(A) Design.
(1) Support structures shall be subject to the following:
(a) Shall be designed to accommodate a minimum number of collocations based upon their height:
1. Support structures 60 to 100 feet shall support at least two telecommunications providers;
2. Support structures from 100 to 150 feet shall support at least three telecommunications providers;
3. Support structures greater than 150 feet in height shall support at least four telecommunications carriers.
(b) The compound area surrounding the support structure must be of sufficient size to accommodate accessory equipment for the appropriate number of telecommunications providers in accordance with this section.
(2) Concealed telecommunications facilities shall be designed to accommodate the collocation of other antennas whenever economically and technically feasible.
(3) Upon request of the applicant, the Board of Zoning Appeals 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) Property lines. Unless otherwise stated herein, support structures shall be set back from all property lines a distance equal to 75 % of its height measured from the base of the structure to its highest point.
(2) Residential dwellings. Unless otherwise stated herein, monopoles, towers and other support structures shall be set back from all off-site residential dwellings by a distance equal to 110% the height of the structure.
(3) There shall be no setback requirement from structures located on the same parcel as the proposed structure.
(4) 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 which do not meet the existing setback requirement, but which are lawfully non-conforming, may be replaced in the same location without meeting setback requirements provided that they do not constitute a substantial increase or major modification.
(5) The Board of Zoning Appeals shall have the authority to vary any required setback upon the request of the applicant if:
(a) Applicant provides a letter stamped by a certified structural engineer documenting that the proposed structure's fall zone is less than the actual height of the structure;
(b) The telecommunications facility or support structure is consistent with the purposes and intent of this chapter;
(c) The request otherwise meets the criteria for development standards variances established by I.C. 36-7-4-918.5 and the Zoning Code.
(C) Height. A support structure shall not exceed 199 feet in height from the base of the structure to the top of the highest point.
(D) Aesthetics.
(1) Lighting and marking. Telecommunications facilities or support structures shall not be lighted or marked unless required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) 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 by the FCC or federal or state regulatory agency) and any other information as required by government regulation. Commercial advertising is strictly prohibited.
(3) Landscaping. In all districts, the Board of Zoning Appeals or Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to impose reasonable landscaping requirements surrounding the accessory equipment. Required landscaping shall be consistent with surrounding vegetation and shall be maintained by the facility owner. The Board or Zoning 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 Zoning Administrator, landscaping is not appropriate or necessary.
(E) 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 such operation shall not be stored on the site. The accessory equipment must conform to the setback standards of the applicable zone. In the situation of stacked equipment buildings, additional screening/landscaping measures may be required by the Board or Zoning Administrator.
(Ord. 2020-02, passed 6-2-2020)