Poles, masts and towers for supporting antenna used in the operation of wireless communications facilities licensed by the Federal Communications Commission may be permitted by the Development Services Director in any zoning district if they meet the following requirements and are not prohibited by deed restriction or other covenant.
(a) Location on Property. All such poles, masts and towers shall be placed no closer than five feet to an official right-of-way line or to property under different ownership, and no closer than one foot to an easement. If a beam (array)-type antenna is installed, no element or part of such antenna shall extend closer than five feet to an official right-of-way line and/or the property under different ownership, and no closer than one foot to an easement. If ground-supported or ground-mounted, all parts of the structure shall be located within the rear yard as defined in this Code.
(b) Height. Ground-supported or mounted structures may be approved with any height above grade up to sixty-five feet, subject to the provisions of subsection (h) hereof. Roof-mounted structures shall not exceed twelve feet above the highest point of the roof.
(c) Compliance with Electrical Code and Federal Regulations. All such installations shall conform to the requirements of the National Electrical Code and the F.C.C. regulations governing amateur radio services. In addition, the installation must maintain a minimum of eight feet clearance from all power lines. This includes the beam elements or any part thereof. All antenna support structures, whether ground or roof-mounted, shall be grounded. Grounding shall be in accordance with the provisions of the National Electrical Code and for ground-mounted towers shall consist of a minimum of one ground rod a minimum of five-eighths inch in diameter and eight feet in length. The ground conductor shall be a minimum of #10 GA copper. However, in all instances, construction shall follow the manufacturer's requirements for grounding.
(d) Permits. Permits shall be required for installation of any poles, masts or towers over twelve feet above the roof of any structure to which they may be attached, and for any installation when erected on or supported by the ground. Permits shall be obtained from the Development Services Director. Applications for permits shall be accompanied by plans and specifications, three copies showing all dimensions, the size and kind of members, footings and guy wires, if any, the location, depth and type of guy anchors and footings, if any, and the type and weight of the antenna, apparatus or structure to be attached to or supported by the structure.
(e) Materials. Antenna support structures must be constructed from one of the following materials: aluminum, galvanized steel or equally weather-resistant steel. All ground-mounted antenna support structures exceeding twenty-five feet in height shall be mounted in concrete and erected in such a manner so as to be able to withstand a minimum wind velocity of eighty miles per hour, i.e. an impact pressure of twenty-five pounds per square foot.
(f) Towers. Towers of steel, iron or aluminum, whether of the rigid nondemountable type or the rigid remountable type with the crank-up, crankdown and either the hinged base or swivel crank-over features, shall carry no more weight on the top than specified by the manufacturer's specifications.
(g) Waiver of Objection for Certain Structures; Servicing; Removal.
(1) All poles, masts or towers, and other structures used for antennas under this section, which exceed thirty-five feet in height above grade elevation, or which exceed twenty feet in height above the roof of any structure (whichever is less), shall be subject to the following requirements: If the top of such poles, masts or towers is higher above their foundations, or the foundation of the structure on which they are erected, than ninety percent of the horizontal distance from its base or projected base to the nearest point on adjacent property under different ownership, or to the nearest edge of an official right-of-way, then no permit shall be issued for such installation unless a waiver is obtained from each and every owner of adjacent property that the structure could fall upon.
(2) In calculating the height of demountable-type towers, the top of the lower rigid section shall be considered the top for the purpose of this subsection.
(h) Exemptions. This Code shall not affect any existing antenna support structure, utilized by Federally licensed amateur radio or Federally authorized citizens radio service stations, which has been constructed and which is in place prior to the effective date of this Code. However, such antenna support structures must comply with the grounding requirements of subsection (c) hereof.
(Ord. 2014-27. Passed 8-5-14.)