1159.01 Purpose.
1159.02 Definitions.
1159.03 Applicability.
1159.04 Use regulations.
1159.06 Exemption of certain City property.
CROSS REFERENCES
Landscaping and screening - see P.& Z. Ch. 1141
Conditional use - see P.& Z. Ch. 1161
Conditional use permit - see P.& Z. 1173.02
Fees - see P.& Z. 1173.06
Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996
Federal law at 47 U.S.C. §332(c)(7)
These regulations are established to provide for the construction and use of wireless telecommunication facilities in the
City. The regulations allow wireless telecommunication facilities as a permitted use, conditional use, or accessory use depending upon the specific land areas of the City in which, and circumstances under which, they are proposed to be located. The purpose of these regulations is to balance the competing interests created by the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-104, codified at 47 U.S.C. §§ 151 et seq.) and the interests of the City in regulating wireless telecommunication facilities for the following reasons:
(a) To provide for orderly development within the
City;
(b) To protect property values;
(c) To maintain the aesthetic appearance of the
City, including, but not limited to, its unique residential character, unobstructed open spaces and attractive commercial, office, and industrial areas;
(d) To protect residential properties, parks, open spaces and the nonintensive commercial zoning districts which are characteristic of the
City from the adverse effects of towers and related facilities;
(e) To promote collocation of wireless telecommunications facilities in order to decrease the total number of towers in the
City;
(f) To provide for and protect the health, safety and general welfare of the residents and visitors of the
City; and
(g) To maintain, where possible, the integrity of the existing zoning regulations contained in the
Code.
The regulations establish a hierarchy of acceptable land areas for the location of wireless telecommunication facilities through the establishment of such use as a permitted use in certain zoning districts, as a conditional use in certain zoning districts, or as a permitted accessory use for erection of antennas only, which determination is dependent upon the location and characteristics of such land areas.
(Ord. 3-98. Passed 5-18-1998.)
(a) COLLOCATION means the use of a wireless telecommunications facility by more than one (1) wireless telecommunications provider.
(b) LATTICE TOWER means a support structure constructed of vertical metal struts and cross braces forming a triangular or square structure, which tapers from the foundation.
(c) MONOPOLE means a support structure constructed of a single, self-supporting hollow metal tube securely anchored to a foundation.
(d) PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES means commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common carrier wireless exchange access services as defined by federal law at 47 U.S.C. §332(c)(7).
(e) TECHNICALLY SUITABLE means the location of a wireless telecommunication antenna(s) reasonably serves the purpose for which it is intended within the band width of frequencies for which the owner or operator of the antenna(s) has been licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate without a significant loss of communication capability within developed areas of the City.
(f) TELECOMMUNICATION(S) means the technology that enables information to be exchanged through the transmission of voice, video, or data signals by means of electrical or magnetic systems and includes the term “Personal Wireless Services.”
(g) WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION ANTENNA or ANTENNA ARRAY means the physical device or an array of elements constituting a physical device through which electromagnetic, wireless telecommunications signals authorized by the FCC are transmitted or received. Antennas used by amateur radio operators are excluded from this definition.
(h) WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS EQUIPMENT SHELTER or EQUIPMENT SHELTER means the structure or cabinet in which the electronic receiving and relay equipment for a wireless telecommunications facility is housed.
(i) WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY or FACILITY means a facility consisting of the equipment and structures involved in receiving telecommunications or radio signals from a mobile radio communications source and transmitting those signals to a central switching computer, which connects the mobile unit with the land-based telephone lines for the provision of “Personal Wireless Services.”
(j) WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION TOWER or TOWER means a structure, other than a building, that elevates the wireless telecommunication antenna and may include accessory transmission and receiving equipment.
(Ord. 3-98. Passed 5-18-1998.)
(a) Permitted Use. A wireless telecommunication tower shall be permitted in any interstate highway right-of-way pursuant to the provisions as set forth in Section 1159.05 of this Chapter where applicable.
(b) Conditionally Permitted Use.
(1) A wireless telecommunication tower may be permitted as a conditional use only in an Industrial District. Such use may be approved by the Commission provided the applicant demonstrates compliance with the requirements of this subsection (b)(2) and all of the provisions of Chapter 1161, Section 1173.02 and Section 1159.05 of this Chapter:
(2) Collocation.
