[1]
Editor's Note: The title of this article was changed from "Wireless Communications Facilities" 6-21-2022.
A. 
The purposes of these regulations are to minimize adverse impacts of wireless communications facilities, satellite dishes and antennas to the community's neighborhoods and traveled ways; minimize the overall number and/or height of such facilities to provide mandated coverage pursuant to the Telecommunications Act; and promote the integration of such facilities with existing buildings and the shared use of existing facilities to reduce the need for new individual towers to maintain existing neighborhood and community characteristics.
B. 
To further these purposes, two overlay districts are established as follows:
(1) 
Commercial Communications Overlay District to provide opportunity for wireless communications facilities of a height and design consistent with neighboring multi-storied and densely developed commercial uses and to provide collocation opportunities; and
(2) 
Residential Communications Overlay District to provide opportunity for wireless communications facilities of a height and design consistent with existing neighborhood structures and recreational and municipal uses.
A. 
No wireless communications facility shall be erected or installed except in compliance with the provisions of this article of the ordinance.
B. 
The requirements of this article shall apply to all wireless communications facilities, except where federal or state law or regulations exempt certain users or uses from all or portions of the provisions of this article.
C. 
For the purposes of administering the permitting process for this article of the zoning ordinance, the Planning Board shall be the special permit granting authority (SPGA).
D. 
For the purpose of administering this article of the zoning ordinance, wireless communications facilities shall be considered accessory in use and structure to any principal use or structure located on the subject parcel.
As used in this article, the following terms shall have the meanings indicated:
ANTENNA
A device by which electromagnetic waves are sent or received (whether a dish, rod, mast, pole, set of wires, plate, panel, line, cable or other arrangement serving such purpose).
CAMOUFLAGED
A wireless communications facility or its components are camouflaged when they are:
A. 
Not concealed within an existing or proposed structure built for another purpose, and
B. 
Disguised, painted, textured or colored to blend in to surrounding neighborhood structures or hidden by a purpose-built decoy that is made part of an existing or proposed structure, or made to resemble an architectural feature of the building or structure upon which it is placed.
CONCEALED
A wireless communications facility or components are concealed when they are within parts of a building or other structure that was built for another purpose and that is (are) not visible from outside the structure. A change of building materials may be required to enable antennas to function while concealed. For example, a church spire or belfry may require replacement of wood or shingled materials with radio-transparent synthetics. As long as the change of materials does not substantially alter the shape, look, and function of the existing structure, it may be considered a concealment rather than camouflage.
EQUIPMENT SHELTER/CABINET
A. 
EQUIPMENT SHELTERAn enclosed structure built to contain wireless transmission/reception equipment and related equipment supporting the operation of a wireless communications facility. An equipment shelter is sufficiently large for an individual to enter and be sheltered from the weather while working on the equipment.
B. 
EQUIPMENT CABINETAn enclosure that contains wireless transmission/reception and related equipment supporting the operation of a wireless communications facility from the exterior of which an individual would perform maintenance or repair.
MOUNT
A. 
The structure or surface upon which antennas are mounted and are defined as follows:
(1) 
Side-mount: A structure attached to the side or other non-roof portion of a building to which antennas are mounted.
(2) 
Roof-mount: A structure attached to a building roof to which antennas are mounted.
(3) 
Structure-mount: A structure, frame, bracket, or the like to which antennas are attached and which is attached to an existing structure other than a building, such as a water tank, electrical transmission tower or silo.
(4) 
Ground-mount: A structure anchored into the ground to which antennas are mounted. Ground-mounts include purpose-built structures such as poles, bases, posts, monopoles, and towers.
B. 
In the absence of a separate structural component to hold an antenna, the antenna shall be considered to be its own ground-, roof-, side- or structure-mount. When considering the dimensions of the mount, the dimensions of the attached antennas and related fixtures shall be included.
TIER
The arrangement of preferred mounting applications for wireless communications facilities. A Tier I mount is most preferred; a Tier IV is least preferred. Tier I is defined as a side-mount, Tier II is defined as a roof-mount, Tier III is defined as a structure-mount, and Tier IV is defined as a ground-mount.
A. 
Applicants seeking approval for the construction of a new ground-mount shall demonstrate that they have investigated configurations lower in numerical rank in the following tier ranking than the one for which they are applying and make a showing that demonstrates that the alternatives are singly or in aggregate insufficient to provide the necessary coverage, are more visible, are not available or feasible for aesthetic or have/has more of a detrimental impact on surrounding neighborhoods and the general community than use of the proposed location. In considering alternatives, the SPGA need not assess only single-site options. It may assess the combination of two or more locations to satisfy the needs of the applicant in an area.
