As used in this article, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ADEQUATE CAPACITY
Capacity is considered to be "adequate" if the grade of service
(GOS) is p.05 or better for median traffic levels offered during the
typical busy hour, as assessed by direct measurement of the personal
wireless facility or regulated facility in question. The GOS shall
be determined by the use of standard Erlang B calculations. As call
blocking may occur in either the land line or radio portions of a
wireless network, adequate capacity for this regulation shall apply
only to the capacity of the radio components. Where capacity must
be determined prior to the installation of the personal wireless service
facility or regulated facility in question, adequate capacity shall
be determined on the basis of a 20% busy hour (20% of all offered
traffic occurring within the busiest hour of the day), with total
daily traffic based on aggregate estimates of the expected traffic
in the coverage area.
ADEQUATE COVERAGE
Coverage is considered to be "adequate" within that area
surrounding a base station where the predicted or measured median
field strength of the transmitted signal is such that the majority
of the time, transceivers properly installed and operated will be
able to communicate with the base station. In the case of cellular
communications in a rural area like Haddam, this would be a signal
strength of at least -90 dBm for at least 75% of the coverage area.
It is acceptable for there to be holes within the area of adequate
coverage where the signal is less than -90 dBm, as long as the signal
regains its strength to greater than -90 dBm further away from the
base station. The outer boundary of the area of adequate coverage
is that location past which the signal does not regain strength of
greater than -90 dBm.
ANTENNA
The surface from which wireless radio signals are sent and
received by a personal wireless service facility or regulated facility.
CAMOUFLAGED OR STEALTH FACILITY
A wireless communication regulated facility that is disguised,
hidden, part of an existing or proposed structure, or placed within
an existing or proposed structure.
CARRIER
A company that provides wireless services.
CO-LOCATION
The use of a single mount on the ground by more than one
carrier (vertical co-location) and/or several mounts on an existing
building or structure by more than one carrier.
COMMISSION
The Planning and Zoning Commission of the Town of Haddam.
ELEVATION
The elevation at grade or ground level shall be given in
"above mean sea level" (AMSL). The height of a wireless service facility
shall be given in "above ground level" (AGL). AGL is a measurement
of height from the natural grade of a site to the highest point of
a structure. The total elevation of the wireless service facility
is AGL plus AMSL.
ENVIRONMENTAL ASSESSMENT (EA)
The document required by the Federal Communications Commission
(FCC) and the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) when a wireless
communication facility or regulated facility is placed in certain
designated areas.
ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT STATEMENT (EIS)
A report which shall evaluate the existing conditions of
the proposed regulated facility and the full impact of construction
on the existing conditions, terrestrial ecology, environmental setting
and cultural resources through the actions of grading, soil disturbance,
facility construction, site drainage and any other above- or below-ground
disturbance.
EQUIPMENT SHELTER
An enclosed structure, cabinet, shed or box at the base of
the mount within which are housed batteries and electrical equipment
necessary for the operation of the communication facility or regulated
facility.
FALL ZONE
The area on the ground within a prescribed radius from the
base of a wireless communication facility or regulated facility. The
fall zone is the area within which there is a potential hazard from
falling debris (such as ice) or collapsing material.
GUYED REGULATED FACILITY
A monopole or existing lattice tower that is tied to the
ground or other surface by diagonal cables.
LATTICE REGULATED FACILITY
A type of mount that is self-supporting with multiple legs
and cross-bracing of structural steel for an existing lattice tower.
LICENSED CARRIER
A company authorized by the FCC to construct and operate
a wireless communication facility or regulated facility.
MONOPOLE TOWER
A regulated facility that involves a type of mount that is
self-supporting with a single shaft of wood, steel or concrete and
a platform (or racks) for panel antennas arrayed at the top.
MOUNT
The structure or surface of a regulated facility upon which
antennas are mounted, including the following four types of mounts:
A.
Roof-mounted: mounted on the roof of a building.
B.
Side-mounted: mounted on the side of a building.
C.
Ground-mounted regulated facility: mounted on
the ground.
D.
Structure-mounted: mounted on a structure other
than a building.
PANEL ANTENNA
A flat-surface antenna usually developed in multiples such
as whip antennas, panel antennas, and dish antennas.
PROPAGATION STUDIES or COVERAGE PLOTS
Computer-generated estimates of the signal emanating, and
prediction of coverage, from antennas or repeaters sited on a specific
regulated facility structure. The height above ground, power input
and output, frequency output, type of antenna, antenna gain, topography
of the site and its surroundings are all taken into account to create
these simulations. They are the primary tool for determining whether
a site will provide adequate coverage for the telecommunication facility
proposed for the site.
