PH-NS ORD-1996-012 Proposed Zoning Ordinance Text Amendment - Telecommunication Towers

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1 to z Response to November 27, 1995 Public Hearing Comments (see attached minutes) 1. Minimizing the Number of New Towers A major concern of industry representatives was related to the proposed means by which we would assure that adequate provision had been made to minimize the number of new towers by sharing space on existing or new towers. Encoura,gina Use Of Existing Towers The Zoning Ordinance now requires that efforts to locate on an existing tower be documented. There are no standards, however, by which to evaluate the documentation provided. Proposed Documentation Process: The amendment presented for public hearing in November, 1995 included a requirement that the applicant send letters to all tower owners within one mile of the proposed site requesting information such as availability of lease space, and tower height and strength. Also required was a copy of responses received. One concern raised was that the applicant must rely on the tower owner's response to requests for information, and delays could result if the tower owner did not prepare the needed information in a timely manner. The proposed wording was thought to place an implicit burden of responsibility on the owners of existing towers to provide detailed engineering and other information, upon the demand of potential applicants, which could be time-consuming and costly. The proposed revision continues to require submittal of information concerning availability of space to lease, and tower height and strength as was proposed in the initial draft. However, specific requirements as to how communication between the applicant and the tower owner is to occur are eliminated. The applicant must contact tower owners in order to obtain the needed information, however, the proposed revision focuses on the outcome of that contact,rather than the process. Location of Towers Considered for Possible Co-location: Typically, the range within which a new tower can perform its function within the communications network is on the order of 1/4 mile from the proposed site. There is some variability, however, depending on factors such as the tower height and topography. The area within which towers must be identified and evaluated is proposed to be at least 1 mile for towers 200 feet or taller(as originally proposed) and one-half mile for towers shorter than 200 feet. In addition, the applicant must provide an engineer's certification indicating the widest range from the proposed site within which the equipment could perform.