Residential Communications Overlay District
Commercial Communications Overlay District
Tier I Side-Mount
SPR (see Note 1)
SPR
Tier II Roof-Mount
SPR (see Note 1)
SPR
Tier III Structure-Mount
SPR
SPR
Tier IV Ground-Mount
SPB (see Note 2)
SPB
NOTES:
Note 1: Side- or roof-mounts within the Residential Communications Overlay District shall utilize either concealment or camouflage techniques.
Note 2: All new ground-mounts within the Residential Communications Overlay District shall be either: a) camouflaged and set back a minimum of 200 feet from any existing single-, two- or three-family residential structure not on the subject parcel; or b) designed utilizing conventional exposed structural and mounting components and set back a minimum of 550 feet from any existing single-, two- or three-family residential structure not on the subject parcel.
B. 
New ground-mount facilities shall only be considered after a finding by the SPGA that one or more existing buildings, structures or ground-mount facilities cannot provide equivalent service for the service provider(s) than that of the proposed facility.
C. 
Collocation of new antennas on existing ground-mount facilities shall be allowed through the site plan review process, provided that the height of the ground-mount is not increased and the proposed equipment shelter/cabinet complies with the provisions of this article. A collocation that results in an increase in the height of the ground-mount shall require the issuance of a special permit.
The following guidelines shall be used when preparing plans for the siting and construction of all wireless communications facilities:
A. 
Side- and roof-mounts, including antennas, and roof-mounted equipment shelters shall not project more than 20 feet above the roof in the vicinity of their point of attachment. Side-mounts shall not extend more than two feet horizontally from the mounting surface to which they are attached, unless camouflaged within a purpose-built decoy that integrates with the architecture of the building, in which case the dimension shall be established by the permit granting authority in the context of the case. Roof-mounts shall not project past the plane of the wall or other vertical surfaces that form a perimeter around the area of the mount. Side- and roof-mounts may locate on a building that is legally nonconforming with respect to height, provided that the mounts, with antennas, do not project above the existing building height, unless camouflaged, in which case the mount or antennas may exceed the nonconforming building height by up to 20 feet without the need for a variance or a finding under the provisions of § 300-4.2A of this ordinance, provided that the mount and antenna are compatible with the existing structure and surrounding neighborhood.
B. 
Structure-mounts, including those to be installed on existing structures that are legally nonconforming with respect to height, may extend up to 20 feet in height above the height of the existing structure by the installation of antennas and mounts without the need for a variance or a finding under the provisions of § 300-4.2A of this ordinance, provided that the extension is compatible with the structure and the surrounding neighborhood.
C. 
All ground-mount facilities shall be designed to be constructed at the minimum height necessary to achieve an RF signal strength in compliance with the communication provider's respective FCC license, or if no RF signal strength is set forth in the license, then the RF signal strength stated in FCC Form 601 or its replacement form on file with the FCC. In no case shall the height of a ground-mount facility exceed 190 feet as measured from the original ground level at the base of the mount. The SPGA shall make a finding regarding the minimum height necessary to comply with this provision. In order to facilitate collocation, the SPGA may require that a new ground-mount be constructed in a manner structurally sufficient to accommodate an increase in its height. The setback of a ground-mount from the property line of the lot on which it is located shall be at least equal to 25% of the height of the mount.
D. 
The permitting and construction of a ground-mount for speculation purposes is prohibited. All special permit and building permit applications for the construction of a ground-mount shall include an FCC-licensed provider of wireless service as an applicant or co-applicant for the site. The licensed FCC provider shall file with its application a copy of its license and its current FCC Form 601, or its replacement form.
E. 
Residential communication links shall be located in the side or rear yard or attached to the principal structure unless approved by the Planning Board through the site plan review process. All ground-mount residential communication links shall be screened from view from abutting streets or properties through the use of vegetative buffers. Building-mounted residential communication links shall not exceed six feet in height above the roofline of the structure, nor shall any building-mounted satellite reception dish be greater than three feet in diameter.
F. 
In accordance with MGL c. 40A, § 3 and 47 CFR 97.15, the height of antennas associated with federally licensed amateur radio operators shall not exceed the minimum height necessary to allow for reasonable communications.
The following standards shall be incorporated into the design of a proposed wireless communications facility in order to mitigate the visual impact of the proposed facility:
A. 
