For the purpose of this division, the following definitions shall apply, unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning:
Alternative mounting structure.
A manmade tree, clock tower, church steeple, bell tower, utility pole, light standard, identification pylon, flagpole, or similar structure, designed to support and camouflage or conceal the presence of telecommunications antennas.
Antenna.
A structure or device used to collect or radiate electromagnetic waves, including directional antennas, such as panels, wireless cable and dishes, and omnidirectional antennas, such as whips, but not including satellite earth stations.
Antenna array.
An arrangement of antennas and their supporting structure.
Antenna, dish.
A parabolic or bowl-shaped device that receives and/or transmits signals in a specific directional pattern.
Antenna, panel.
An antenna which receives and/or transmits signals in a directional pattern.
Antenna, whip.
An omnidirectional dipole antenna of cylindrical shape that is no more than six inches (15 cm) in diameter.
Co-location.
A single telecommunications tower designed and built to accommodate a minimum of two wireless communication providers.
Structure.
An object, including a mobile object, constructed or installed by man, including, but not limited to, buildings, poles, water towers, cranes, smokestacks, earth formations and overhead transmission lines.
Telecommunications.
The transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of audio and/or visual information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
Tower, guyed.
Any telecommunications tower supported in whole or in part by cables anchored to the ground.
Tower, height.
The distance measured from grade to the highest point of any and all components of the structure, including antennas, hazard lighting, and other appurtenances, if any.
Tower, monopole.
A self-supporting telecommunications tower which consists of a single vertical pole fixed into the ground and/or attached to a foundation.
Tower, self-supporting lattice.
A telecommunications tower which consists of an open network of metal braces forming a tower which is usually triangular or square in cross-section.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.110)
It shall be unlawful for any person to violate any provision of this division, and any person violating or failing to comply with any provision hereof shall be fined, upon conviction, in accordance with town codes, and a separate offense shall be deemed committed each day during or on which a violation occurs or continues.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.117)
(a) 
Wireless service facility permits.
All wireless service facility permits for a telecommunications tower, antenna, or other facility to provide a telecommunications service shall include a completed supplemental information form provided by the town regarding said facilities.
(b) 
Platted lot required.
Unless an exception is recommended by the planning and zoning commission and approved by the town council, telecommunications facilities, including towers and related equipment buildings, shall be located on a platted lot.
(c) 
Technical and legal assistance.
When, in the town’s opinion, the technical and legal issues are beyond the capacity of the town staff to review, the applicant, in addition to the usual application fee, shall reimburse the town for actual cost to the town for the reasonable services of legal and technical experts to review the application, design plans, and general information and advise the town before approval of application.
(d) 
Preapplication meetings.
Prior to leasing or purchasing facilities, the telecommunications service provider is encouraged to meet with the town manager and review the merits of potential locations.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.111)
(a) 
Compliance with applicable standards.
All telecommunications towers, antennas, and facilities shall be constructed and operated in compliance with current Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and any other relevant federal, state or local rules and regulations. If said rules and regulations change, then the owners/operators of the towers and antennas shall bring towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations within six months of the effective date of such standards and regulations.
(b) 
Structural standards.
Guyed telecommunications towers shall be designed and located such that if the structure should fall it will avoid habitable structures and public streets. The owner/operator shall ensure that the tower is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable local building codes and the applicable standards for towers that are published by the Electronic Industries Association (EIA), as amended from time to time. If, upon inspection, the tower fails to comply with such codes and standards and constitutes a danger to persons and property, then, upon notice being provided to the owner/operator of the tower, the owner/operator shall have 30 days to bring to such tower into compliance with such codes and standards. If the owner fails to bring such tower into compliance within the 30 days, the town may remove such tower or cause such tower to be removed at the owner’s expense.
(c) 
Aesthetics.
Towers shall either maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the FAA, be painted a neutral color, so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness. At the buildable site, the design of the buildings and related structures shall use materials, colors, textures, screening, and landscaping that will blend the tower facilities to the natural setting and the surrounding environment. If an antenna is installed on a structure other than a tower, the antenna and supporting electrical and mechanical equipment must be of neutral color that is identical. Those persons erecting or building wireless service facilities are encouraged to use camouflaging and other covering techniques to reduce visual obtrusiveness.
