(a) Antenna/Tower Height. The applicant shall demonstrate that the antenna/tower is the minimum height required to function satisfactorily. No antenna that is taller than the minimum height shall be approved. The maximum allowable tower height shall be 180 feet.
(b) Setbacks from the Base of the Tower. If a new cellular or wireless communications tower is to be constructed, the minimum distance between the base of the tower or any guy wire anchors and the property line shall be:
(1) Thirty percent (30%) of the tower height but no less than thirty-five feet.
(c) Cellular or Wireless Communications Tower Safety. The applicant shall demonstrate that the proposed cellular or wireless communications tower and its antenna are safe and that the surrounding properties will not be negatively affected by tower failure, falling ice or other debris, electromagnetic fields or radio frequency interference. Furthermore, all cellular or wireless communications towers shall be fitted with anti-climbing devices as approved by the manufacturers.
(d) Fencing. A fence shall be required around the cellular or wireless communications tower and its support structure(s), unless the antenna is mounted on an existing structure. The fence shall be minimum of eight feet in height and shall be erected to prevent access to non-authorized personnel.
(e) Landscaping. The following landscaping shall be required to screen as much of the support structures as possible, the fence surrounding the cellular or wireless communications tower, support structure(s) and any other ground level features and, in general, soften the appearance of the cellular or wireless communications site. The Village may permit any combination of existing vegetation, topography, walls, decorative fences or other features instead of landscaping, if they achieve the same degree of screening as the required landscaping. If the antenna is mounted on an existing structure, and other equipment is housed inside of an existing structure, landscaping shall not be required.
Any freestanding cellular or wireless communications tower shall incorporate landscaping which includes trees, shrubs and other landscaping vegetation that is subject to review and is acceptable to the Planning Commission. In addition, existing vegetation on and around the site shall be preserved to greatest extent possible.
(f) Limiting the Number of Cellular or Wireless Communications Towers. In order to reduce the number of antenna support structures needed in the City in the future, the proposed cellular or wireless communications tower shall be required to accommodate other uses, including other cellular or wireless communications companies, and the local police and fire departments and paramedic and life squads.
(g) Licensing. The communications company must demonstrate to the Village that it is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).
(h) Required Parking. If the cellular or wireless communications site is fully automated, adequate parking shall be required to maintenance workers. If the site is not fully automated, the number of required parking spaces shall equal the number of employees working on the largest shift. All parking specifications and requirements shall be consistent with the applicable parking requirements as established in the Zoning Code.
(i) Appearance. Cellular or wireless communications towers under 200 feet in height shall be painted silver or have a galvanized finish retained in order to reduce visual impact. Cellular or wireless communications towers shall meet all Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulations. No cellular or wireless communications towers may be artificially lighted except when required to the FAA. Furthermore, no cellular or wireless communications tower or antenna shall contain any signage containing a commercial message.
(j) Site Plan Required. A full site plan shall be required for all proposed cellular or wireless communications sites, at a scale of one inch to 100 feet (1"=100'), indicating, as a minimum, the following:
(1) The total area of the site.
(2) The existing zoning of the property in question and of all adjacent properties.
(3) All public and private right-of-way and easement lines located on or adjacent to the property which are proposed to be continued, created, relocated or abandoned. (Separate copies of all related documents should also be provided.)
(4) Existing topography with a maximum of five foot contours intervals.
(5) The proposed finished grade of the development shown by contours not exceeding five foot intervals.
(6) The location of all existing buildings and structures and the proposed location of the cellular or wireless communications tower and all cellular or wireless communications support structures including dimensions, heights, and where applicable, the gross floor area of the buildings.
(7) The locations and dimensions of all curb cuts, driving lanes, off-street parking a loading areas including the number of spaces, grades, surfacing materials, drainage plans and illumination of the facility.
(8) All existing and proposed sidewalks and open areas on the site.
(9) The location of all proposed fences, screening and walls.
(10) The location of all existing and proposed streets.
(11) All existing and proposed utilities including types and grades.
(12) The schedule of any phasing of the project.
(13) A written statement by the cellular or wireless communications company as to the visual and aesthetic impacts of the proposed cellular communications tower on all adjacent residential zoning districts.
(14) Any other information as may be required by the Planning Commission to determine the conformance with this Zoning Code.
Upon submission of a complete application for site plan review to the Building Commissioner, the application shall be transmitted to the Planning Commission where they shall review the site plan to determine if it meets the purpose and requirements as established in this section, of the zoning district where the proposed cellular or wireless communications site is located and of any other applicable Section of the Zoning Code. No public notice or public hearing shall be required in conjunction with the review and approval of the Plan.
However, when the Plan required modification for approval or if the Plan does not meet the purpose and requirements of the Zoning Code, a full public hearing on the matter will be conducted with notice to affected parties as in other matters brought before the Planning Commission.
There shall be a twenty dollar ($20.00) per linear foot of the tower height application fee for review of the application in addition to any building permit fees required under the standard building permit fee schedule.
The Planning Commission shall act upon all site plans within twenty-eight days after the receipt of the complete application from the Building Commissioner by approving the plans or scheduling a public hearing before the Commission. The Planning Commission may approve, disapprove, or approve with modifications the site plan as submitted. Within the said twenty-eight day period, a majority of the members of the Planning Commission present at the meeting thereof may vote to extend the said period of time, not to exceed an additional sixty days.
(Ord. 22-1997. Passed 6-19-97.)