Orange County NC Website
Browse       Search
5 <br />6.18.2 Telecommunications towers and eauipment as principal or accessory uses <br />a) Telecommunications towers shall be permitted as a principal or <br />accessory use in all districts in accordance with the provisions of this <br />Ordinance as follows: <br />1) On property owned by the County or any public entity except <br />those designated as historic properties or sites. The County <br />may, in its sole discretion as the owner of the property, authorize <br />the application and use of County property after the applicant <br />executes a lease agreement acceptable to the County. <br />2) Telecommunications towers as part of existing utility poles shall <br />be permitted as an accessory use. Towers shall be constructed <br />as part of the existing utility poles or as replacements for the <br />existing utility poles. No freestanding towers constructed <br />exclusively for personal wireless services shall be permitted <br />within utility easements. <br />3) The placement of a new telecommunications tower in any zoning <br />district must be approved as a Special Use, except as permitted <br />in the Master Telecommunications Plan ("Plan"). <br />b) Existing Telecommunications towers <br />1) Telecommunications equipment as accessory uses may be <br />placed on existing towers in accordance with the provisions of <br />this Ordinance. <br />2) Notwithstanding the above provisions of Section 6.18, <br />telecommunications towers in existence as of December 10, <br />2002, may be replaced with a tower of equal or less visual <br />impact after approval by the County Planning Director or his/her <br />designee. However, if the proposed new tower would not be <br />consistent with the minimum standards under Section 6.18, <br />replacement must be approved as provided for in this Ordinance. <br />6.18.3 Antennas not located on telecommunications towers. <br />a) Antenna types. To minimize adverse visual impacts, stealth antenna <br />types shall be preferred. If a non-stealth antenna is proposed, the <br />application shall be required to demonstrate, in a technical manner <br />acceptable to the Planning Director or his/her designee, why the stealth <br />antenna (i.e. an antenna incorporated into the architecture of the building <br />~ or fully screened from view from sight proximate to the antenna) cannot <br />be used for the particular application. This does not preclude a <br />combination of the various types of antennas. <br />1) Antenna dimensions. Antenna dimensions shall be subject to <br />approval by the Planning Director or his/her designee. A <br />statement shall be submitted, prepared by a professional <br />engineer competent to evaluate antenna choices, to certify the <br />technical need for the required dimensions. <br />