A. Purpose And Objectives: This section separates regulations governing amateur communications from the private/noncommercial radio communications and related equipment, and from the regulations of the commercial communication/business related equipment and facilities, and establishes provisions relating to demand, visual mitigation, r-f noise, engineering, residential impact, health, safety and facility siting. Such equipment may include, but is not limited to, cellular or PCS (personal communication system), paging and microwave systems, and associated antennas, dishes, mounting structures, and related equipment communications. All facilities shall comply with the following regulations and all other ordinances of the city and any pertinent regulations of the federal communications commission (FCC) and the federal aviation administration (FAA).
B. Amateur Communications: This subsection shall apply to amateur radio antennas and support structures. The equipment and facilities mentioned above shall be allowed in all zones within the city, and it is the city's intent to provide reasonable accommodation for such communications. These are regulated by the federal communications commission (FCC); however, the following shall be required:
1. Building Permit Required: A building permit for an antenna support structure is to be submitted to the community development department with the following items:
a. A site plan identifying the property boundary, location of existing buildings and structures, the proposed location for the support structure, and the distance relationship between these illustrated items;
b. Manufacturer's specifications for the antenna support structure, including details of footings, guywires if required, and height; and
c. A copy of the applicant's amateur radio license.
2. Amateur Antenna Support Structures: No more than one amateur support structure per lot may be installed, and shall be located in the rear or side yard of a home or main structure. The following additional standards shall apply:
a. Minimum setbacks for all amateur support structures shall be twenty feet (20') from neighboring property lines and a minimum thirty feet (30') from the public right of way.
b. Height of support structures is permitted up to seventy five feet (75'), measured from ground level.
c. Support structures shall be composed of nonreflective galvanized steel or aluminum, and shall not have obtrusive colors.
3. Antennas: Operators may use various antennas depending upon their communications objective. Amateurs typically require both UHF/VHF and HF antennas to achieve local and long distance communications and to also provide emergency communications. Antennas are to be installed on a building or property in the least conspicuous location possible as viewed from the public street.
4. Conditional Use Permit Required: A conditional use permit shall be required for the design of any amateur antenna or support structure that exceeds or deviates from subsections B2 and B3 of this section, and shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
a. Along with the submittal of a conditional use permit application, the applicant is to include a letter documenting why a need to increase the height is necessary to achieve the communication capabilities desired. Support structures shall not exceed the height necessary to meet the technological requirements of installation.
b. An increase in the setback, from the base of the support structure to each affected property line, by one foot (1') for every additional foot in height above seventy five feet (75').
c. No nuisance or hazard is created, subject to the review standards in section
10-2-4 of this title. The city, in considering the application, must apply the minimal practicable regulation necessary to achieve its goal of protecting the welfare of the community while ensuring the regulation will not impinge on the needs of the amateur operator to engage in amateur communications.
5. Building Permit Not Required: A building permit shall not be required for any amateur antenna support structure that is twelve feet (12') or less in height.
C. Private/Noncommercial Communications: This subsection shall apply to the private installation and operation of wireless communication antennas, dishes and support structures, over the air reception devices (OTARD), two-way radio or other communication systems for noncommercial purposes. The equipment and facilities mentioned above shall be allowed in all zones within the city, and it is the city's intent to provide reasonable accommodation for such communications. These are regulated by the federal communications commission (FCC); however, the following shall be required:
1. Exempt: The installation of any OTARD (antenna or satellite dish, etc.) less than one meter (1 m) (39.37") in diameter or support structure that is six feet (6') or less in height shall be exempt from these requirements.
2. Building Permit Required: If an over the air reception device exceeds the limits found in subsection C1 of this section, then a building permit is to be submitted to the community development department including the following items:
a. A site plan identifying the property boundary, location of existing buildings and structures, the proposed location for the device and/or support structure, and the distance relationship between these illustrated items;
b. Manufacturer's specifications for the antenna support structure, including details of footings, guywires, and height; and
c. A copy of the applicant's license to operate.
3. Single-Family Properties: No more than one over the air reception device (antenna, dish, etc.) per dwelling unit are permitted. These devices shall be enclosed within the dwelling unit or other structure compatible with the home. If technological or logistical justification would preclude the enclosure of the antenna or dish, then they may be placed on the building or property in the least conspicuous location possible, as viewed from a public street. Antennas shall not exceed an overall height of forty five feet (45'). Satellite dishes shall not exceed three feet (3') in diameter.
