NS ORD-1996-033 Zoning Ordinance Text Amendments - Telecommunication Towers

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55 other cower users in the area,stating cheir siting needs and/or Where the site abuts or has access to a collector and local street, sharing capabilities in an effort to encourage tower sharing. access for maintenance vehicles shall be exclusively by mans of Applicants cannot be denied or deny space on a tower unless the collector street. mechanical,structural,or regulatory factors prevent them from Parking requirements generally do nor apply to cellular sharing. In ocher words.competing carriers cannot lock each cowers. For chose communities that require parking,the ocher our of territory:The ordinances for Jefferson Counry, provision applies to an overall"communication cower facility- Oldham County,Multnomah County,and Palm Beach.County ordinance in which spaces are required only when the offer derailed examples of sharing provisions and leasing terms. equipment building is staffed. Structural Intrrity and Inspection.Most ordinances require Lighting and Security Lighting for communication cowers is chat any new or modified cowers be certified by an engineer accord- required when the cower is tall enough to concern the Federal ing to structural standards for antennas offered by either the Elec- Aviation Administration(FAA).Jefferson Parish acknowledges ironic Industries Association or the Telecommunication Industry FAA regulations and the privacy of neighboring properry owners: Association. Inspection schedules seem co vary widely according to When lighting is required and is permitted by the Federal the type of cower;as in this provision from Jupiter,Florida: Aviation Administration or other federal or scare authority,is Inspections—The town council may require periodic inspections shall be oriented inward so as not to proiect onto surrounding of communication cowers to ensure structural ins wry•Such residential proper. inspections may be required as follows:a)monopole cowers—at Others,in more urban areas,may require full review and least once every 10 years;b)self-support towers—at least once certification of the tower application by their local airport every five years;c)guyed towers—at least once every three yean. authority.This provision is from Palm Beach County- Inspections shall be conducted by an engineer licensed by the state of Florida.The results of such inspections shall be provided Prior to the site plan certification,the applicant shall provide co the director of community development.Based upon results of documentation that the proposed communication tower has been an inspection,the town council may require repair or removal of reviewed and is not determined to be a haurd by the FAA,.. a communication cower. (via)the Palm Beach County Department of Airports....The PBCDOA shall review the non ssiu asation tower application co Equipment Buildings and Lot Sint Cellular towers are often determine if is is a hward ca any FAA flight paths. accompanied by a small,usually unscaffed storage building that houses transmitting equipment.Some ordinances crear them as Some ordinances also require fencing or signage.Jupiter accessory uses or structures,while others specifically sure that requires a six-foot safety fence with a locked gate. If high voltage they are not. Most require some setback from adjoining is necessary,signs must be posted every 20 feet,saying, property lines; the required setback is usually proportional to "Danger—High Voltage."The operator must also post"No the area's density.Oldham County seeks to discourage more Trespassing"signs. intense use of the site: Abandonment Most ordinances also restrict the time in ('I'jhese facilities may not include offices,long-term vehicle which an unused cower may stand to between six and 18 storage,other outdoor storage,or broadcast studios,except for months,with some requiring the tower applicant co cover the emergency purposes.or other uses chat are not needed to send demolition costs. or receive transmissions. Application A quirmsertts Perhaps the most telling section of any ordinance is its application requirements.Although some Lot sizes for cellular sites are usually the minimum for the communities do not list these separately,doing so lets the district in which they will be built. applicant know exactly what must be provided and indicates Maintenance and Parking A few ordinances include how much the community(snows about the impacts of cellular standards for facility maintenance and parking.The phone cower siting.These requirements should be clearly stated Multnomah County ordinance has the most extensive treatment and not impossible to fulfill.Jefferson County offers an of maintenance im�aca: _ excellent explanation of what it iiigiur—a m any cower Equipment at a transmission facility shall be anwm aced w the--- --applicant.and its provisions demonstrate serious research by the greatest extent possible w reduce uaEFie and congestion.The planning department and other local agencies.R—cdc of this applicant shall describe anticipated maintenance needs. ordinance and its aecompanying,_"Low Power_Mobile Ridio__ including frequency of5avilce.personnel needs,equipment ocaaonsTd Use Plan Addendum"is recommended needs,and traffic.wim or safety impacts of such maintenance. fcr anyone dealing with cellulai'sidng iisiues. - -- - Meeting the Challenge Zoning MOW$is a monthly published by the American Planning Association. Any cellular carrier seeking co locate in a community is prepared Subscriptions are available fix$45(U.s.)a"S%(foreign). to deal with siting controversies.Some corporations have even Michael B.Barker.Executive Director:Frank S.So.Deputy Executive Director. William R.Klein,Director of Romansch. gone so far as to pay for retaining a third-parry consultant to Zoning Mery is produced at APA.Jim Scrub.Editor:Michael Barrette.Dan giver.Fay review anything they have helped draft.These firms target sites Doinick.Michelle Gregory.Sanjay Jeer.Beat McGuire.Maya Morris.Chub smith for acquisition based on their topographic efficiency,their Report..,;Cynthia ChcsW.Assistant Editor Lin Barton.Dings and Production. accessibility by road.the availability of electric power and land- Copyright 01995 by American Planning Association.(313 L 60th St..Chicago.IL based telephone lines,their leasability,preexisting vegetation and 60637.The American Planning Association has headquarters o(Eces m 1-6 Massachusetts Ave..N.W..Washington,DC 20036- screening potential,existing zoning,compatibility with adjacent All rights reserved.No part of this publication may be reproduced or utilised is any land uses,and their ability to transmit to the largest area. form or by any means,electronic or mechanical,including photocopying.recording. If local governments show chat they an meet most of these or by any information storage and retrieval system,without permission in writing needs while preserving their rnmmuniry's aesthetic integrity, from the American Planning Association. Printed on rtrnled paper.including 50-704b recycled fiber health,and safety, they should be able to avert federal and 10%postconsumer waste. ® preemption of their local rights and responsibilities. 4