For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ANTENNA. A conductor, usually located at the top of a wireless communication tower, by which electromagnetic waves are transmitted and/or received.
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS. The County Board of Commissioners.
EXISTING COMMUNICATION TOWER. Any communication tower existing or permitted in the county, that was placed, built, erected or permitted before 3-5-2001; the date of the county moratorium on communication tower construction.
EXISTING VEGETATIVE CANOPY. The existing vegetative plants, trees or shrubs at the site-specific location which is within a 100-foot radius from the proposed communication tower's base, that will provide natural camouflage, concealment or otherwise "hide" the communication tower after its construction. This VEGETATIVE CANOPY shall also be used to determine the allowable combined height of the proposed communication tower.
FALL ZONE. An area around the base of a telecommunication tower required to be kept clear of buildings, other than equipment enclosures associated with the wireless telecommunication facility, to contain debris in the event of a tower structure failure.
MAJOR MOUNTAIN RIDGE. A major mountain ridge is any ridge that is 3,000 feet or greater in elevation or an elevation 500 feet or greater above the adjacent valley floor.
ORDINANCE ADMINISTRATOR. The County Planner or other person designated by the Board of Commissioners to oversee and administer this chapter.
RIDGE. The elongated crest or series of crest at the apex or uppermost point of intersection between two opposite slopes or sides of a mountain, and includes all land within 100 feet below the elevation of any portion of the line or surface along the crest.
SETBACK. The required distance between the wireless communication tower and the property line or right-of-way line to allow for a fall zone.
STEALTH TECHNOLOGY. Human-made trees, steeples, silos, light poles and other similar alternative-design mounting structures that camouflage or conceal the presence of antennas or towers of wireless communication facilities.
TOWER HEIGHT. The vertical distance measured from the natural lay of the land or ground to the upper most point of a freestanding or guyed telecommunication tower to include any antenna, beacon, light or other structure(s) attached to the communication tower.
TOWER SITE. The real property which an applicant(s) is required to have ownership or leasehold of, interest in, easement over or any combination of the aforementioned to locate a communication tower and any approved auxiliary buildings.
VIEWSHED. An unobstructed sight of, or the range of one's sight while traveling, visiting, driving, boating or otherwise using the natural or human-made resources of the Blue Ridge Parkway, Stone Mountain State Park, the New River or the New River State Park. For the purposes of this chapter, the maximum VIEWSHED distance is one mile from the outer most boundaries.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITY. Any unstaffed facility for the transmission and/or reception of wireless telecommunications services, usually consisting of an antenna array, connection cables, an equipment facility and a support structure to achieve the necessary elevation.
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TOWER. Any tower or structure, natural or human-made, existing or erected, for the purpose of supporting; including, but not limited to, one or more antennas designed to transmit and/or receive television, AM/FM radio, digital, microwave, cellular, analog telephone, mobile radio, paging or any similar forms of electric communication.
(Ord. passed - -)