Agenda 06-03-2025; 5-c - Unified Development Ordinance Text Amendments – Telecommunication Facilities Standards

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Article 10: Definitions 49 Section 10.1: Definitions A tapered structure broad at the base and narrower at the top consisting of cross-members and diagonal bracing and without guyed support. Telecommunication Facilities, Small Wireless Facility A wireless facility that meets the following qualifications: a. Each antenna is located inside an enclosure of no more than 6 cubic feet in volume or, in the case of an antenna that has exposed elements, the antenna and all of its exposed elements, if enclosed, could fit within an enclosure of no more than 6 cubic feet. b. All other wireless equipment associated with the facility has a cumulative volume of no more than 28 cubic feet. For the purposes of this sub-subdivision, the following types of ancillary equipment are not included in the calculation of equipment volume: electric meters, concealment elements, telecommunications demarcation boxes, ground-based enclosures, grounding equipment, power transfer switches, cut-off switches, vertical cable runs for the connection of power and other services, or other support structures.1-0 Telecommunication Facilities, Stealth Any antenna or wireless support structure that is camouflaged, screened or concealed to look like something else (e.g., man-made trees, clock towers, bell steeples, light poles, water towers and similar alternative design) so that the purpose of the antenna or wireless support structure is not readily apparent to a casual observer. Screened antennas and wireless support structures meet this definition. Telecommunication Facilities, Stealth or Stealth Technology A design or treatment that minimizes adverse aesthetic and visual impacts on the land, property, buildings, and other facilities adjacent to, surrounding, and in generally the same area as the requested location of such wireless support structures, which shall mean building the least visually and physically intrusive facility that is not technologically or commercially impracticable under the facts and circumstances. Stealth technology includes such technology as Distributed Antenna System (DAS)or its functional equivalent or camouflage where the structure is disguised to make it less visually obtrusive and not recognized to the average person as a wireless support structure. Telecommunication Facilities, Substantial Modification The mounting of a proposed wireless facility on a wireless support structure that substantially changes the physical dimensions of the support structure. The burden is on Orange County to demonstrate that a mounting that does not meet the listed criteria constitutes a substantial change to the physical dimensions of the wireless support structure. A mounting is presumed to be a substantial modification if it meets any one or more of the following criteria: a. Increasing the existing vertical height of the structure by the greater of(i) more than ten percent (10%) or (ii) the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed 20 feet. b. Except where necessary to shelter the antenna from inclement weather or to connect the antenna to the tower via cable, adding an appurtenance to the body of a wireless support structure that protrudes horizontally from the edge of the wireless support structure the greater of(i) more than 20 feet or(ii) more than the width of the wireless support structure at the level of the appurtenance. c. Increasing the square footage of the existing equipment compound by more than 2,500 square feet.L1 the physical dimensions of the c mnort StrUof ro Telecommunication Facilities, Telecommunication Equipment 10 G.S. 160D-931 (18) 11 G.S. 160D-931 (19) Orange County, North Carolina—Unified Development Ordinance Page 10-62