§ 12.9. General requirements for all applications.

1.

Public right-of-way. No facilities may be placed in the public right-of-way without the consent of the city council pursuant to a duly adopted ordinance or resolution.

2.

Priority sites. Priority for locating of telecommunications facilities will be on existing telecommunications facilities or antenna support structures located on public property identified by the city as available for co-location.

3.

Co-location. No new tower shall be permitted unless the applicant demonstrates that at least one of the following conditions:

(a)

No existing towers or suitable structures are located within the geographic area that meets the applicant's engineering requirements and no such towers are under consideration for a permit;

(b)

Existing towers or other structures are not of sufficient height, lack sufficient structural strength or are otherwise unsuitable and cannot be reasonably altered to meet the applicant's engineering requirements;

(c)

Co-location would have a more detrimental environmental, aesthetic, or visual impact on the surrounding area that [than] would the construction of a new tower.

4.

Design criteria. All telecommunications facilities shall be camouflaged or concealed. New towers shall be of monopole or unipole design, have a galvanized finish, or be painted with a rust preventive paint of an appropriate color to blend with the surrounding environment.

5.

Site plan. Plans detailing proposed improvements in compliance with articles VI, IX and X of the zoning ordinance. Drawings must also depict improvements related to the requirements listed in this part, including property boundaries, setbacks, topography, elevation sketch, dimensions of improvements, and landscaping.

6.

Vegetative screening required. The following landscaping requirements shall be met for the perimeter of the property, exclusive of entrances:

(a)

One tree for each ten feet, measuring not less than three inches in diameter, at a minimum of four feet above grade.

(b)

Hedge material at least three feet in height and planted a minimum of three feet on center. The hedge material shall form a contiguous, opaque vegetative screen within one year of planting.

(c)

Ground cover material which may include grass, pine straw, mulch or other organic material. No artificial turf or non-organic substances shall be used to satisfy this requirement.

7.

Setbacks and fall zones.

(a)

Setback requirements for towers shall be a minimum distance equal to the underlying zoning district.

(b)

Setback requirements for towers shall be measured from the base of the tower to the line of the lease parcel on which it is located.

(c)

Every tower shall be designed to fall within the boundaries of the parcel on which the tower is located. The applicant shall submit written certification and supporting documentation from a structural engineer that a tower proposed for construction will fall within the specified fall zone.

(d)

Towers shall be separated from all residentially zoned lands (i.e., R-1, R-2, R-3) by a minimum of 200 feet or 150 percent of the height of the proposed tower, whichever is greater. Tower separation distances for the purposes of compliance with this item shall be measured from the base of a tower to the closest point of residentially zoned land.

(e)

In those instances in which there is a conflict between the required setback and the required fall zones, the greater distance shall apply.

8.

Propagation maps. The application shall provide copies of propagation maps demonstrating that the proposed facility locations, including co-locator locations, are not higher in elevation than necessary to provide the desired coverage.

9.

Structural integrity requirements. All towers, antenna support structures and telecommunications facilities must be designed and certified by an engineer to be structurally sound and at a minimum, in conformance with the currently adopted building code. In addition, towers must be located and equipped with step bolts and ladders so as to provide ready access for inspection purposes. The city may require a post-construction structural analysis from the applicant.

10.

Grounding. All towers must be permanently and effectively grounded.

11.

Height. New towers shall be no higher than the minimum height necessary to support the facilities. The maximum height of new towers, including antennas attached after the effective date of this article shall be as follows:

Zones B1 and B2: 100 feet

Zones M1 and M2: 190 feet

12.

Lighting. Towers shall not be artificially lighted or marked, except as required by this article, the FAA or other regulatory authority.

13.

Number of providers. All Towers built, constructed or erected shall be capable of supporting the facilities of other providers (including the applicant's facilities) as follows:

(a)

Tower heights of 150 feet to 190 feet: not less than four providers;

(b)

Tower heights of 100 feet to 149 feet: not less than three providers;

(c)

Tower heights less than 100 feet: not less than two providers.

14.

Erosion control. All parcels upon which towers are located must contain adequate drainage facilities, and must comply with all stormwater management regulations.

(Ord. No. 05-2013, 5-13-2013)