REGULATED FACILITY
All regulated facilities as defined by this section, including
mounts, towers and antennas, service and/or sites where these facilities
are proposed or exist, or service is to be provided from, relating
to personal communication services and any other wireless telecommunication
service subject to local zoning regulation. A regulated facility,
service and/or site includes, but is not limited to, a proposed co-located
regulated facility, service and/or site.
REPEATER
A small receiver/relay transmitter of not more than 20 watts'
output designed to provide service to areas which are not able to
receive adequate coverage directly from a base station.
SECURITY BARRIER
A locked, impenetrable wall, fence or berm that completely
seals an area from unauthorized entry or trespass.
SEPARATION
The distance between one carrier's array of antennas and
another carrier's array.
The following shall be included with an application
for a special permit for all regulated facilities:
A. General filing requirements:
(1)
Name, address and telephone number of applicant,
co-applicants, and any agents for the applicant or co-applicants.
(2)
Co-applicants shall include the landowner of
the subject property, and any licensed carriers and tenants for the
proposed regulated facility.
(3)
A licensed carrier shall either be an applicant
or a co-applicant and shall provide documentation of qualifications
as a "licensed carrier."
(4)
Original signatures for the applicant and all
co-applicants applying for the special permit. If the applicant or
co-applicant will be represented by an agent, an original signature
authorizing the agent to represent the applicant and/or co-applicant
is required. Photoreproductions of signatures will not be accepted.
B. Location filing requirements:
(1)
Identify the subject property by including the
town as well as the name of the locality, name of the nearest road
or roads, nearest CL&P pole number, and street address, if any.
(2)
Tax map and parcel number of subject property.
(3)
Zoning district designation for the subject
parcel (submit copy of Town Zoning Map with parcel identified).
(4)
A line map to scale showing the lot lines of
the subject property and all properties within 300 feet and the location
of all buildings, including accessory structures, on all properties
shown.
(5)
A region-wide map showing the existing wireless
service regulated facilities in the Town and outside the Town within
four miles of its boundary, and any proposed regulated facilities
by the applicant and/or co-applicant(s) within four miles of the Town
boundary.
(6)
A topographic location map at a scale of one
inch equals 2,000 feet showing the regulated facility location, and
the boundaries of the viewshed if a regulated facility is proposed
(i.e., the area within which the regulated facility can be seen based
upon an assessment of the topography surrounding the site).
C. Additional site plan and special permit requirements.
The following requirements shall be in addition to the requirements
of Sections 14 and 15 of the Town of Haddam zoning regulations and
Special Permit applications. Where the requirements of this Section
are more restrictive than that of Sections 14 and 15, these requirements
shall apply. A one inch equals 40 feet vicinity plan shall be submitted
showing the following:
(1)
Property lines for the subject property.
(2)
Property lines of all properties adjacent to
the subject property within 300 feet.
(3)
Outline of all existing buildings, including
purpose (e.g., residential buildings, garages, accessory structures,
etc.) on the subject property and all adjacent properties within 300
feet.
(4)
Proposed location of the regulated facility,
including antenna, mount and equipment shelter(s).
(5)
Proposed security barrier, indicating type and
extent as well as point of controlled entry.
(6)
Location of all roads, public and private, on
the subject property and on all adjacent properties within 300 feet,
including driveways proposed to serve the regulated facility.
(7)
Distances, at grade, from the proposed regulated
facility to each building on the vicinity plan.
(8)
Contours at each two feet AMSL (see definition
section) for the subject property and adjacent properties within 300
feet.
(9)
All proposed changes to the existing property,
including grading, vegetation removal and temporary or permanent roads
and driveways.
(10)
Representations, dimensioned and to scale, of
the proposed mount, antennas, equipment shelters, cable runs, parking
areas and any other construction or development attendant to the regulated
facility.
D. Design filing requirements:
(1)
Equipment brochures for the proposed regulated
facilities, such as manufacturer's specifications or trade journal
reprints, shall be provided for the antennas, mounts, equipment shelters,
cables as well as cable runs, and security barrier, if any.
(2)
Materials of the proposed regulated facility
specified by generic type and specific treatment (e.g., anodized aluminum,
stained wood, painted fiberglass, etc.). These shall be provided for
the antennas, mounts, equipment shelters, cables as well as cable
runs, and security barrier, if any.
