It is the purpose of this chapter to regulate the placement, construction, and modification of Wireless, Cellular and Small Cell Towers and Facilities in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, while at the same time not unreasonably interfering with the development of the competitive wireless and cellular telecommunications marketplace in the City of Oxford. Specifically, the purposes of this chapter are:
(a) To accommodate demonstrated need for cellular and wireless communications towers and facilities for the provision of personal wireless services while regulating their location and number in the City;
(b) To direct the location of various types of towers and wireless telecommunications facilities into appropriate areas of the City;
(c) To minimize adverse visual effects of communication towers and support structures through careful site selection, design, landscaping, screening, and innovative camouflaging techniques;
(d) To avoid potential damage to adjacent properties caused by towers and wireless telecommunications facilities by ensuring such structures are soundly located, designed, constructed, and modified; are appropriately maintained; and are fully removed upon any cessation of operation;
(e) To promote and encourage shared use and co-location of towers and antenna support structures as a primary option rather then construction of additional single-use towers;
(f) To encourage the joint use of tall structures and any new or existing communications towers and support structures to reduce the overall number and impact of such structures needed in the future;
(g) To the greatest extent feasible, ensure that towers and wireless telecommunications facilities are compatible with surrounding land uses in design and placement;
(h) To the greatest extent feasible, ensure that towers and wireless telecommunications facilities are designed in harmony with natural settings and in a manner consistent with current and planned development patterns.
(Ord. 3374. Passed 10-18-16.)