Telecommunications facilities that are not eligible for administrative approval under § 152.82 are permitted only as a conditional use in all zoning districts and must be in compliance with the provisions of this subchapter. Conditional use telecommunications facilities are subject to the following standards:
Residential and Commercial Zoning Districts. Telecommunication facilities may be located only on public property in the R-2 residential district or the C-1 commercial districts subject to the standards listed in divisions (A) through (D) that follow.
(A) An applicant must provide an analysis prepared by a radio or electrical engineer demonstrating that the proposed location of the antennas is necessary to meet the coverage and capacity needs of its system and that there is no existing antenna support structure that could adequately serve the area if antennas were placed on it. The applicant must also pay the reasonable expenses for a radio or electrical engineer retained by the city, at its option, to review this analysis;
(B) A telecommunications facility must use as many stealth design techniques as reasonably possible. Economic considerations alone are not justification for failing to provide stealth design techniques. The City Council may require that a different location be used if it would result in less public visibility, is available, and would meet the applicant's reasonable capacity and coverage needs; and
(C) A telecommunications tower and antennas, including attachments other than lightning rods, must not exceed 75 feet in height, measured from grade. The City Council may increase this height to 90 feet if the increase in height would not have a significant impact on surrounding properties because of proximity, topography or screening by trees or buildings or would accommodate two or more users. The City Council may waive this height standard for a tower used wholly or partially for essential public services, such as public safety.
(D) Telecommunications facilities may be located in public right-of-way of a major collector or arterial roadway as defined in the comprehensive plan, if they meet all of the following requirements:
(1) The facility, including attachments other than lightning rods, may not exceed 60 feet in height measured from grade. The City Council may waive this height standard for a tower used wholly or partially for essential public services, such as public safety;
(2) The facility must use as many stealth design techniques as reasonably possible. In particular, the antennas must be designed to minimize their size and appearance and may not project out from the side of the tower by more than two feet. Economic considerations alone are not justification for failing to provide stealth design techniques; and
(3) The facility is not located adjacent to residentially zoned property unless the applicant demonstrates by providing a study prepared by a radio or electrical engineer demonstrating that the proposed location of the antennas is necessary to meet the coverage and capacity needs of its system and no other location is feasible in a non-residential zone.
(Ord. 212, 3rd Series, passed 11-15-2016)