4. Condominium/Townhome Associations/And Other Multi-Family Cooperative Ownerships: As part of the conditional use permit (CUP) review, these developments are required to have a central or common reception device (antenna) for the tenants within the development. If technological or logistical justification would preclude this limitation, then individual tenants may obtain a permit to install their reception device where they would have exclusive use, such as a balcony or patio; however are subject to the size requirements listed in this subsection.
5. Towers: No more than one private tower per lot shall be allowed, and shall be located in the rear or side yard of a home or main structure after having met the minimum setback requirement. The following additional standards shall apply:
a. Minimum setbacks for all private communication support towers shall be twenty feet (20') from neighboring property lines and a minimum fifty feet (50') from the public right of way.
b. Height of private communication support towers is subject to the overall maximum height limitation of forty five feet (45') for an antenna.
c. Tower structures and related equipment shall be composed of nonreflective galvanized steel or aluminum with unobtrusive colors.
6. Conditional Use Permit Required: A conditional use permit shall be required for the private installation of over the air reception devices or tower structures that deviate from subsections C3 through C5 of this section, and shall be subject to the following additional conditions:
a. Along with the submittal of a conditional use permit application, the applicant is to include a letter documenting why they believe an increase in height is necessary to achieve the communication capabilities desired. Towers shall not exceed the height necessary to meet the technological requirements of installation.
b. An increase in the setback, from the base of the tower structure to each affected property line, by one foot (1') for every additional foot in height above forty five feet (45').
c. No nuisance or hazard is created, subject to the review standards in section
10-2-4 of this title. The city, in considering the application, must apply the minimal practicable regulation necessary to achieve its goal of protecting the welfare of the community while ensuring the regulation will not impinge on the needs of the private operator to engage in over the air communications.
d. No over the air device shall impinge on historical preservation or any safety concerns that have been properly identified. (Ord. 2010-7, 3-2-2010)
D. Commercial Communications: This subsection shall apply to all commercial and business related use of wireless communication equipment. Commercial antennas, towers, and related equipment shall be allowed in all commercial, industrial, and office zones with conditional use permit approval granted by the planning commission at a public hearing. Installation of commercial communications equipment may be considered in a residential zone through the conditional use permit process, on public property only, or property in conjunction with a quasi-public use, such as a school, church, public park or government building. The following regulations are to be complied with as outlined below:
1. Applicant is to submit a conditional use permit application to the community development department, as outlined in section
10-2-4 of this title.
2. Once the conditional use permit has been approved, the applicant is to submit a building permit to the community development department with the following items:
a. Copy of the approved site plan with supporting documents; and
b. Manufacturer's specifications for the antenna support structure, including details of footings, guywires, and height.
c. A copy of the applicant's license to operate.
3. The following standards shall be required with the installation and use of antennas, dishes, or other related commercial communication equipment mounted on roofs or walls of commercial, office or industrial zones, and on buildings in a residential zone as allowed in this chapter:
a. Antennas, dishes, supports, and related equipment shall be mounted inside an enclosed decorative building or made stealth within a steeple, flagpole, utility pole or other stealth structure, unless adequate justification for a wall or roof mount can be provided. Antennas, dishes, supports and related equipment which cannot, because of technological reasons, be wall or roof mounted, mounted on or within an existing utility pole or enclosed within a stealth structure, or on a tower structure. Please see subsection D4c of this section for tower height maximums.
b. Roof mounted antennas, dishes, and equipment shall not exceed ten feet (10') above the surface of the roof or the top of the lowest parapet screening wall.
c. Minimum setback shall be ten feet (10') from the edge of the roof.
d. Wall mounted antennas shall not extend more than eighteen inches (18") from the surface of the wall, of the building to which they are mounted. All antennas shall be made stealth so as to be incorporated as part of the building's architecture.
e. All ground equipment, associated with commercial antennas, shall be placed within a below grade vault or completely enclosed and screened from view within a six foot (6') solid decorative masonry wall or other suitable fence, to match the architectural theme of the vicinity or adjacent development, as determined by the planning commission or city council. Ground equipment buildings shall not exceed six hundred (600) square feet, nor exceed ten feet (10') in height, and shall be secured. Expansion of the original ground equipment, site area, or enclosures shall require a conditional use permit or a modification of the conditional use permit if one already exists.