When a wireless facility's antennas and mount extend above the height of a building or structure on which they are mounted, every reasonable effort shall be made to conceal them within or behind existing or custom-made architectural features to limit visibility from public ways and abutting property. Absent effective concealment alternatives, antennas, cables, and mounts should be placed to minimize their visibility and their impact on the building's or structure's silhouette. The use of coloration, purpose-built decoys and other methods of camouflaging the antennas shall be applied as suited to the circumstances.
B. 
Wireless communications facilities that are side-mounted on buildings shall be designed to be in harmony with the existing structure. Absent effective concealment alternatives, antennas, cables, and mounts should be painted or constructed of materials to match the color of the building material directly behind them in order to minimize their visibility and their obtrusiveness in the context of their installation.
C. 
If a wireless communications facility is not suitably screened from public view by existing buildings, structures or vegetation, the permit granting authority may require the installation of additional screening that may include a combination of fencing and deciduous and evergreen landscaping. The permit granting authority shall determine the types of trees and plant materials and depth of the needed buffer based on site conditions. All landscaping and screening shall be maintained. Trees or shrubs which die shall be replaced.
D. 
Where a wireless facility cannot be sufficiently screened from view as provided above, the permit granting authority may require that such facility must be designed to blend or be compatible with the natural and built features of the surroundings. Antenna mount designs may include, but are not limited to, flagpole, lookout tower, or faux tree designs. Other portions of wireless facilities, such as equipment cabinets, shelters, cables and utility connections, may require different degrees and types of mitigation than the associated mount, including but not limited to installation inside existing structures, installations of site-compatible structures with surrounding neighborhood structures.
E. 
To the extent that any wireless facility extends above the height of the structures and vegetation immediately surrounding it, the permit granting authority may require that it be colored in a manner that best blends with the visual background from the most critical points of view, unless the camouflage or concealment method requires different coloration (such as a white flagpole).
F. 
There shall be no signs, except for those necessary to control access, assure safety, provide emergency contact information or otherwise required by law. No sign shall be greater than eight square feet in size and six feet in elevation.
G. 
Night lighting of wireless communications facilities shall be prohibited unless said lighting prohibition results in a prohibition of service under the Telecommunications Act.
H. 
If required by the Planning Board, there shall be a minimum of one parking space for each wireless communications facility to be used in connection with the maintenance of the site, and it shall not be used for the permanent storage of vehicles or other equipment.
I. 
To the greatest extent possible, if applicable, as it relates to small wireless facility installations, applicants shall refer to the Small Wireless Facility Design Rules and Regulations Policy, which covers the general requirements and aesthetics for the design and installation of small wireless facilities and similar technology in the Town of West Springfield.
[Added 6-21-2022]
A. 
General.
(1) 
Prior to the submission of an application under the provisions of this section, the applicant is strongly encouraged to meet with the Planning Board at a public meeting to discuss the proposed wireless communications facility in general terms and to clarify the filing and permitting requirements.
(2) 
Applications for wireless communications facilities that are subject to the site plan review process shall include the documents required in § 300-13.4 of this ordinance, and, in addition, photo simulations of the proposed facility that detail location, color and visibility from abutting properties and streets.
(3) 
In addition to the application criteria outlined in the special permit section of this ordinance and the related rules and regulations as adopted by the Planning Board, the following information shall be included with a special permit application for a ground-mount wireless communications facility:
B. 
Location requirements:
(1) 
A map indicating the location and ownership of existing wireless communications facilities in the Town and outside the Town within a one-mile radius of the proposed site.
(2) 
Tree cover on the subject property and adjacent properties within 300 feet, by dominant species and average height, as measured by or available from a verifiable source.
(3) 
Proposed location and elevations of antenna, mount and equipment shelter(s).
(4) 
Proposed security barrier, if any, indicating type and extent as well as point of controlled entry.
(5) 
Representations, dimensioned and to scale, of the proposed mount, antennas, equipment shelters, cable runs and parking areas.
(6) 
Lines representing the sight line showing viewpoint (point from which view is taken) and visible point (point being viewed) detailed as follows:
(a) 
A sight line representation shall be drawn from any public road within 300 feet and the closest facade of each residential building (viewpoint) within 300 feet to the highest point (visible point) of the wireless facility. Each sight line shall be depicted in profile, drawn at one inch equals 40 feet. The profiles shall show all intervening trees and buildings. In the event there is only one residential building within 300 feet, there shall be at least two sight lines from the closest habitable structures or public roads, if any.
