This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Wireless Telecommunications
Facilities Siting Law for the Incorporated Village of Sagaponack."
For purposes of this chapter, and where not inconsistent with the context
of a particular section, the defined terms, phrases, words, abbreviations
and their derivations shall have the meaning given in this section. When not
inconsistent with the context, words in the present tense include the future
tense, words used in the plural number include words in the singular number,
and words in the singular number include the plural number. The word "shall"
is always mandatory and not merely directory.
ACCESSORY STRUCTURE
An accessory building, facility, or structure serving or being used
in conjunction with a wireless telecommunications facility and located on
the same property or lot as the wireless telecommunications facility, including
but not limited to utility or transmission equipment storage sheds or cabinets
and/or base stations designed and used to shelter equipment and/or to support
personal wireless services. The term "accessory structure" does not include
offices, long-term storage of vehicles or other equipment storage, or broadcast
studios.
ANTENNA
A device used to propagate and/or collect electromagnetic waves or
radio frequency signals.
ANTENNA ATTACHMENTS
All poles or devices that attach an antenna to a telecommunications
structure, including all connection cables.
APPLICANT
Any person submitting an application to the Village for a special
use permit for wireless telecommunications facilities.
APPLICATION
The process by which an applicant submits a request to the Village
Board for a special use permit for a wireless telecommunications facility.
The application shall include all necessary, appropriate, and written documentation,
verbal statements, and representations, in whatever form or forum, submitted
or made by an applicant to the Village Board concerning such request.
CAMOUFLAGING
The construction of facilities to house or support a wireless telecommunications
facility so that the towers and/or antennas blend readily with the landscape,
neighborhood, and adjacent architectural features.
COLLOCATION
The use of the same telecommunications structure to carry two or
more antennas for the provision of wireless services by two or more persons
or entities.
COMPATIBLE DESIGN
A tower design intended to enhance compatibility with nearby uses
and property.
COMPLETED APPLICATION
An application that contains all information and/or data necessary
to enable the Village Board to evaluate the merits of the application and
to make an informed decision with respect to the effect and impact of the
wireless telecommunications facility on the Village in the context of the
permitted land use for the particular location requested.
EAF
The environmental assessment form approved by the New York State
Department of Environmental Conservation.
ENGINEER
Any person licensed by the State of New York to practice engineering
services.
FAA
The Federal Aviation Administration or its duly designated and authorized
successor agency.
FCC
The Federal Communications Commission or its duly designated and
authorized successor agency.
FREESTANDING TOWER
A self-supporting monopole structure specifically designed for the
purpose of supporting and enclosing antennas used in connection with a wireless
telecommunications facility.
HEIGHT
When referring to a freestanding tower, the distance measured from
the preexisting grade level to the highest point on the tower or structure,
even if said highest point is an antenna.
HISTORIC PLACE
Any property included in the New York State Register of Historic
Places or the National Register of Historic Places.
NIER
Nonionizing electromagnetic radiation.
OWNER
Any person with fee title or a long-term (exceeding 10 years) leasehold
to any parcel of land within the Village who desires to develop or construct,
build, modify or erect a tower upon such parcel of land.
PERSON
Any natural person, firm, partnership, association, corporation,
company or other legal entity, private or public, whether for profit or not
for profit.
PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICES
Commercial mobile services, unlicensed wireless services, and common
carrier wireless exchange access services as defined by 47 U.S.C. § 332.
SITE
The property, including all buildings and structures located thereon,
on which a wireless telecommunications facility is, or is proposed to be,
located.
SPECIAL USE PERMIT
The official document or permit by which an applicant is allowed
to construct and use a wireless telecommunications facility as granted or
issued by the Village Board.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
The transmission and reception of audio, video, data and other information
by wire, radio frequency, light and other electronic or electromagnetic systems.
TELECOMMUNICATION STRUCTURE
Any structure used in associated with or necessary for the provision
of wireless services as described in the definition of "wireless telecommunications
facility."
TEMPORARY
In relation to all aspects and components of this chapter, fewer
than 90 days.
TOWER
Freestanding tower.
VILLAGE BOARD
The duly elected Village Board of Trustees of the Village of Sagaponack.
WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY (or any functionally equivalent
service or technology that may be developed in the future)
A structure, facility or location designed or intended to be used
to transmit and/or receive radio, television, cellular, paging, 911 data,
or personal telecommunications services, commercial satellite services, or
microwave telecommunications signals. Not included are services used exclusively
for fire, police and other dispatch telecommunications or exclusively for
private radio and television reception and private citizen band, amateur radios
and other similar telecommunications. A wireless telecommunications facility
shall include, without limit, accessory structures and related equipment,
antennas applied to the facade of a building or roof-mounted antennas, antenna
attachments, freestanding towers, monopoles and similar structures, and all
other accessory structures and related equipment.
All wireless telecommunications facilities and antennas shall be located,
fenced or otherwise secured in a manner which prevents unauthorized access.
Specifically:
A. All antennas, towers and accessory structures shall be
made inaccessible to individuals and constructed or shielded in such a manner
that they cannot be climbed or run into.
B. Transmitters and telecommunications control shall be
installed such that they are readily accessible only to persons authorized
to operate or service them.
Wireless telecommunications facilities shall contain a sign no larger
than four square feet to provide adequate notification to persons in the immediate
area of the presence of an antenna that has transmission capabilities. The
sign shall contain the name(s) of the owner(s) and operator(s) of the antenna(s)
as well as emergency telephone number(s). The sign shall be located so as
to be visible from the access point of the site. No other signage, including
advertising, shall be permitted on any wireless telecommunications facilities,
antennas, or antenna towers, unless required by law. Signs, including their
location, shall be approved by the Village Board.
Antennas, antenna attachments, towers and accessory structures shall
be designed by use of camouflaging and compatible design to facilitate their
blending into the surrounding environment through the use of color and camouflaging
architectural treatment, except in instances where the color is indicated
by federal or state authorities such as the FAA. Every antenna, antenna attachment,
tower and accessory structure shall be of neutral colors that are harmonious
with, and that blend with, the natural features, buildings and structures
surrounding such towers, antenna, antenna attachments and structures; provided,
however, that directional or panel antennas and omnidirectional or whip antennas
located on an existing structure shall be of colors that match, and cause
the antenna to blend with, the exterior of the building. Accessory structures
will be designed to be architecturally compatible with principal structures
on the site.
All landscaping and buffer areas on a parcel of land containing towers
or wireless telecommunications facilities shall be in accordance with the
applicable landscaping and buffer requirements in the zoning district where
the tower or wireless telecommunications facilities are located. The Village
Board may require landscaping or buffer areas in excess of the requirements
in the Village Code in order to enhance compatibility with adjacent land uses.
Landscaping shall be installed on the outside of any fencing. Existing on-site
vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable. The base
of the tower and any accessory structures shall be landscaped.
Any antennas which are not attached to a tower may be permitted on any
existing structure, except an historic place. The owner of such a structure
shall, by written certification to the Village Board, establish the following
at the time plans are submitted for a special use permit:
A. The antenna shall not exceed a height of more than 15
feet from the highest point of the roof of the existing structure.
B. Any antenna and antenna attachments located above the
primary roof of the structure shall be set back one foot from the edge of
the primary roof for each one foot in height above the primary roof of the
antenna. This setback requirement shall not apply to antennas and their antenna
attachments located above the primary roof of the structure if such antennas
are appropriately screened from view through the use of panels, walls, fences,
or other screening techniques approved by the Village Board. Subject to approval
by the Village Board, setback requirements shall not apply to compatible design
antennas which are mounted to the exterior of an existing structure below
the primary roof but which do not protrude more than 18 inches from the side
of such structure.
The extent and parameters of a special use permit for a wireless telecommunications
facility shall be as follows:
A. Such special use permit shall be nonexclusive.
B. Such special use permit shall not be assigned, transferred
or conveyed without the express prior written consent of the Village Board,
and such consent shall not be unreasonably withheld.
C. Such special use permit may, following a hearing upon
due prior notice to the applicant, be revoked, canceled, or terminated for
a violation of the conditions and provisions of the special use permit for
the wireless telecommunications facility, or for a material violation of this
chapter, after prior written notice to the applicant and the holder of the
special use permit.
D. A holder of a special use permit granted under this chapter
shall obtain, at its own expense, all permits and licenses required by applicable
law, rule or regulation and must maintain the same, in full force and effect,
for as long as required by the Village or other governmental entity or agency
having jurisdiction over the applicant.
