For the purpose of this chapter, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
ALTERNATIVE TOWER STRUCTURES. Existing structures which provide height for communication antennas in a manner that camouflages or conceals the presence of antennas or towers, also referred by the industry as “stealth”, including steeples, mills, light poles, water towers and the like.
ANTENNA. Any structure or device used for the purpose of collecting or radiating electromagnetic waves including, but not limited to, directional antennas such as panels, microwave dishes, satellite dishes and omni-directional antennas such as whip antennas.
CO-LOCATION. The placement of wireless telecommunication antenna by two or more service providers on a tower, building or structure.
COMMERCIAL MOBILE SERVICES. Defined in § 332 of the Communications Act and the FCC’s rules, and include cellular telephone services regulated under part 22 of the FCC’s rules, SMR services regulated under part 90 of the FCC’s rules, and PCS regulated under part 24 of the FCC’s rules (47 C.F.R. § 20.9).
COMMERCIAL WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM. Any WECS designed and operated at a capacity greater than incidental excess of the amount needed for basic residential use and/or the purpose of such energy generation is intended for commercial sale.
COMMERCIAL WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SERVICES. Licensed commercial wireless telecommunication services including cellular, personal communication services (PCS), specialized mobilized radio (SMR), enhanced specialized mobilized radio (ESMR), paging and similar services that are marketed to the general public.
COMMUNICATION TOWERS (COMMUNICATION ANTENNA TOWERS). Any tower structure used for the purpose of providing transmission of cell phone, radio or other personal wireless facilities.
DEPARTMENT. Wabasha Planning Department, which includes the City Planner, Zoning Administrator and other staff which are assigned to the Department and which is overseen by the City Clerk.
EXPERIMENTAL AND HOMEBUILT WECS. Wind machines that are one of a kind, first attempt machines built by a wind power company or individual.
GUYED TOWER. A tower that is supported, in whole or in part, by wires and ground anchors.
LARGE WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM or LWECS. Any combination of WECS with a combined nameplate capacity of 5,000 kilowatts or more which require state permitting only (not local) under Public Utilities Commission under M.S. Ch. 216F, as it may be amended from time to time, unless amended to allow local control.
LATTICE TOWER. A freestanding tower with more than one leg connected to the ground with sides interconnected by lattice braces.
LOWEST EXTENSION OF WECS BLADES. The lowest point of the arc created by the rotation of the WECS rotor.
METEOROLOGICAL TOWER (MET TOWER). Includes the tower, base plate, anchors, guy cables and hardware, anemometers (wind tower) speed indicators, wind direction vanes, booms to hold equipment anemometers and vanes, data logger, instrument wiring and any telemetry devices that are used to monitor transmit wind speed and wind flow characteristics over a period of time for either instantaneous wind information or to characterize the wind resource at a given location.
MONOPOLE. A type of tower mount that is self supporting through a single shaft usually constructed of wood, metal or concrete.
OWNER. The individual or entity that intends to own and operate the tower system in accordance with this chapter.
PERSONAL WIRELESS FACILITIES. Transmitters, antenna structures and other types of installations used for the provision of personal wireless services. This includes commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services and common carrier wireless exchange access services (1996 Telecom Act, or as amended).
PRODUCTION PHASE WECS. Professionally designed wind machines that are built in significant numbers on a continuing basis after testing. Wind machines made from professionally designed kits will be considered PRODUCTION PHASE WECS.
PUBLIC UTILITY. Persons, corporations or governments supplying gas, electric, transportation, water, sewer or land line telephone service to the general public. For the purpose of this chapter, commercial wireless telecommunication service facilities shall not be considered PUBLIC UTILITY uses and are defined separately.
ROTOR DIAMETER. The cross-sectional dimension of the circle swept by the rotating blades.
SEARCH RING. An area in which a wireless provider is able to locate an antenna of a defined height which will provide the wireless service provider’s desired coverage.
SMALL WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM or SWECS. Any combination of WECS with a combined nameplate capacity of less than 5,000 kilowatts.
TOTAL HEIGHT. The distance between the ground level at the base of a structure and its tallest vertical extension including any attachment thereon (to the tip of a wind generator blade when the tip is at its highest point).
TOWER. Any pole, wire, structure or combination thereof of 30 feet or higher, including support lines, cables, wires, braces and masts intended primarily for the purpose of mounting antenna or to serve as an antenna or for the placement of a wind energy conversion system. This includes communication antenna towers.
TOWER FACILITY(IES). A tower and its appurtenant devices including, but not limited to, antennas, buildings, fences, gates and related equipment.
UNLICENSED WIRELESS SERVICES. The offering of telecommunications services using duly authorized devices which do not require individual licenses; direct-to-home satellite services are excluded from this definition.
WIND ENERGY CONVERSION SYSTEM (WECS). Any device such as a wind charger, windmill or wind turbine, which converts wind energy to a form of usable energy.
WIND ENERGY SYSTEM. Equipment that converts and then stores or transfers energy from the wind into usable forms of any base, blade, foundation, generator, nacelle, rotor, tower, transformer, vane, wire, inverter, batteries or other component used in the system.
WIND GENERATOR. Blades and associated mechanical and electrical conversion components mounted on top of the tower.
(Prior Code, § 335.06) (Ord. passed 2-19-2008; Ord. passed 3-1-2011)