(b) 
Existing ("before") condition photographs. Each sight line shall be illustrated by one four-inch by six-inch or larger color photograph of what can currently be seen from any public road within 300 feet of the site.
(c) 
Proposed ("after") condition photographs. Each of the existing condition photographs shall have the proposed wireless facility superimposed on it to show what will be seen from public roads if the proposed facility is built.
(d) 
A visibility map prepared by a qualified professional indicating areas in West Springfield from which all or portions of the facility will be visible, with separate indications of locations where visibility of the facility through defoliated vegetation will be possible. The map may be created after the application is filed, in conjunction with a crane or balloon test.
(7) 
Siting elevations, or views at-grade from the north, south, east and west for a one-hundred-foot radius around the proposed wireless communications facility plus from all existing public and private roads that abut the subject property. Elevations shall be at either one-quarter inch equals one foot or one-eighth inch equals one foot scale and show the following:
(a) 
Antennas, mounts and equipment shelter(s), with elevation dimensions of each.
(b) 
Existing trees and shrubs at current height and proposed trees and shrubs at proposed height at time of installation, with approximate elevations dimensioned.
C. 
Design requirements:
(1) 
If requested by the permit granting authority, equipment brochures such as manufacturer's specifications or trade journal reprints for the proposed wireless facility shall be provided for the antennas, mounts, equipment shelters, cables as well as cable runs, and security barrier, if any.
(2) 
A description of the materials of the proposed wireless 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) 
If requested by the permit granting authority, colors of the proposed wireless 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 personal wireless communications 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) 
Appearance shown by at least two photographic superimpositions of the wireless communications facility within the subject property. The photographic superimpositions shall be provided for the antennas, mounts, equipment shelters, cables as well as cable runs for the total height, width and breadth. Additional photographs with superimpositions depicting the visibility of the proposed facility from any sites selected by the SPGA shall be submitted by the applicant during the hearing process as directed by the SPGA.
(6) 
Landscape plan including existing trees and shrubs and those proposed to be added, identified by size of specimen at installation and species.
(7) 
Within 21 days of filing an application for a ground-mount facility, the applicant shall conduct a balloon or crane test at the proposed site to illustrate the height of the proposed facility. This requirement may be waived by the SPGA where the SPGA deems it to be inappropriate. The date, time and location of such test shall be advertised in the West Springfield Record a minimum of five days prior to the test. Notice of said test shall also be sent to all parties in interest as defined by MGL c. 40A, § 11.
(8) 
If lighting of the site is proposed, the applicant shall submit a lighting plan indicating foot-candle levels at grade, within the property to be developed and 25 feet beyond the property lines. The printout shall indicate the locations and types of luminaires proposed.
D. 
The permit granting authority may waive any filing requirement it deems to be unnecessary to the review of the particular application.
E. 
In order to properly review and evaluate an application submitted to the Planning Board under the provisions of this section of the Zoning Ordinance, at the expense of the applicant, the Planning Board may hire or contract with the services of engineers or other persons with required technical expertise. Such hiring shall be done in consultation with the applicant and for reasonable fees.
A. 
Reconstruction of a preexisting nonconforming communications facility within the Commercial Communications Overlay District shall be allowed through the site plan review process, provided that the reconstruction does not result in either an increase in height of the facility or a material change in the character of the facility by way of its bulk, color or design.
B. 
Reconstruction of a preexisting nonconforming communications facility within the Residential Communications Overlay District shall be allowed by special permit issued by the Planning Board, provided that the reconstruction does not result in either an increase in height of the facility or a material change in the character of the facility by way of its bulk, color, design or area of coverage.
A. 
Upon request by the Building Commissioner, antennas and mounts associated with the wireless communications facilities shall be removed by the wireless facility operator within six months of cessation of use.
B. 
Upon request by the Building Commissioner, the owner of a wireless communications facility shall file a written statement that the operation of an existing facility complies with, or is exempt from, applicable regulations administered by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), Massachusetts Aeronautics Commission and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health. The owner may also periodically be required by the Building Commissioner to demonstrate compliance with applicable structural standards.
C. 
Prior to the issuance of a building permit for the construction of a ground-mount facility, the SPGA shall require an applicant to maintain during the existence of the facility a bond sufficient in the opinion of the SPGA to pay for the costs for the removal of a ground-mount facility in the event the Town must remove the facility after cessation of use.