E. Applicants shall submit information on the proposed power
density of their proposed wireless telecommunications facility and demonstrate
how this meets FCC standards. Applicants shall submit evidence of compliance
with FCC standards on a yearly basis to the Village. If new, more restrictive
standards are adopted, the antennas shall be made to comply, or continued
operations may be restricted by the Village Board. The cost of verification
of compliance shall be borne by the owner and operator of the tower.
F. All wireless telecommunications facilities shall be certified
by an engineer to be structurally sound and in conformance with the requirements
of the Building Code and all other construction standards set forth by the
Village's Code and federal and state law. Such certification shall be submitted
with an application pursuant to this chapter and every three years thereafter.
The owner of the wireless telecommunications facility may be required by the
Village to submit more frequent certifications should there be reason to believe
that the structural and electrical integrity of the wireless telecommunications
facility is jeopardized.
G. Owners of a wireless telecommunications facility shall
at all times employ ordinary and reasonable care and shall install and maintain
in use nothing less than commonly accepted methods and devices for preventing
failures and accidents which are likely to cause damage, injuries, or nuisances
to the public.
H. Owners of a wireless telecommunications facility shall
install and maintain towers, antennas, antenna attachments, accessory structures,
wires, cables, fixtures and all other equipment of the wireless telecommunications
facility in substantial compliance with the requirements of the National Electric
Safety Code and all FCC, state, and local regulations and in such manner that
will not interfere with the use of other property.
I. All wireless telecommunications facilities shall at all
times be kept and maintained in good condition, order, and repair so that
the same shall not menace or endanger the life or property of any person.
J. All maintenance or construction of wireless telecommunications
facilities shall be performed by licensed maintenance and construction personnel.
K. All wireless telecommunications facilities shall maintain
compliance with current RF emission standards of the FCC.
L. In the event that the use of a wireless telecommunications
facility is discontinued by the wireless telecommunications facility owner,
the wireless telecommunications facility owner shall provide written notice
to the Village of its intent to discontinue use and the date when the use
shall be discontinued.
The applicant of any proposed wireless telecommunications facility property
site shall, at its cost and expense, be required to execute and file with
the Village a bond, or other form of security acceptable to the Village as
to type of security and the form and manner of execution, in an amount of
at least $75,000 and with such sureties as are deemed sufficient by the Village
Board to assure the faithful performance of the terms and conditions of this
chapter and the conditions of any special use permit issued pursuant to this
chapter. The full amount of the bond or security shall remain in full force
and effect throughout the term of the special use permit and/or until the
removal of the wireless telecommunications facility and any necessary site
restoration is completed. The failure to pay any annual premium for the renewal
of any such security shall be a violation of the provisions of the special
use permit and shall entitle the Village Board to revoke the special use permit
after prior written notice to the applicant and holder of the permit and after
a hearing upon due prior notice to the applicant and holder of the special
use permit.
The holder of the special use permit shall annually certify in writing
to the Village that NIER levels at the site are within the threshold levels
adopted by the FCC. The certifying engineer must be licensed to practice engineering
in the State of New York.
Any applicant desiring relief or exemption from any aspect or requirement
of this chapter may request such from the Village Board at a preapplication
meeting, provided that the relief or exemption is contained in the original
application for either a special use permit or, in the case of an existing
or previously granted special use permit, a request for modification of its
wireless telecommunications facility. Such relief may be temporary or permanent;
partial or complete, at the sole discretion of the Village Board. However,
the burden of proving the need for the requested relief or exemption is solely
on the applicant to prove to the satisfaction of the Village Board. The applicant
shall bear all costs of the Village Board or the Village in considering the
request, and the relief shall not be transferable to a new or different holder
of the permit or owner of the wireless telecommunications facility without
the specific written permission of the Village Board. No such relief or exemption
shall be approved unless the applicant demonstrates by clear and convincing
evidence that, if granted, the relief or exemption will have no significant
affect on the health, safety and welfare of the Village, its residents and
other service providers, and the Village Board must determine that the grant
of relief or exemption does not conflict with and/or violate the intent of
this chapter. Under no circumstances are the provisions for public hearing
contained in this chapter to be waived.
Where this chapter differs or conflicts with other laws, rules and regulations,
unless the right to do so is preempted or prohibited by the county, state
or federal government, the more restrictive or protective of the Village and
the public shall apply.
This chapter is enacted pursuant to the Municipal Home Rule Law. This
chapter shall supersede the provisions of Village Law to the extent it is
inconsistent with the same and to the extent permitted by the New York State
Constitution, the Municipal Home Rule Law, or any other applicable statute.