(3)
Colors of the proposed regulated facility represented
by a color board showing actual colors proposed. Colors shall be provided
for the antennas, mounts, equipment shelters, cables as well as cable
runs, and security barrier, if any.
(4)
Dimensions of the regulated facility specified
for all three directions: height, width and breadth. These shall be
provided for the antennas, mounts, equipment shelters and security
barrier, if any.
(5)
Viewshed analysis. Where a regulated facility
is proposed, sight line graphs shall be provided to the proposed prime
and alternative sites from visually impacted areas, such as residential
developments, public roadways, recreational sites, historic districts,
and historic sites. In lieu of sight line graphs, the Commission may
accept photographs showing the regulated facility imposed on the photograph
with the regulated facility height established in reference to a balloon
flown, or comparable testing, to the proposed regulated facility height
at the site, as required herein. This visual assessment shall be based
upon the existing landscape conditions without leaf cover.
(6)
The applicant shall arrange with the Commission
for a balloon test (with a balloon diameter of at least eight feet),
crane test, or comparable testing within the Commission's discretion,
at the proposed site to illustrate the height and position of a proposed
ground-mounted regulated facility structure. The date, time and location
of such test shall be advertised in a newspaper of general circulation
in the Town. The balloon, crane or other test shall be conducted or
attempted for at least two days.
E. Noise requirements. No regulated facility shall emit
or cause to be emitted any noise beyond the lease area in excess of
45 dBA.
F. Radio frequency radiation (RFR) filing requirements.
The applicant shall provide a statement listing the existing and maximum
future projected measurements of RFR from the proposed regulated facility,
for the following situations:
(1)
Existing or ambient: the measurements of existing
RFR.
(2)
Existing plus proposed facilities: maximum estimate
of RFR from the proposed regulated facility plus the existing RFR
environment.
(3)
Certification, signed by a RF engineer, stating
that RFR measurements are accurate and meet FCC Guidelines as specified
in the radio frequency radiation standards subsection of this regulation.
G. Federal environmental filing requirements.
(1)
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
applies to all applications for wireless communication facilities.
NEPA is administered by the FCC via procedures adopted as Subpart
1, Section 1.1301 et seq. (47 CFR Ch.
1). The FCC requires that an
environmental assessment (EA) be filed with the FCC prior to beginning
operations for any wireless communication regulated facility proposed
in or involving any of the following:
(c) Endangered species habitat.
(h) High-intensity white lights in residential neighborhoods.
(i) Excessive radio frequency exposure.
(2)
At the time of application filing, an environmental
assessment that meets FCC requirements shall be submitted to the Commission
for each regulated facility site that requires such an environmental
assessment to be submitted to the FCC.
(3)
For all special permit uses the applicant shall
identify and assess the impact of the proposed regulated facility
on areas recommended for protection or conservation as presented in
the Town of Haddam Community Plan of Conservation and Development,
and State Plan of Conservation and Development.
(4)
The applicant shall list location, type and
amount (including trace elements) of any materials proposed for use
within the facility that are considered hazardous by the federal,
state or local government.
The applicant shall pay any costs that the Commission
incurs for retaining one or more qualified independent consultants
to analyze and report on the application (including determining areas
appropriate for regulated facilities, reviewing the structural integrity
of the personal wireless service regulated facility design, and compliance
with FCC regulations), and the cost of the Town's monitoring of operation
of the regulated facility. These consultants shall each be qualified
professionals with degrees and/or special expertise in one of the
following: telecommunications engineering; structural engineering;
monitoring of electromagnetic fields; and other disciplines as determined
necessary by the Commission.
A modification of a regulated facility shall
require a special permit application and review as provided by this
Article
XXVIII.
Guyed towers, lattice towers, utility towers
and monopoles in existence at the time of adoption of this regulation
may be reconstructed, altered, extended or replaced on the same site
by special permit, provided that the Commission finds that such reconstruction,
alteration, extension or replacement will not be substantially more
detrimental to the neighborhood and/or the Town than the existing
structure. In making such a determination, the Commission shall consider
whether the proposed reconstruction, alteration, extension, or replacement
will create public benefits such as opportunities for co-location,
improvements in public safety, and/or reduction in visual and environmental
impacts. In addition, such special permit shall comply with all the
provisions of Articles
XVIII,
XIX and
XXVIII, inclusive, of these
zoning regulations.