4. Communication towers; freestanding poles or lattice towers used for the purpose of facilitating communication equipment shall require conditional use permit approval as outlined in section
10-2-4 of this title, and are subject to the following standards:
a. Design: Towers shall be composed of nonreflective galvanized steel or powder coated surfaces with unobtrusive colors. All ground equipment, associated with commercial towers, shall be placed within a below grade vault or completely enclosed and screened from view within a six foot (6') solid decorative masonry wall or other suitable fence, to match the architectural theme of the vicinity or adjacent development, as determined by the planning commission or city council. Ground equipment buildings shall not exceed six hundred (600) square feet, nor exceed ten feet (10') in height, and shall be secured.
b. Location: Towers are to be located in rear yard areas, and in areas least obtrusive on the public view and neighboring uses; see subsection D4d of this section for setbacks;
c. Height: Tower structures shall not exceed one hundred feet (100') in height in all commercial, office and residential zones where allowed. A maximum of one hundred seventy five feet (175') shall be considered in industrial zones.
d. Setbacks: Tower structures shall have a minimum twenty five foot (25') setback from an adjacent commercial, office or industrial zone, up to a height of one hundred feet (100'). For industrial zones that allow greater than one hundred feet (100') in height, one additional foot is to be added, to the setback, for each foot above one hundred feet (100'). Tower structures on property adjacent to a residential use shall be subject to the following setbacks:
Tower Height | Distance From Residential Property Line |
| |
70 feet | 150 feet |
80 feet | 175 feet |
90 feet | 200 feet |
100 feet | 225 feet |
e. Multiple Users: All towers are to be designed to accommodate three (3) separate users. A letter must also be supplied stating that the owner(s) of the tower will allow for collocation and that the structure has been constructed to allow for this, unless grid documentation is supplied by an independent consultant that collocation will create a hardship. Only one conditional use permit (CUP) approval shall be required, unless the tower or ground equipment is expanded, at which time the existing CUP is to be modified.
(1) Towers with available collocation points located on public property will be required to allow collocation at Pleasant Grove City's request. Failure to respond to a written request from Pleasant Grove City within thirty (30) days of the request may result in revocation of the conditional use permit.
(2) Failure to allow collocation where available may also result in revocation of the conditional use permit.
f. Security: The city may require the owner of the communications facility to establish a ten thousand dollar ($10,000.00) cash security fund or provide the city with an irrevocable letter of credit in the same amount to secure the cost of removing the communication equipment.
g. Letter Of Removal Upon Vacation: The property owner must supply the city with a letter stating that, if technology renders the tower obsolete or the tower is vacated, the owner will remove the tower, all other apparatus associated with it, the top three feet (3') of the footing, and restore the site to its original condition within ninety (90) days of the vacation of the tower.
h. Separation: Commercial communication towers shall have a minimum separation requirement of one thousand feet (1,000').
(1) Cell tower separation may be reduced to one hundred fifty feet (150') provided it is located on public property and attached to an existing pole or building infrastructure with the ability to accommodate communication equipment.
5. The following are additional standards to be considered with commercial communications:
a. Collocation of the antennas on other existing structures in the same vicinity, such as other towers, buildings, water towers, utility poles, etc., is possible without significantly impacting antenna transmission or reception of established users or facilities in the area.
b. Each communication facility shall be considered a separate use; and an annual business license shall be required for each such facility.
c. The location of any tower will not create a detrimental impact to adjoining properties.
d. No commercial messages or signage shall be allowed on antenna supports (towers) or equipment, beyond safety warnings, and one identification sign which are not greater than four (4) square feet in size.
e. Technological justification, when requested, shall be provided by an independent third party wireless communications engineering firm, selected by the city and paid for by the applicant. (Ord. 2015-27, 7-21-2015)
AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA: Antenna which is used for transmitting and receiving radio signals from a radio station controlled by an operator licensed by the federal communications commission.
AMATEUR RADIO ANTENNA SUPPORT STRUCTURE: A lattice or pole structure which acts as a support to the amateur radio antenna. Typical support structures are triangular or square in cross section, crank up, or guyed, and are constructed with galvanized steel or aluminum.
ANTENNA: A transducer, attached to a support structure, designed to transmit or receive electromagnetic waves.
COMMERCIAL COMMUNICATION TOWERS: Tall structures designed to support antennas and dishes. Commercial towers are typically monopole in design, but may also be building structures, if stealth principles are used.
OTARD: Acronym for over the air reception devices (antenna, satellite dishes, etc.) installed for private reception.
STEALTH: The use of alternative support structures to blend or hide the communication equipment with the design, shape, or color of the structure. Examples of stealth are, but are not limited to, field lights, clock towers, bell towers, water towers, flagpoles, windmills, monuments, etc. (Ord. 2010-7, 3-2-2010)