Edison City Zoning Code
§ 37-31.4
Conditional Uses.
[1999 Code § 17.56.040]
a.
Freestanding telecommunication towers subject to the following conditions:
1.
The telecommunication towers shall meet all other zoning regulations for freestanding towers including, but not limited to, height and setback,
2.
The height of such towers does not exceed the distance between the tower base and any property line of a parcel which is in any zone other than L-I or R-I zone, and
3.
No such tower shall be located within one thousand (1,000) feet of any school or residential dwelling;
4.
Any proposed tower shall be "mono-pole," unless the applicant can empirically demonstrate, and the approving Board agrees, that a different type of pole is necessary for the collocation of additional antennas on the tower or for camouflaging purposes.
5.
To the greatest extent possible, no tower shall be located to be visible from any historic district or site as duly designated by Edison Township, the State of New Jersey and/or by the Federal government.
6.
To the greatest extent possible, no tower shall be located to be visible from any public street or from any residential zone.
7.
To the extent possible, any new tower shall be located behind existing buildings and/or natural topographic elevations in order to screen the tower's base from being visible from adjacent properties and from any street right-of-way.
8.
All new towers shall be camouflaged (e.g. housed in a "silo," "bell tower," etc. or made to look like a "tree" or a non oversized "flagpole") as may be appropriate in the context of the visibility of the tower from different vantage points throughout the Township and the existing land uses and vegetation in the vicinity of the subject site.
9.
The height of any proposed new supporting tower shall not exceed one hundred fifty (150) feet unless it can be empirically demonstrated by the applicant, to the satisfaction of the Board, that a higher height is necessary for the proposed installation of the antenna(s) to satisfactorily operate.
10.
To the greatest extent possible, all cables shall be installed within underground conduits.
11.
No signage is permitted, unless "warning" and/or equipment information signs are deemed necessary for safety purposes and are specifically approved by the approving Board.
12.
Minimal off-street parking shall be permitted as needed and as specifically approved by the approving Board in no case less than one (1) off-street parking be provided per each carrier proposed to be located at any antenna site.
13.
No lighting is permitted on a tower except lighting that specifically is required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and any such required lighting shall be focused and shielded to the greatest extent possible so as not to project towards adjacent and nearby properties. The applicant shall provide to the approving Board all applicable FAA standards regarding lighting that may apply to a proposed tower.
14.
Individual cabinets for the required electronic equipment related to the wireless communications antenna(s) shall be permitted in accordance with the following design criteria:
(a)
Any proposed cabinet enclosing required electronic equipment shall not be more than fifteen (15) feet in height nor more than two hundred fifty (250) square feet in area, and only one (1) such cabinet shall be permitted for each provider of wireless communication services located on the site;
(b)
No electronic equipment shall interfere with any public safety communications;
(c)
All of the electronic equipment shall be automated so that, to the greatest extent possible, the need for on-site maintenance and the commensurate need for vehicular trips to and from the site will be minimized.
(d)
All the required electronic equipment for all anticipated communication carriers to be located on the subject site shall be housed within a one and one-half (1 1/2) story building, which building shall not exceed one thousand (1,000) gross square feet in area and twenty (20) feet in height, and which shall be designed with a single-ridge, pitched roof with a residential or barnlike character of appearance; and
(e)
The building may have one (1) light at the entrance to the building, provided that the light is attached to the building, is focused downward and the switch to that light is turned on only when workers are at the building.
15.
Between the location of the tower and the building enclosing related electronic equipment and any public street or residential dwelling unit or residential zoning district within view of the tower and the building, landscaping shall be provided in accordance with the following:
(a)
The landscaping shall consist of a combination of existing and/or newly planted evergreen and deciduous trees and shrubs of sufficient density to screen the view of the tower, particularly at its base, to the maximum extent reasonably possible, and to enhance the appearance of the building from the surrounding residential properties and any public street;
(b)
The landscaping plan shall be prepared by a licensed Landscape Architect who shall present testimony to the approving Board regarding the adequacy of the plan to screen the tower from view and to enhance the appearance of the building; and
(c)
Any newly planted evergreen trees shall be at least eight (8) feet high spaced on ten (10) inch centers at time of planting, and any newly planted deciduous trees shall be a minimum caliper of three (3) inches to three and one-half (3 1/2) inches caliper, spaced on thirty (30) inch centers at time of planting.
b.
Dishes or antennas which transmit microwaves from a tower, rooftop, water tower or other elevated location subject to the following conditions:
1.
The dishes or antennas shall meet all other zoning regulations for dishes and antennas including, but not limited to, height and setback,
2.
The height of such dishes or antennas does not exceed the distance between the dish or antenna base and any property line of a parcel which is in any zone other than an L-I or R-I zone,
3.
No such dish or antenna shall be located within one thousand (1,000) feet of any school or residential dwelling.