In addition to complying with the requirements for a special exception use for the district in which the lot is located, all wireless telecommunications facilities shall comply with the following additional development standards.
(A) Telecommunication tower and antenna array.
(1) Height. The maximum height of a telecommunications tower, including antenna array, shall be less than 200 feet above grade.
(2) Telecommunications tower type. All new telecommunications towers shall be of a tapering monopole construction unless a determination is made in connection with a special exception request that an alternative design would better blend into the surrounding environment and is approved as a waiver of development standards as provided for and regulated in § 152.367(I).
(3) Guys and guy anchors. If a guyed telecommunication tower is approved, all guys and guy anchors shall be located within the buildable area of the lot and shall not be located within any required yard or required residential bufferyard.
(4) Security fencing. The base of a telecommunications tower and all guy anchors shall be enclosed by security fencing. This fencing shall conform with the requirements detailed in division (C)(1), below.
(5) Structural design. A telecommunications tower shall be designed and built so as to:
(a) Be capable of use by at least 2 wireless communications providers for a telecommunications tower less than 80 feet in height;
(b) Be capable of use by 3 or more wireless communications providers for a telecommunications tower of 80 feet in height or greater;
(c) Accommodate antenna arrays consisting of 9 to 12 antennas for each antenna array, provided, however, this regulation shall not apply to slick antenna applications;
(d) Locate the antenna arrays within 15 vertical feet of each other;
(e) Have no more than 3 degrees of twist and sway at the top elevation; and
(f) Provide internal cable routing for all tapering monopole telecommunication towers.
(6) Antenna arrays and types. To minimize adverse visual impacts, the antenna type used shall be in accordance with the following alternatives hierarchy. The order of ranking, from highest to lowest, shall be (a), (b), (c), (d), and (e), outlined below. Where a lower ranked alternative is proposed, the applicant must demonstrate by substantial evidence that higher ranked options are not technically feasible or available:
(a) Flagpole antenna (with or without a flag, as appropriate to the setting) (see § 152.231 for information regarding flags);
(b) Slick antennas or stealth antennas other than flagpole antennas;
(c) Panel antennas, also known as directional or sectored antennas;
(d) Whip antennas; and
(e) Dish antennas.
(7) Signs. No lettering, symbols, images, trademarks, signs (including banners, pennants, or streamers), or advertising shall be placed on or affixed to any part of a telecommunications tower, antenna array or antenna, other than as required by Federal Communications Commission regulations regarding telecommunications tower registration or other applicable law.
(8) Safety. Telecommunications towers shall be constructed to minimize potential safety hazards. Telecommunications towers shall be constructed so as to meet or exceed the most recent EIA-222 standards, and prior to issuance of an improvement location permit, the Zoning Administrator shall be provided with an engineer’s certification that the telecommunications tower’s design meets or exceeds the EIA-222 standards. Guyed telecommunications towers shall be located in such a manner that if the telecommunications tower should fall along its longest dimension, the telecommunications tower will remain within the lot lines and avoid dwelling units, habitable structures, public street rights-of-way, utility lines, and other telecommunications towers.
(9) Lights. No signals, lights, or other illumination (including holiday lights or outdoor strings of lights) shall be permitted on telecommunications towers unless required by the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration, or the town. When incorporated into the approved design of the telecommunications tower, outdoor light fixtures used to illuminate ball fields, parking areas, or similar areas, in compliance with the requirements of §§ 152.210 through 152.215 of this chapter, may be attached to the telecommunications tower.
(10) Modifications. If any additions, changes, or modifications are to be made to a telecommunications tower, the Zoning Administrator shall have the authority to require proof, through the submission of engineering and structural data, that the addition, change, or modification conforms to structural wind load and all other requirements of the current Building Code adopted by the town.
(B) Telecommunications antennas mounted on existing buildings or structures.
(1) Roof-mount. Roof mounted telecommunications antennas are permitted on buildings and structures in all districts, except for single family dwellings or 2 family dwellings, without a special exception, provided:
(a) A non-whip antenna:
1. Does not exceed the height of the building by more than 10 feet; and
2. Shall be no closer than 10 feet to the perimeter of the building.
(b) A whip antenna:
1. Does not exceed the height of the building by more than 15 feet; and
2. Shall be no closer than 15 feet to the perimeter of the building.
(c) Prior to installation of a roof mounted telecommunications antenna or equipment, the Zoning Administrator shall be provided with an engineer’s certification that the roof will support the proposed telecommunications antenna or associated roof mounted equipment.
