(A) The tower must be set back from all property lines a distance equal to its height, unless engineering plans and specifications have been verified by the City Engineer that the structural integrity of the tower will withstand high winds and impacts and the likelihood of a tower failure is minimal. The applicant shall incur all cost associated with a city engineering review.
(B) Accessory structures are limited to uses associated with the operation of the tower and may not be located any closer to any property line than 30 feet. Nothing shall prevent an applicant from applying to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a setback variance.
(C) Accessory structures shall not exceed 600 square feet of gross building area.
(D) All bufferyard requirements within the Zoning Code shall be met.
(E) All towers shall be equipped with an anti-climbing device to prevent unauthorized access.
(F) The plans of the tower construction shall be certified by an engineer licensed to practice in the State of Michigan.
(G) The applicant shall provide verification that the antenna mount and structure have been reviewed and approved by an engineer licensed to practice in the State of Michigan and that the installation is in compliance with all applicable codes.
(H) All towers must meet the standards of the Federal Aviation Administration and the Federal Communications Commission.
(I) Communication towers in excess of 100 feet in height above grade level shall be prohibited within a two mile radius of a public airport or one-half mile radius of a helipad.
(J) No part of any tower or antenna shall be constructed, located or maintained at any time, permanently or temporarily, on or upon any required setback area for the district in which the antenna or tower is to be located. In no case shall a tower or antenna be located within 30 feet of a property line. Nothing shall prevent an applicant from applying to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a setback variance.
(K) Metal towers shall be constructed of, or treated with, corrosive-resistant material.
(L) Antennae and metal towers shall be grounded for protection against a direct strike by lightning and shall comply as to electrical wiring and connections with all applicable local statutes, regulations and standards.
(M) Towers with antennae shall be designed to withstand a uniform wind loading as prescribed in the Building Code.
(N) All signals and remote control conductors of low energy extending substantially horizontally above the ground between a tower or antenna and a structure or between towers shall be at least eight feet above the ground at all points, unless buried underground.
(O) Towers shall be located so that they do not interfere with any reception in nearby residential areas.
(P) Towers shall be located so there is room for vehicles doing maintenance to maneuver on the property owned and/or leased by the applicant.
(Q) The base of the tower shall occupy no more than 500 square feet.
(R) Minimum spacing between tower locations shall be one mile in order to prevent a concentration of towers in one area.
(S) Height of the tower shall not exceed 175 feet from grade within a residential district, 200 feet from grade within a business district, and 300 feet from grade within a manufacturing district.
(T) Towers shall not be artificially lighted unless required by the Federal Aviation Administration.
(U) Existing on-site vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable.
(V) There shall not be displayed advertising or identification of any kind intended to be visible from the ground or other structures, except as required for emergency purposes.
(W) The antenna shall be painted to match the exterior treatment of the tower. The chosen paint scheme shall be designed to minimize off-site visibility of the antenna.
(X) Structures shall be subject to any state and federal regulations concerning non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation. If more restrictive state or federal standards are adopted in the future, the antenna shall be made to conform to the extent required by such standard or the special use approval will be subject to revocation by the City Commission. Cost for testing and verification of compliance shall be borne by the operator of the antenna.
(Y) There shall be no employees located on the site on a permanent basis to service or maintain the antenna. Occasional or temporary repair and service activities are excluded from this restriction.
(Z) All parking and drive areas must be paved as provided in the city’s ordinances.
(AA) Where the property adjoins any residentially zoned property or land use, the developer shall plant two alternating rows of evergreen trees with a minimum height of five feet on 20 foot centers along the entire perimeter of the tower and related structures. In no case shall the evergreens be any closer than ten feet to any structure.
(BB) The tower shall be removed by the property owner or lessee within six months of being abandoned.
(Ord. 455, passed 7-14-1997)