(A) Towers and WTFs shall be a permitted use in a light industrial district, as described in Chapter 154, and on city-owned property. Towers and WTFs proposed in a light industrial district or on city-owned property may be administratively approved.
(B) The following provisions shall govern the issuance of administrative approvals for towers and WTFs.
(1) Each applicant for administrative approval shall submit an application to the City Manager or designee providing the information set forth in § 90.20, when applicable, and a nonrefundable fee as established by resolution of the City Council to reimburse the city for the costs of reviewing the application.
(2) The City Manager or designee shall review an application for administrative approval of a tower or WTF and determine if the proposed use complies with this chapter.
(3) The City Manager or designee shall respond to each such application within 60 days after the filing of the application by either approving or denying the application. If the City Manager or designee fails to respond to the applicant within 60 days, then the application shall be deemed to be approved, unless the time has been extended under M.S. § 15.99, as it may be amended from time to time.
(4) In connection with any such administrative approval, the City Manager or designee may, in order to encourage shared use, or the use of alternative tower structures, administratively waive or modify any zoning district setback requirements in or separation distances between towers by up to 50%.
(5) If an administrative approval is denied, the applicant may file an appeal to the City Council. Any appeal must be filed by the applicant within 30 days of the receipt of the City Manager’s or designee’s decision.
(C) The following uses may be approved by the City Manager or designee after conducting an administrative review:
(1) Locating a tower or WTF, including the placement of additional buildings or other supporting equipment used in connection with a tower or WTF, in any light industrial district or on city-owned property; and/or
(2) Locating antennas on existing structures or towers consistent with the terms of divisions (C)(2)(a) and (C)(2)(b) below:
(a) Antennas on existing structures. Any WTF proposed to be affixed to an existing building or structure may be approved by the City Manager or designee as an accessory use to the building or structure, provided:
1. The antenna does not extend more than 30 feet above the highest point of the building or structure;
2. The antenna complies with all applicable federal regulations; and
3. The antenna complies with all applicable building codes.
(b) Antennas on existing towers. Any WTF which is proposed to be attached to an existing tower may be administratively approved by the City Manager or designee and, to minimize adverse visual impacts associated with the proliferation and clustering of towers, collocation of antennas by more than one carrier on existing towers shall take precedence over the construction of new towers, provided the collocation is accomplished in a manner consistent with the following: a tower which is modified or reconstructed to accommodate the collocation of an additional antenna shall be of the same tower type as the existing tower, unless the City Manager or designee allows reconstruction as a monopole.
(Prior Code, § 90.05) Penalty, see § 10.99