The Zoning Administrator shall approve or disapprove the permit based upon receipt of a completed site plan pursuant to § 154.58, and the following provisions.
(A) The first option for the location of a proposed antenna is co-location on an existing tower, either within or outside town limits. The applicant shall identify all possible alternatives considered within the service area for the proposed tower, and explain why the proposed tower is necessary, and why existing towers or other structures cannot accommodate the proposed antenna(s).
(B) The applicant shall further demonstrate that all possible alternatives concerning the location of a proposed tower have been considered on real property owned and/or managed by federal, state or local public organizations, and explain the results of these considerations.
(C) Locating a tower on a major mountain ridge shall be considered as a last resort, and justifying documentation shall be provided.
(D) All towers located within town limits shall be monopole, and no taller than 30 feet higher than the vegetation canopies and/or ground cover immediately surrounding the base of the tower.
(E) The proposed tower should be designed and constructed for co-location of at least one other telecommunication antenna system.
(F) The applicant shall be required to provide documentation certifying compliance with all applicable federal and state regulations, including NEPA and state Historic Preservation Office.
(G) The applicant shall present to the Zoning Administrator proof of either fee simple ownership, an option to purchase or lease, a recorded leasehold interest, or an easement, from the record owner of all property involved and any necessary rights-of-way to the tower site. The securing of any interest in any real property for the location of a proposed tower shall not be construed to define a vested right to erect the proposed tower.
(H) A sign identifying the owner(s) and operator(s) of the tower and an emergency telephone number shall be placed in a clearly visible location on the premises of the tower.
(I) When applicable, tower sites shall comply with the terms of the town Watershed Ordinance and any other applicable ordinances.
(J) All towers shall be set back from any surrounding property lines by a distance equal to the height of the tower, unless a state registered professional engineer certifies the fall zone of the tower and appurtenances will be within the setback area proposed.
(K) The tower shall be designed to meet the ANSI/EIA/TIA-222-F standards (or as revised) of a minimum 50-year return wind speed and a minimum one-half inch of solid radial ice. In no case shall the design wind speed be less than specified in § 1609 of the state Building Code.
(L) The tower and any necessary buildings or structures shall be surrounded by a commercial grade chain link secure fence at least eight feet in height, which may include no more than two feet of barbed wire.
(M) Lighting on towers shall not be permitted except as required by federal and state regulations. Towers shall be light gray or another earth tone (such as environmental green), except when specific colors and color patterns are required by federal or state regulations.
(N) When a tower is proposed adjacent to a residential area, the setback space is to be used as a buffer zone and shall be landscaped as follows:
(1) Buffers shall consist of planting evergreen and/or deciduous trees spaced no more than 30 feet apart.
(2) Trees shall be a least six to seven feet tall for evergreens, and six to eight feet tall with a one and one-half-inch caliper (trunk measured six inches above grade) for deciduous trees at time of planting, and shall reach a height of no less than 20 feet at maturity.
(3) Planting of low growing shrubs and/or trees shall be placed at ten-foot intervals. Plantings within buffer zones shall be staggered unless topography is prohibitive. The buffer zone shall not be in, and no planting shall be placed in, the road right-of-way.
(O) A permit issued pursuant to this subchapter expires six months after the date of issuance if the work authorized has not commenced. If, after commencement, the work is discontinued for a period of 12 months, the permit therefor immediately expires. No work authorized by a permit that has expired may thereafter be performed until a new permit has been secured.
(P) The applicant shall provide the Zoning Administrator with proof of general liability insurance in the minimum amount of $1,000,000.
(Q) The application shall be accompanied by payment of a non-refundable processing fee in the amount of $_________________.
(Ord. passed 11-6-2003)