Section
154.01 Statement of purpose
154.02 Definitions
154.03 Applicability
154.04 General requirements
154.05 Permitted uses
154.06 Administratively approved uses
154.07 Special use permits
154.08 Buildings or other equipment storage
154.09 Removal of abandoned antennas and towers
154.10 Nonconforming uses
(A) Purpose.
(1) The purpose of this chapter is to establish general guidelines for the siting of wireless communication towers and antennas.
(2) The goals of this chapter are as follows:
(a) Protect residential areas and land uses from potential adverse impacts of towers and antennas;
(b) Encourage the location of towers in nonresidential areas;
(c) Minimize the total number of towers throughout the community;
(d) Strongly encourage the joint use of new and existing tower sites as a primary option rather than construction of additional single-use towers;
(e) Encourage users of towers and antennas to locate them, to the extent possible, in areas where the adverse impact on the community is minimal;
(f) Encourage users of towers and antennas to configure them in a way that minimizes the adverse visual impact of the towers and antennas through careful design, siting, landscape screening and innovative camouflaging technique;
(g) Enhance the ability of the providers of telecommunication services to provide such services to the community quickly, effectively and efficiently;
(h) Consider the public health and safety of communication towers; and
(i) Avoid potential damage to adjacent properties from tower failure through engineering and careful siting of tower structures.
(Prior Code, § 49.501)
(B) Due consideration. In furtherance of the goals set forth in division (A) above, the township shall give due consideration to its master plan, zoning map, existing land uses and environmentally sensitive areas in approving sites for the location of towers and antennas.
(Prior Code, § 49.502)
(Ord. 121800, eff. 1-18-2001)
For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALTERNATIVE TOWER STRUCTURE. Human-made trees, clock towers, bell steeples, light poles and similar alternative-design mounting structures that camouflage or conceal the presence of antennas or towers.
(Prior Code, § 49.503)
ANTENNA. Any exterior transmitting or receiving device mounted on a tower, building or structure and used in communications that radiate or capture electromagnetic waves, digital signals, analog signals, radio frequencies (excluding radar signals), wireless telecommunications signals or other communications signals.
(Prior Code, § 49.504)
BACKHAUL NETWORK. The lines that connect a provider’s towers/cell sites to one or more cellular telephone switching offices and/or long distance providers, or the public switched telephone network.
(Prior Code, § 49.505)
FAA. The Federal Aviation Administration.
(Prior Code, § 49.506)
FCC. The Federal Communications Commission.
(Prior Code, § 49.507)
HEIGHT. When referring to a tower or other structure, the distance measured from the finished grade of the parcel to the highest point on the tower or other structure, including the base pad and any antenna.
(Prior Code, § 49.508)
PRE-EXISTING TOWERS and PRE-EXISTING ANTENNAS. Any tower or antenna for which a building permit or special use permit has been properly issued prior to the effective date of this chapter, including permitted towers or antennas that have not yet been constructed so long as such approval is current and not expired.
(Prior Code, § 49.509)
TOWER. Any structure that is designed and constructed primarily for the purpose of supporting one or more antennas for telephone, radio and similar communication purposes, including self-supporting lattice towers, guyed towers or monopole towers. The term includes radio and television transmission towers, microwave towers, common-carrier towers, cellular telephone towers, alternative tower structures and the like. The term includes the structure and any support thereto.
(Prior Code, § 49.510)
(Ord. 121800, eff. 1-18-2001)
(A) New towers and antennas. All new towers or antennas, or modifications of existing towers or antennas, in the township shall be subject to these regulations, except as provided in divisions (B), (C) and (D) below.
(Prior Code, § 49.511)
(B) Amateur radio station operators/receive only antennas. This chapter shall not govern any tower, or the installation of any antenna, that is under 70 feet in height and is owned and operated by a federally-licensed amateur radio station operator or is used exclusively for receive only antennas.
(Prior Code, § 49.512)
(C) Pre-existing towers or antennas. Pre-existing towers and pre-existing antennas shall not be required to meet the requirements of this chapter, other than the requirements of § 154.04(E) and (F).
(Prior Code, § 49.513)
(D) AM array.
(1) For purposes of implementing this chapter, an AM array, consisting of one or more tower units and supporting ground system which functions as one AM broadcasting antenna, shall be considered one tower.
(2) Measurements for setbacks and separation distances shall be measured from the outer perimeter of the towers included in the AM array. Additional tower units may be added within the perimeter of the AM array by right.
(Prior Code, § 49.514)
(Ord. 121800, eff. 1-18-2001)
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