In addition to the standards for communications towers as set forth in §
131-115 of this article, the following standards shall apply in zoning districts where communications towers are permitted by special exception:
A. In all zoning districts where communications towers
are permitted by special exception, the maximum height of any communications
tower shall be 150 feet. The height, however, may be increased to
no more than 180 feet, provided that the required setbacks from adjoining
property lines (not lease lines) are increased by one foot for each
one foot of height in excess of 150 feet. The applicant shall demonstrate
that the proposed height of the communications tower is the minimum
height necessary to perform its function.
B. Any applicant proposing construction of a new communications
tower shall demonstrate that a good-faith effort has been made to
obtain permission to mount the communications antennas on an existing
building, structure or communications tower. A good-faith effort shall
require that all owners of potentially suitable structures within
a one-fourth-mile radius of the proposed communications tower site
be contacted and that one or more of the following reasons for not
selecting such structure apply:
(1)
The proposed antennas and related equipment
would exceed the structural capacity of the existing structure and
its reinforcement cannot be accomplished at a reasonable cost.
(2)
The proposed antennas and related equipment
would cause radio frequency interference with other existing equipment
for that existing structure and the interference cannot be prevented
at a reasonable cost.
(3)
Such existing structures do not have adequate
location, space, access or height to accommodate the proposed equipment
or to allow it to perform its intended function.
(4)
Addition of the proposed antennas and related
equipment would result in electromagnetic radiation from such structure
exceeding applicable standards established by the Federal Communications
Commission governing human exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
(5)
A commercially reasonable agreement could not
be reached with the owners of such structures.
C. A communications tower must be located the required
distance from a blasting area, as set forth in the Pennsylvania Department
of Environmental Protection Regulations, Title 25, Chapter 211 of
the Pennsylvania Code, and its appendices, as may be amended from
time to time.