(A) Generally. All towers and WTFs must be constructed in accordance with the following standards.
(B) Specifically.
(1) Siting. WTFs located on or attached to existing structures are regulated by the provisions of the zoning district for each parcel. Towers may only be located on parcels within commercial and light industrial zoning districts (as defined by the city’s zoning and land use regulations) and on city-owned property. Towers are not permitted in public rights-of-way.
(2) Color and architecture. All WTFs shall be concealed or camouflaged and shall utilize materials, colors, textures, screening, and landscaping to blend in with the surrounding natural setting and built environment. If a WTF is proposed on any part of a building or structure, it must blend with the structure’s design, architecture, and color, including exterior finish. The term CAMOUFLAGE shall not mean invisible, but rather appearing as part of another structure, such as a building, wall, or roof, or designed to appear as another structure, such as a building, clock tower, chimney, flag pole, light pole, or tree.
(3) Landscaping. The following requirements shall govern the landscaping surrounding towers; provided, however, that the City Council, after considering the recommendation of city staff, may waive the requirements if the visual impact of a proposed tower or WTF would be minimal or if the purposes of this subchapter would otherwise be better served thereby.
(a) Tower facilities shall be landscaped with a buffer of plant materials that effectively screens the view of the tower compound from property used for residences. The standard buffer shall consist of a landscaped strip at least four feet wide outside the perimeter of the compound.
(b) Existing mature tree growth and natural land forms on the site shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible. In some cases, such as towers sited on large, wooded lots, natural growth around the property perimeter may be sufficient buffer. Existing mature trees and other vegetation at the site shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible.
(4) Signs. The use of any portion of a tower or WTF for signs or advertising other than warning or equipment information signs is prohibited.
(5) Lighting. WTFs or towers shall not be illuminated by artificial means and shall not display strobe lights unless the lighting is specifically required by the Federal Aviation Administration or other federal or state authority. When incorporated into the approved design of a WTF, light fixtures used to illuminate ball fields, parking lots, or similar areas may be attached to the tower.
(6) Monopole. New towers shall be of a monopole design, without guide wires, unless the City Council determines that an alternative design would better blend into the surrounding environment.
(7) Setbacks. Towers and WTFs shall comply with the principal structure setbacks of the underlying zoning district and the following additional standards.
(a) The tower or WTF is setback from all residential dwellings at least one foot for each foot in height.
(b) Towers and WTFs shall not encroach upon any easements unless permission is obtained from the underlying property owner and holder of the easement.
(c) Towers and WTFs shall not be located between a principal structure and a public street.
(d) The required setbacks may be reduced or the location in relation to a public street modified, at the sole discretion of the city, when the WTF is integrated into an existing or proposed structure such as a building, light, or utility pole.
(8) Height.
(a) The height of any tower shall not exceed 75 feet.
(b) Antennas located on an existing structure that is taller than the limit allowed in the underlying zoning district may extend up to five feet above the height of the structure.
(9) Safety and environmental standards.
(a) Building codes; safety standards. To ensure the structural integrity of towers, the owner of a tower shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable state or local building codes and the applicable standards for towers that are published by the Electronic Industries Alliance, as amended from time to time. If, upon inspection, the city concludes that a tower fails to comply with the codes and standards and constitutes a danger to persons or property, then upon notice being provided to the owner of the tower, the owner shall have 30 days to bring the tower into compliance with the standards. Failure to bring the tower into compliance within the 30-day period shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower or antenna at the owner’s expense.
(b) Interference with public safety telecommunications. No tower or WTF shall interfere with public safety telecommunications. All towers or WTFs shall comply with FCC regulations and licensing requirements.
(c) Security fencing. Towers shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six feet in height and shall also be equipped with an appropriate anticlimbing device; provided, however, that the City Council, after considering the recommendations of the city staff, may waive the requirements, as it deems appropriate.
(d) Noise. If the proposed WTF includes equipment that causes or a WTF otherwise causes significant increased sound levels, sound buffers may be required, including, but not limited to, baffling, barriers, enclosures, walls, and plantings.
(e) Radio frequency emissions and interference. WTFs must comply with Federal Communication Commission standards for radio frequency emissions and interference.
(f) Risk of danger. Towers and WTFs shall not pose an unreasonable risk of explosion, fire, or other danger due to its proximity to volatile, flammable, explosive, or hazardous materials.
(g) Maintenance. All commercial towers or WTFs shall at all times:
1. Be kept and maintained in good condition, order, and repair so that the same shall not menace or endanger the life or property of any person; and
2. Allow sufficient access for service vehicles and personnel.
(10) Collocation requirements. To every extent possible:
(a) All proposed WTFs shall be placed on an existing tower, building, or structure located within one-half mile of the desired location for the proposed WTF;
(b) All wireless telecommunication providers shall cooperate with each other in collocating WTFs and shall exercise good faith in collocating with other licensed carriers and in the sharing of sites, including the sharing of technical information necessary to evaluate the feasibility of collocation. In the event a dispute arises as to a collocation issue, the city may require a third-party technical study to evaluate the feasibility of collocating at the expense of either or both wireless telecommunications providers;
(c) All new towers and any pre-existing tower owned by a wireless telecommunications provider shall be made available for use by the owner or initial user thereof, together with as many other licensed carriers as can be technically located thereon;
(d) If determined appropriate by the city, all new towers shall be designed and constructed in such a manner as to accommodate at least one other comparable WTF in addition to the applicant’s; and
(e) All new wireless telecommunications towers that are less than 75 feet shall be designed and constructed in a manner that allows the tower to be expanded to a height of 75 feet in order to allow for future collocation.
(11) Exceptions to collocation. The city may waive any or all of the collocation requirements, if it is determined that:
(a) The planned WTF would exceed the structural capacity of the existing or approved tower, building, or structure, as documented by a qualified and licensed professional engineer, and the existing or approved tower, building, or structure cannot be reinforced, modified, or replaced to accommodate planned or equivalent equipment;
(b) The planned WTF would cause interference materially impacting the usability of other existing or planned WTFs at the structure as documented by a qualified radio frequency engineer selected by the city and the interference cannot be prevented; and
(c) No existing tower, building, or structure within an applicant’s search radius can or will accommodate the planned equipment at a height necessary to function reasonably as documented by a qualified radio frequency engineer selected by the city.
(Prior Code, § 90.04) Penalty, see § 10.99