(d) 
Fencing and landscaping.
Wrought iron fencing should be six feet in height, and landscaping eight feet, and both must encompass the wireless service facility. The landscaping must effectively screen the view of the wireless service facility from residential and commercial property. The standard buffer zone shall consist of a landscaped strip five feet wide outside the perimeter of the fence. A wrought iron gate must include a mesh cover. In addition, the gate location will be determined by the council.
(e) 
Setbacks.
All guys and anchors shall be located within the buildable area of the lot. Towers/antennas must be set back a distance of 2-to-1 ratio to height from residential property, roads and rail lines. (Example: If the tower height is 100 feet then the required setback will be 200 feet.)
(f) 
Signage.
Except for warning, safety, and signs required by the FCC, no signage, lettering, symbols, images or trademarks will be placed on or affixed to the fence or equipment building grounds. No signage, lettering, symbols, images, or trademarks for any reason will be placed on or affixed to towers/antennas.
(g) 
Lighting.
Except as otherwise permitted in this division, no signals, lights or illumination of any kind shall be permitted on or directed toward any tower unless required by the FCC, the FAA or other appropriate public authority. If lighting is required, planning and zoning and the town council shall review the available lighting alternatives and approve the design that would cause the least disturbance to the surrounding views.
(h) 
Abandonment.
Any antenna or tower (wireless communication facility) that is not operated for a continuous period of six months shall be considered abandoned. Determination of the date of abandonment shall be made by the building inspector, who shall have the right to request documentation from the owner/operator regarding the issue of usage. Upon the determination of abandonment, the owner/operator of the antenna or tower shall remove the tower/antenna/structure within 90 days of receipt of written notice from the building inspector notifying the owner/operator of such abandonment. If such antenna or tower is not removed within the 90 days, the council may remove such antenna or tower at the owner’s/operator’s expense. If there are two or more users of a single tower, then this provision shall not become effective until all users cease using the tower/antenna. Before a permit is issued, the applicant shall secure and deliver to the town a cash deposit or performance bond with a AA rated (or better) bonding or surety company for an amount reasonably determined by the town to cover the cost of dismantling and removing an abandoned tower and restoring the immediate area to its original condition existing prior to construction. Such cash deposit or bond shall be in an amount and form as may be reasonably determined by the town.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.112)
(a) 
Application.
Complete applications for permit shall be accompanied by the following information and fee:
(1) 
Construction drawings showing the proposed method of installation.
(2) 
The manufacturer’s recommended installation.
(3) 
Each wireless communication facility must provide a $1,000,000 general liability insurance certificate, to be issued by a company authorized to do business in the state.
(4) 
Certification by a structural or civil engineer registered by the state that the proposed installation complies with the structural requirements of the building code in effect.
(5) 
Each applicant shall submit a scaled site plan showing the location of the tower/antenna structure with a scaled elevation view and other supporting drawings, calculations, and other documentation, signed and sealed by appropriate professional engineers, showing the location and dimensions of all improvements, including information concerning topography, radio frequency coverage, tower height requirements, property and setback lines, drives, parking fences, landscaping, easements, power lines, adjacent uses, all structures, and other information necessary to assess compliance with this division.
(6) 
Plat upon which the site is built.
(7) 
Any other information required by the town staff, attorney, or engineer.
(8) 
Refer to the town’s master fee schedule in appendix A of this code for all associated fees. An application for permit is not considered complete and no action will be taken on said permit application until the staff has had the opportunity to review the application for completeness and the staff has responded to the applicant that the application is complete.
(b) 
Once the application for permit is complete and all appropriate fees paid, the application will be reviewed by the staff, attorney, and engineer.
(c) 
Once the technical review is complete, its consideration may be placed on the next regular agenda of the planning and zoning commission for approval or disapproval. A recommendation from planning and zoning will be forwarded to town council.
(d) 
Once approved by planning and zoning, its consideration shall be placed on the next regular agenda of the town council. Factors the town council and planning and zoning shall consider in approving an application are:
(1) 
Has the application met all technical review regulations and standards.
