P ORD-2002-030 Telecommunications Tower Ordinance Amendments

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w.._ .� - - ....._ _ ' AUG.27.2002 3:19PM ORANGE CTY MGR NO.913 P.9 /11 93 6. ENGINEERING CERTIFICATION. Section 6,18.4.b. Wireless carriers generally utilize professional engineers employed by communications tower manufacturers to design proposed communications towers.. These engineers are P.E.s who seal all communications tower drawings and certify the very things referenced in this section. However, generally, to my knowledge, there is no classification or certification possible for "telecommunication facility design ". Therefore, it may not be possible to comply with this provision. The communications tower drawings will be seated by a professional engineer licensed in the State of North Carolina. This certification will certify the capacity and design of the communications tower, and that the communications tower meets the applicable ANSI standards. That should be sufficient. 7. TOWER SEPARATION. Section 8.8.17a.1 a,d. The Ordinance prohibits a new communications tower from being located within one - half (1 /2) mile of an existing communications tower, without exception. Some exception should be made in those cases where the existing communications tower is at capacity or cannot be expanded to accommodate further coloration. It may be that the only way to provide wireless coverage in a given area is to have a second communications tower in the general vicinity of the existing communications tower. It is unfair and discriminatory to those carriers not located on the existing communications tower to prohibit them from constructing a second communications tower in the general area. In some cases, carriers can design around such a separation requirement, but not in all cases. Most Jurisdictions have an exception to communications tower separation rules such as the inability to colocate, or an inability to modify the existing structure to accommodate coloration, etc. In some cases it makes sense to group communications towers together. if the wireless carrier can show by demonstrative evidence that it cannot provide the necessary coverage without locating within the prohibited one -half (1/2) mile area, it should be allowed to construct a new communications tower in this area if all other criteria of the Ordinance are satisfied. The Impact at the site may be increased, however, the overall visual impact In the general area is decreased by grouping communications towers In some cases. Section 8.8.17a.1,a.c. is not clear if grouping of communications towers is allowed.