The purpose of these regulations is to promote
the health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the village
to provide standards for the safe provision of telecommunications
consistent with the applicable federal and state regulations, and
to protect the natural features and aesthetic character of the village
with special attention to open space, vistas and wooded areas.
As used in this chapter, the following terms
shall have the meanings indicated:
ACCESSORY FACILITY OR STRUCTURE
Any accessory facility or structure serving or being used
in conjunction with a communications tower, including but not limited
to utility or transmission equipment storage sheds or cabinets.
ANTENNA
A system of electrical conductors that transmit or receive
radio frequency waves. Such waves shall include, but not be limited
to, radio, television, cellular, paging, personal communications services
and microwave communications.
COMMUNICATIONS TOWER
Any structure used, intended or designed to support antennas.
It includes, without limit, freestanding towers, monopoles, guyed
towers, water towers and similar structures that employ camouflage
technology. A communications tower is any structure intended for transmitting
and/or receiving radio, television, telephone or microwave communications,
or other similar communications.
EAF
Environmental assessment form.
EAP
The Environmental Protection Agency.
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration.
FCC
The Federal Communications Commission.
NIER
Nonionizing electromagnetic radiation.
SATELLITE ANTENNA
Any parabolic dish, antenna or other device or equipment
of whatever nature or kind, the primary purpose of which is to receive
television, radio, light, microwave or other electronic signals, waves
and/or communications from space satellites.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The transmission and reception of audio, video, data and
other information by wire, radio, light and other electromagnetic
systems.
Communications towers shall not be artificially
lighted or marked except to assure human safety as required by the
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Communications towers shall
be a galvanized finish or painted an appropriate color to harmonize
with the surroundings as approved by the Board and maintained in accordance
herewith. Communications towers should be designed and sited so as
to avoid application of FAA lighting and painting requirements.
Telecommunications towers shall be permitted
one sign no larger than two square feet to provide adequate notification
to persons in the immediate area of the presence of an antenna that
has transmit capabilities. The sign shall also contain the name(s)
of the owner(s) and operator(s) of the antenna(s) as well as emergency
phone number(s). The sign shall be located so as to be visible from
access point to site. No other signage shall be permitted on any antenna(s),
antenna(s) supporting structure, monopole, or communications tower/structure
unless required by federal or state regulation.
Communications towers and antenna(s) shall be
located, fenced or otherwise secured in a manner which prevents unauthorized
access by the general public. Specifically:
A. All antenna communications towers, antenna towers,
monopoles and other supporting structures, including guy wires, shall
be made inaccessible to children and constructed or shielded in such
a manner that they cannot be climbed or run into.
B. Transmitters and communications control points shall
be installed such that they are accessible only to persons authorized
by the licensee to operate or service them.
C. Transmitters and communications control points shall
be designed and installed such that any adjustments or controls that
could cause the transmitter or communications device to deviate from
its authorized operating parameters are accessible only to persons
authorized by the licensee to make such adjustments.
D. Transmitters and communications control points shall
be designed such that in the event that an unauthorized person does
gain access, that person can not cause the transmitter or communications
device to deviate from its authorized operating parameters in such
a way as to cause interference to other authorized communications
services.
An area on telecommunications towers shall be
provided to the village and/or area fire districts, without charge,
for location of emergency service communications equipment and shall
be installed by the applicant without charge to the village or area
fire districts. If the tower is replaced or maintenance activities
require the equipment to be moved, removed or modified, the applicant
shall make these adjustments without cost to the village or area fire
district.
All proposed telecommunications towers and accessory
structures shall be located on a single parcel and shall be set back
from parcel lot lines and street lines a distance sufficient to substantially
contain on site all ice-fall or debris from a communications tower
failure and preserve the privacy of any adjoining properties together
with the following items:
A. Lot size of parcels proposed as a communications tower
site shall be determined by the amount of land required to meet the
setback requirements listed above. If the land for a proposed communications
tower is to be leased, the entire area for such construction required
shall be leased from a single parcel unless the Board determines that
this provision may be waived; and
B. Telecommunications towers and accessory facilities
or structure (yard area requirements) shall comply with all existing
setback requirements of the underlying zoning district or shall be
equal to 1/2 of the height of the proposed communications tower, whichever
is greater. Accessory facilities or structures shall comply with the
minimum setback requirements in the underlying zoning district.
The following are exempt from the provisions
of this chapter:
A. The repair and maintenance of permitted communications
towers and antennas.
B. Conventional television and radio antennas when used
exclusively for and are attached to an existing single/duplex dwelling
and is less than the height measurement allowed for in the zoning
district in which the antenna is proposed.
C. Home and business satellite/dish antennas when used
exclusively for the home or business and is attached to the existing
building or structure and is less than the height measurement allowed
for in the zoning district in which the satellite/dish antenna is
proposed.
D. Lawful or approved uses existing prior to the effective
date of this chapter.