(2) 
Height of the proposed tower.
(3) 
Proximity of the tower to residential structures and residential boundaries.
(4) 
Nature of uses on adjacent and residential boundaries.
(5) 
Surrounding topography.
(6) 
Surrounding tree coverage and foliage.
(7) 
Design of the tower, with particular reference to design characteristics that have the effect of reducing or eliminating visual obtrusiveness.
(8) 
Proposed ingress and egress.
(9) 
Other requirements established under site plan review.
(10) 
Availability of suitable existing towers or other structures. No new tower shall be permitted unless the applicant demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the planning and zoning commission and town council that no existing tower or structure can accommodate the applicant’s proposed antenna. Evidence submitted to demonstrate that no existing tower or structure can accommodate that applicant’s proposed antenna may consist of the following:
(A) 
No existing towers or structures are located within the geographic area required to meet the applicant’s engineering requirements.
(B) 
Existing towers or structures do not have sufficient structural strength to support the applicant’s proposed antenna and related equipment.
(C) 
The applicant’s proposed antenna would cause electromagnetic interference with the antennas on the existing towers or structures, or the antenna on the existing towers or structures would cause interference with the applicant’s proposed antenna.
(D) 
The applicant demonstrates that there are other factors that render existing towers and structures unsuitable.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.113; Ordinance adopting Code)
(a) 
Location in residential district prohibited; setbacks.
Telecommunications towers and antennas are not permitted in any residential zoning district and must be a minimum 2-to-1 distance-to-height ratio from a residential district, roads and rail lines.
(b) 
Tower spacing.
Any new telecommunications tower must be located a minimum of one mile (1.6 km) from an existing tower.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.114)
(a) 
Individual telecommunications antennas are allowed on existing electric utility poles, light standards, and telecommunications towers. Individual whip antennas shall not exceed ten feet in length, except whip antennas 15 feet or less in height are permitted on conforming billboard structures.
(b) 
Panel antennas may be attached to but shall not exceed the height of the structure to which they are attached.
(c) 
Building-mounted panel antennas are permitted on nonresidential buildings in the commercial district, providing that they are mounted flush with the exterior of the building and that they do not project away from the building wall more than ten inches from the surface of the building to which they are attached. Radio-transparent coverings shall be placed in such a manner as to hide all building-mounted panel antennas. The covering’s appearance shall be such that its color and texture blend with the surrounding surface of the building.
(d) 
Whip antennas are permitted on nonresidential buildings in the area of commercial zoning, providing that the total length of the whip antennas, regardless of mounting method or location, does not exceed ten feet in height above the height of the building.
(e) 
Only one building/roof-mounted antenna or four panel antennas are permitted per 5000 square feet of building floor area. This regulation does not apply to town property.
(f) 
Whip and panel antennas are not permitted in any residential zoning district. This regulation does not apply to town property.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.115)
The town will provide a three-month approval process and waive half the permit fee associated with approving a telecommunication application when alternative mounting structures that camouflage or conceal the presence of telecommunications antennas, towers, and facilities ensure that landscapes are protected and the views of surrounding structures are not impaired or diminished. Alternative mounting structures must be similar in color, scale and character to adjoining buildings or structures or blend with the landscaping and other surroundings immediately adjacent to them so as to generally avoid the creation of unique visual objects that stand out in the environment. (Alternative mounting structure: a manmade tree, clock tower, church steeple, bell tower, utility pole, light standard, flagpole or similar structure.)
(1) 
Co-location.
Towers/antennas support structures must be constructed to support a minimum of two cellular or PCS providers. The owner of the tower must certify to the town that the tower is available for use by other telecommunications service providers on a reasonable and nondiscriminatory basis.
(2) 
Wooded creek location (commercial district).
The town encourages location of towers and structures in existing tree growth and natural land along the creek in the commercial district. Certain requirements may be reduced by the council in some cases.
(3) 
Town property.
When town property is used as a location for the wireless communication facility and a lease agreement is approved.
(1998 Code, sec. 155.116)