(a) The collocation of antennas on lawfully existing towers or structures shall be preferred over the construction of new wireless telecommunications tower sites.
(b) The zoning application for installation of a new telecommunications tower must demonstrate that there is no technically suitable space for the applicant's antenna(s) and related facilities reasonably available on a lawfully existing tower or structure within the geographic area to be served.
(c) If another tower or structure or area is technically suitable, the applicant must show that it has requested to collocate an the existing tower and the collocation was rejected by the owner of the tower or structure or that it has requested all property owners with technically suitable locations within a two (2)-mile radius to permit it to locate a tower facility in all technically suitable area(s) under reasonable terms and that each request was rejected.
(d) Owners of existing towers located within the Village shall promptly respond to requests for collocation within thirty (30) days from the receipt of a written request sent by certified mail (return receipt requested) for collocation.
(e) Reasons that may demonstrate that collocation is not feasible include the following:
(1) The planned equipment would exceed the structural capacity of existing or approved towers or structures as documented by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Ohio; and the existing or approved tower or structure cannot be reinforced, modified, or replaced to accommodate planned or equivalent equipment at a reasonable cost.
(2) The proposed equipment would cause radio frequency interference with other existing or planned equipment which cannot be prevented at a reasonable cost as documented by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Ohio.
(3) The existing or approved towers or structures do not have space on them to accommodate the proposed equipment so it can function effectively and reasonably as documented by a licensed professional engineer.
(4) Collocation would violate federal, state, or county regulations.
(5) The location of existing towers or buildings is not technically suitable due to topography or other impediments to transmission as documented by a professional engineer licensed in the State of Ohio.
(Ord. 01-127. Passed 9-20-01.)