Where a conditional use permit is required for approval of telecommunications towers and antenna support structures, the following will be considered:
(A) Design character.
(1) Telecommunications towers, antenna support structures, and equipment buildings shall be compatible with the architectural style of the surrounding built environment, considering exterior materials, roof form, scale, mass, color, texture, and character. Equipment buildings may be located underground where feasible. To prevent undue concentration of telecommunications towers, consideration should be given to co-location as a first alternative.
(2) Wireless communications facilities on new telecommunications tower structures, antenna support structures, or co-located on existing telecommunications towers shall minimize visual impact.
(B) Screening.
(1) A telecommunications tower site and tower base adjacent to residential property, except when located in a farmstead, shall be provided with a fence, wall, berm, or shrubbery of sufficient height and of a character necessary to provide adequate visual screening. Where the adjacent property is across public right-of-way from a telecommunications tower site, screening shall be provided in all cases except when the right-of-way is an arterial street.
(2) Existing vegetation and grades on the site shall be preserved as much as possible. Natural growth around the property perimeter on large, wooded lots may be considered a sufficient buffer to telecommunications towers. In locations where the visual impact of the telecommunications tower would be minimal, the screening requirement may be reduced or waived.
(C) Fencing. Adjacent to a residentially used or zoned property, natural materials shall be used for fence screening. If chain-link fencing is needed for safety and security, additional landscape screening shall be required outside the chain-link fence to screen public view of the telecommunications tower site.