A new small cell system is subject to design review and approval by staff. The design criteria required for the new small cell systems is determined by the type of location or zoning district in which the facility is to be located.
(A) New small cell system tower locations in all zoning districts. The regulations in this division apply to all new small cell system towers.
(1) Temporary, mobile or wheeled cellular antenna towers to provide short term, high volume telecommunications services to a specific location are required to receive a temporary structure permit prior to siting of the equipment. In the case of temporary cellular antenna tower placements that have a duration not to exceed 15 days, the staff may provide an expedited review of the proposed placement.
(2) New small cell towers shall not exceed the maximum building height for the zoning district within which they are located. A height that is in excess of what is permitted within the zoning district may be approved through the granting of a dimensional variance by the Board of Zoning Adjustment.
(3) New small cell towers shall be designed and constructed to accommodate a minimum of two service providers;
(4) New small cell towers may be located on public or private nonresidential land or within a public right-of-way provided it does not interfere with other utilities, functionality of sidewalks, visibility, or other matters of public safety;
(5) New small cell towers shall not be illuminated, except in accord with state or federal regulations, or unless illumination is integral to the stealth technology, such as a design intended to look like a streetlight pole;
(6) New small cell towers shall not include advertisements and may only display information required by a federal agency, state agency, or the city. Such display shall not exceed one square foot in area, unless required by state or federal regulations, or unless a larger display is integral to the stealth technology. Such display shall not exceed the width of the pole, unless a wider sign is integral to the stealth technology such as a design which integrates a decorative banner;
(7) If a new small cell tower is located in an area with primarily underground utilities, or where no adjacent overhead utility lines exist, it shall not utilize overhead utility lines.
(B) New small cell system tower locations in residential zones. The regulations in this division apply to small cell towers to be located within, or immediately adjacent to, residential zoning districts as defined in this chapter.
(1) Facilities in residential areas are strongly encouraged to be non-tower wireless communication facilities, which are exempt from these regulations per this chapter.
(2) New small cell towers and antenna or related equipment shall be camouflaged by stealth technology. Examples of appropriate stealth technology for residential areas includes, at a minimum, towers with all cables, wires, transmission equipment, electric meters, power equipment, etc. installed inside the small cell tower. Other types of stealth technology or other methods which will reduce the visual impact may be approved by staff.
(3) All poles and antennas shall be uniform grey or black in color, unless another color is integral to the stealth technology as approved by staff.
(4) The use of cooling fans is discouraged. When needed, fans with lower noise profiles must be used.
(5) New small cell towers should avoid areas without overhead utilities. If a small cell tower is located in an area with primarily underground utilities it must adhere to stealth technology that incorporates the telecommunications equipment into a streetscape amenity such as a decorative lamp post, streetlight or other approved design. In areas with overhead utilities, cylindrical antennas are required.
(6) In residential areas, a small cell tower shall not be located closer than the height of the proposed tower to an existing or proposed residential structure, or no closer than 35 feet, whichever is greater.
(7) Efforts should be made to locate new small cell towers in the yard location where other overhead utilities are located.
(8) New small cell towers within residential areas should be located to avoid obstructing the view of building facades by placing the tower at a corner, intersection or along a lot line.
(9) New small cell towers shall not be located within 500 feet of an existing small cell system tower. Multiple carriers are permitted and encouraged to locate on one tower, where possible.
(10) Reasonable efforts shall be made to locate new small cell towers in the order of hierarchy below, based on the following functional roadway classification from the most to least preferred:
(a) Interstate;
(b) Arterial;
(c) Collector;
(d) Local.
(C) New small cell system tower locations in non-residential zones. The regulations in this division apply to towers to be located within non-residential zoning districts.
(1) In instances where a facility is proposed to be constructed in the right of way within 100 feet of a residential zone or use, even if the antenna's physical location is within a non-residential zone, regulations in this division shall be followed.
(2) Antennas in commercial, institutional, or park areas are encouraged to be installed as non-tower wireless communication facilities, which are exempt from this regulation per this chapter.
(3) Reasonable effort shall be given to locate new equipment based upon the following hierarchy of zones and land uses from the most to least preferred:
(a) Co-locate on an existing structure whenever possible, which is exempt from these regulations, per this chapter.
(b) Institutional;
(c) Industrial;
(d) Commercial;
(e) Public parks;
(f) Agricultural.
(4) Equipment cabinets/shrouds/enclosures not integrated into a pole or mounted on a cable strand may not exceed seven cubic feet in volume, 24 inches in width, 12 inches in depth, and should be mounted directly behind any road signs located on a pole. Equipment cabinets and associated components should not block any road signs. The design of non-integrated equipment cabinets/shrouds should be slim in profile to match the pole. Ground mounted equipment boxes should be screened from view with shrubs or other appropriate screening as approved by staff.
(5) Shrouds, risers, and conduits shall be used to reduce the appearance of external cabling.
(6) All poles, antennas, brackets, cabling, risers, shrouds, and conduits shall be uniform grey or black in color, or other color as approved by staff.
(7) Cylindrical antennas shall be required, unless another antenna style is integral to the stealth technology as approved by staff.
(8) There shall be no more than a four-inch offset between the pole and pole mounted equipment enclosures.
(Ord. 10-2020, passed 5-19-2020)