by the underlying zoning district.
(2) Unless otherwise stated herein, monopoles, towers and other support structures shall be set back from all off-site residential dwellings a distance equal to the height of the structure. There shall be no setback requirement from dwellings located on the same parcel as the proposed structure. Existing or replacement utility poles shall not be subject to a setback requirement.
(3) Unless otherwise stated herein, all accessory equipment shall be set back from all property lines in accordance with the minimum setback requirements in the underlying zoning district. Accessory equipment associated with an existing or replacement utility pole shall not be subject to a setback requirement.
(4) The Board or Administrator shall have the authority to reduce or waive any required setback upon the request of the applicant if the telecommunications facility or support structure will be less visible as a result of the diminished setback. The Board or Administrator must also find that the reduction or waiver of the setback is consistent with the purposes and intent of this chapter. The structure must still meet the underlying setback requirements of the zone.
(C) Height.
(1) In nonresidential districts, support structures shall not exceed a height of 199 feet from the base of the structure to the top of the highest point. Any proposed support structure shall be designed to be the minimum height needed to meet the service objectives of the applicant.
(2) In residential districts, support structures shall not exceed a height equal to 150 feet from the base of the structure to the top of the highest point. Any proposed support structure shall be designed to be the minimum height needed to meet the service objectives of the applicant.
(3) In all districts, the Board shall have the authority to reduce or waive the height restrictions listed in this section upon the request of the applicant and a satisfactory showing of need for a greater height. With its waiver request, the applicant shall submit the technical information or other justifications as are necessary to document the need for the additional height to the satisfaction of the Board.
(D) Aesthetics.
(1) Lighting and marking. Telecommunications facilities or support structures shall not be lighted or marked unless required by the Federal Communications Commission or the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
(2) Signage. Signs located at the telecommunications facility shall be limited to ownership and contact information, FCC antenna registration number (if required) and any other information as required by government regulation. Commercial advertising is strictly prohibited.
(3) Landscaping.
(a) In all districts, the Board or Administrator shall have the authority to impose reasonable landscaping requirements surrounding the accessory equipment.
(b) Required landscaping shall be consistent with surrounding vegetation and shall be maintained by the facility owner.
(c) The Board or Administrator may choose to not require landscaping for sites that are not visible from the public right-of-way or adjacent property or in instances where in the judgment of the Board or Administrator, landscaping is not appropriate or necessary.
(E) Accessory equipment. Accessory equipment, including any buildings, cabinets or shelters, shall be used only to house equipment and other supplies in support of the operation of the telecommunication facility or support structure. Any equipment not used in direct support of the operation shall not be stored on the site.
(1) An equipment building, shelter or cabinet must not exceed 560 square feet and 12 feet in height, including the support structure for the equipment building.
(a) Exception to size restriction. A single equipment building or shelter may exceed 560 square feet if it is located at ground level, is used by more than one telecommunication provider and does not exceed 1,500 square feet.
(b) Exception to height restriction. Upon the applicant’s request, the Board or Administrator may waive the height restriction to allow for the stacking of equipment on top of each other. The Board or Administrator must find that there is a practical necessity for the stacking of the equipment and that any resulting impact on adjoining properties is minimal or may be minimized by the requiring of appropriate screening. The Board or Administrator may also waive the height restriction where a higher support structure is needed to raise the equipment above a slope or flood plain.
(2) If the accessory equipment is at ground level in a residential zone, the Board or Administrator may require that the building or shelter be faced with brick or other suitable material on all sides and that the compound area be surrounded by landscaping providing a screen of at least three feet in height at installation.
(a) The accessory equipment must conform to the setback standards of the applicable zone.
(b) In the situation of stacked equipment buildings, additional screening/landscaping measures may be required by the Board or Administrator.
(Ord. 10.040, passed 2-3-2008)