Ramsey City Zoning Code
34-42.4 General
requirements.
[Ord. No. 4-1998 § 4]
a.
Principal or accessory use. Antennas and towers may be considered either principal or accessory uses. A different existing use of an existing structure on the same lot shall not preclude the installation of an antenna or tower on such lot.
b.
Lot size. For purposes of determining whether the installation of a tower or antenna complies with zone development regulations, including but not limited to setback requirements, lot coverage requirements, and other such requirements, the dimensions of the entire lot shall control, even though the antennas or towers may be located on leased parcels within such lot.
c.
Inventory of existing sites. Each applicant for an antenna and/or tower shall provide to the Borough Engineer an inventory of its existing towers, antennas, or sites approved for the towers or antennas, as well as all sites where an application is pending, that are either within the jurisdiction of the Borough of Ramsey or within five miles of the border thereof, including specific information about the location, height, and design of each tower. The Borough Engineer may share such information with other applicants applying for administrative approvals or permits under this section or other organizations seeking to locate antennas within the jurisdiction of the Borough of Ramsey, provided, however that the Borough Engineer is not, by sharing such information, in any way representing or warranting that such sites are available or suitable.
d.
Aesthetics. Towers and antennas shall meet the following requirements:
1.
Towers shall maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the FAA, be painted a neutral color so as to reduce the visual obtrusiveness.
2.
At a tower site, the design of the buildings and related structures shall, to the extent possible, use materials, colors, textures, screening, and landscaping that will blend them into the natural setting and surrounding buildings.
3.
If an antenna is installed on a structure other than a tower, the antenna and supporting electrical and mechanical equipment must be of a neutral color that is identical to, or closely compatible with, the color of the supporting structure so as to make the antenna and related equipment as visually unobtrusive as possible.
e.
Lighting. Towers shall not be artificially lighted, unless required by the FAA or other applicable authority. If lighting is required, the lighting alternatives and design chosen must cause the least amount of disturbances to the surrounding views.
f.
State or federal requirements. All towers must meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, the FCC, and any other agency of the state or federal government with the authority to regulate towers and antennas. If such standards and regulations are changed, then the owners of the towers and antennas governed by this section shall bring such towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations within 120 days of the effective date of such standards and regulations, unless a different compliance schedule is mandated by the controlling state or federal agency. Failure to bring towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower or antenna at the owner's expense.
g.
Building codes; safety standards. To ensure the structural integrity of towers, the owner of a tower shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable state, local and appropriate industry building codes. If, upon inspection, the Borough of Ramsey concludes that a tower fails to comply with such codes and standards and constitutes a danger to persons or property, then upon notice being provided to the owner of the tower, the owner shall have 30 days to bring such tower into compliance with such standards. Failure to bring such tower into compliance within said 30 days shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower or antenna at the owner's expense.
h.
Measurement. For purposes of measurement, tower setbacks and separation distances shall be calculated and applied to facilities located in the Borough of Ramsey irrespective of municipal and county jurisdictional boundaries.
i.
Not essential services. Towers and antennas shall be regulated and permitted pursuant to this section and shall not be regulated or permitted as essential services, public utilities, or private utilities, unless mandated by federal or state law.
j.
Franchises. Owners and/or operators of towers or antennas shall certify that all franchises required by law for the construction and/or operation of a wireless communication system in the Borough of Ramsey have been obtained and shall file a copy of all required franchises with the Borough Engineer.
k.
Public notice and hearing. For purposes of this section, any conditional use request, variance request, or appeal of an administratively approved use or conditional use shall require public notice to all abutting property owners and all property owners of properties that are located within the corresponding separation distance listed in Subsections 34-42.6b, 5(b), Table 2, in addition to any notice otherwise required by the Zoning Ordinance. A public hearing must be held before the Ramsey Planning Board for all conditional use requests under this section.
l.
Signs. No signs or advertisements shall be allowed on an antenna or tower.
m.
Buildings and support equipment. Buildings and support equipment associated with antennas or towers shall comply with the requirements of Subsection 34-42.7.
n.
Multiple antenna/tower plan. The Borough of Ramsey encourages the users of towers and antennas to submit a single application for approval of multiple towers and/or antenna sites. Applications for approval of multiple sites shall be given priority in the review process.
o.
Height. The maximum height of new towers shall be 100 feet in height.