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At a telecommunications tower site, an access road, turn around space <br />and parking shall be provided to assure adequate emergency and service <br />access. Maximum use of existing roads, whether public or private, shall <br />be made to the extent practicable. -Road construction shall, at all times, <br />minimize ground disturbance and the cutting of vegetation. Road grades <br />shall closely follow natural contours to assure minimal visual disturbance <br />and reduce soil erosion. <br />8.8.17a.2 Standards of Evaluation <br />The following specific standards, as well as those found in Section 6.18.4 of the <br />Zoning Ordinance, shall be used in deciding upon an application for approval: <br />a) Telecommunications equipment shall be located at a preferred site in <br />accordance with the following priorities, with priority one (1) being the <br />most preferred, and priority five (5) being the least preferred: <br />1. On existing towers or other structures; <br />2. On utility poles; <br />3. On industrially- or commercially-zoned properties; <br />4. On a stealth facility; <br />5. At another location not identified above as priority 1, 2, 3 or 4: <br />b) If an Applicant proposes to place telecommunications equipment at a <br />location that is not a preferred priority 1 site, then the Applicant must <br />provide a detailed explanation as to why a higher priority site is not <br />proposed. The explanation shall be in the form of a written report <br />demonstrating the Applicant's review of the above locations in order of <br />priority and the reason(s) for the site selection. The explanation shall, at <br />a minimum, include the information required by Subsection 8.8.17a.1 a.e). <br />c) The application shall not be approved unless it demonstrates that the <br />telecommunications equipment may not be sited at a higher priority site <br />because of commercial impracticability or because no higher priority site <br />is available that would serve to provide the telecommunications service <br />need identified by the Applicant as provided for in Subsection 6.18.4 <br />d)(10). <br />d) An Applicant may not by-pass sites of higher priority merely because the <br />site proposed is the only site leased or selected. Agreements between <br />providers limiting or prohibiting co-location shall not be a valid basis for <br />any claim of commercial impracticability. <br />e} Notwithstanding that a potential site may be situated in an area of highest <br />priority or highest available priority, an application shall not be approved if <br />it conflicts with the provisions and requirements of this Ordinance. <br />f) Within or adjacent to residential zoning districts, minimum setbacks from <br />the base of the tower to the property boundary shall be equal to 110% of <br />the tower height. If the tower is proposed as an accessory use to a <br />residential use, the tower setback shall be 110% of the tower height from <br />any residence or dwelling unit on the subject property. <br />8-24 <br />