(2) Surface mount. Surface mounted telecommunications antennas are permitted on buildings or structures in all districts without a special exception, provided:
(a) The antenna is of the non-whip antenna type;
(b) The non-whip antenna is mounted flush with the exterior of the building or structure so that it projects no more than 30 inches from the surface of the building or structure to which it is attached; and
(c) The non-whip antenna’s appearance is designed to blend with the color or texture of the surrounding surface of the building or structure.
(3) Other existing structures. Telecommunications antennas are permitted on existing utility, lighting, telecommunications towers and other structures in all districts without a special exception, provided:
(a) The existing utility, lighting, telecommunications towers, and other structure exceeds 50 feet in height above grade;
(b) The telecommunications antenna does not exceed the height of the structure by more than 10 feet if a non-whip antenna, or 15 feet if a whip antenna; and
(c) Existing structures may be rebuilt if necessary to support the load of the new telecommunications antenna without further zoning proceedings provided:
1. If the structure to be rebuilt is not an existing telecommunications tower, the rebuilt structure shall comply with all applicable regulations of the district in which the structure is located; or
2. If the structure to be rebuilt is an existing telecommunications tower, the new telecommunications tower shall:
a. Not exceed the height of the existing telecommunications tower; and
b. Comply with all other regulations contained in this section for the erection of a new telecommunications tower, except that a special exception shall not be required.
(4) Application. When an application for an improvement location permit to locate a telecommunications antenna on an existing building or other structure is made, the Zoning Administrator shall be provided with color photo simulations showing the site of the existing structure with a photo-realistic representation of the proposed telecommunications antenna and the existing structure or any proposed reconstruction of the structure as it would appear viewed from the closest Residential District and from adjacent public right-of-way. The applicant shall also submit photographs of the same views as in the photo simulations showing the current appearance of the site without the proposed telecommunications antenna.
(C) Associated equipment or buildings and compound area requirements.
(1) Fencing and landscaping of ground mounted associated equipment or buildings.
(a) Fencing required. The compound area and all guy anchors shall be secured with a board-on-board or chain link fence of not less than 6 feet in height nor more than 10 feet in height. A security wire (barbed, razor, and the like) may be located on the telecommunications tower-side of the fence but shall not extend above the top of the fence. A chain link fence, if used, shall be black vinyl coated.
(b) Landscaping required. Landscaping shall be installed around the perimeter of the fenced compound area running the full length of all sides of the compound area or building, except for entry gates or doors. The type of landscaping required shall be based upon the open space of the fence. If the fence has an open space of:
1. Fifty percent or greater, a 10-foot wide landscaping strip running the full length of all sides of the compound area or building, except for entry gates or doors, with 4 evergreen trees for every 30 feet shall be installed on the outside of the fenced area;
2. Less than 50% but greater than 20%, a 10-foot wide landscaping strip running the full length of all sides of the compound area or building, except for entry gates or doors, with 2 evergreen trees for every 25 feet shall be installed on the outside of the fenced area; or
3. Twenty percent or less, a 10-foot wide landscaping strip running the full length of all sides of the compound area or building, except for entry gates or doors, with 1 ornamental tree (minimum 1-1/2 inch caliper) planted for every 25 feet shall be installed on the outside of the fenced area.
(c) Interior access drives or walkways that lead to the entry into the compound area or building shall be hard-surfaced with asphalt or concrete.
(2) Exterior materials and roof pitch of associated equipment or buildings.
(a) Associated equipment buildings, whether ground or roof mounted and not enclosed by a fence providing a complete sight barrier (i.e., a fence with zero open space), shall be similar in color, exterior material, and character to the main or adjoining building or structure. If ground mounted the roof pitch of the associated equipment building shall match the pitch of any existing building or structure.
(b) When an equipment building is located on a lot that does not contain an existing building or structure and is not enclosed by a fence providing a complete sight barrier (i.e., a fence with zero open space), the exterior material shall be either brick or stone. The roof pitch shall not be less than a 3-foot vertical rise for each 12-foot horizontal run nor greater than a 12-foot vertical rise for each 12- foot horizontal run.
(Ord. 1221, § 9.01(d), passed 1-26-2010)