A. There is no technically suitable space for the applicant’s antenna(s) and related facilities reasonably available on an existing tower, building or structure within the geographic area to be served.
With the application, the applicant shall list the location of every tower, building or structure that could support the proposed antenna(s) or area where it would be technically suitable to locate so as to allow it to serve its intended function. The applicant must demonstrate that a technically suitable location is not reasonably available on an existing tower, building or structure. If another existing tower, building or structure is technically suitable, the applicant must demonstrate that it has requested to collocate on the existing tower, building or structure and the collocation request was rejected by the owner of the tower, building or structure. In all circumstances, owners of existing towers, buildings or structures shall promptly respond in writing to requests for collocation, but in no event shall they respond more than thirty (30) days from the date of receipt of a written request for collocation.
If another tower, building or structure is technically suitable, the applicant must further show that it has offered to allow the owner of that other tower, building or structure to collocate an antenna(s) on another tower, building or structure within the
City which is owned or controlled by the applicant, if any, on reasonably reciprocal terms and the offer was not accepted; and
B. All applicants for construction or erection of wireless telecommunication towers shall be required to construct on a base tower structure and structure foundation that is designed to be buildable up to, but not including, 200 feet above grade. Such structure shall be designed to have sufficient structural loading capacity to accommodate at least three (3) antenna or antenna array platforms of equal loading capacity for three (3) separate providers of service to be located on the structure when constructed to the maximum allowable height. The wireless telecommunication facility shall also be designed to show that the applicant has enough space on its site plan for an equipment shelter large enough to accommodate at least three (3) separate users of the facility. If an equipment shelter is initially constructed to accommodate only one (1) user, space shall be reserved on site for equipment shelter expansions to accommodate up to at least three (3) separate users. Agreement to the provisions of this subsection must be included in the applicant’s lease with the landowner, if different from the owner/user of the tower. Written documentation must be presented to the Director evidencing that the landowner of the property on which the tower is to be located has agreed to the terms of this subsection. As an additional condition of issuing a conditional use permit, the owner/user shall respond in writing to any inquiries regarding collocation of another user of the facility within thirty (30) days after receipt of a written inquiry. Copies of all written requests to collocate and all written responses shall be sent to the Director.
(c) Accessory Use - Antennas.
(1) Permitted accessory use. The installation of a wireless telecommunication antenna where the construction or erection of a wireless telecommunication tower is not proposed by the applicant, shall be permitted as an accessory use:
A. On existing buildings that are seven (7) or more stories above grade in any zoning district in the
City provided that no more than three (3) antennas or antenna arrays shall be installed on any building, the height of the antenna is no greater than fifteen (15) feet above the highest point of the roof, and all electronic and relay equipment for the antenna shall be housed within the existing building or in an equipment shelter that is screened so as not to be visible from neighboring properties, public rights-of-way, and other public areas;
B. On existing structures, other than buildings (such as steeples, smokestacks, towers, etc.), provided that the antenna shall be obscured from views from neighboring properties, public rights-of-way, and other public areas and all electronic and relay equipment for the antenna shall be housed within the existing structure or an existing building on the same lot.
(2) Conditional accessory use. The installation of an antenna where the construction or erection of a tower is not proposed by the applicant may be permitted as a conditional accessory use if approved by the Commission pursuant to Sections 1161.02 and 1173.02, as well as the standards set forth in Section 1159.05 of this Chapter where applicable, and under the following circumstances:
A. On an existing building or structure where three (3) or more antennas or antenna arrays have been installed provided that the antenna shall otherwise comply with the requirements of subsections (c)(1)A. and B. or;
B. On an existing structure other than a building, where the proposed antenna would be installed so as not to be obscured from the views from neighboring properties, public rights-of-way and other public areas provided that the antenna otherwise complies with the remaining requirements of subsection (c)(1)B., and/or all electronic and relay equipment for the antenna is not housed within the existing structure or an existing building on the same lot.
To the extent the remaining standards of this Chapter are applicable to the installation of a wireless telecommunication antenna on an existing building or structure, such standards shall govern the installation.
(Ord. 3-98. Passed 5-18-1998.)
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