Rumson City Zoning Code
§ 22-6.12
Small Cellular Sites.
[Added 12-15-2020 by Ord. No. 20-008D]
a.
Purpose.
1.
With ever-changing cellular technology and the need for broadband internet access increasing, the purpose of these regulations for the siting of small cellular equipment and antennas is to:
(a)
Protect residential areas and land uses from the potential adverse impacts of small cellular equipment and antennas;
(b)
Encourage the location of small cellular equipment and antennas in appropriate locations;
(c)
Minimize the total number of small cellular equipment and antennas throughout the community;
(d)
Strongly encourage the joint use of small cellular equipment and antennas as a primary option rather than construction of additional single use elements;
(e)
Encourage the implementation of small cellular equipment and antennas to locate them, to the greatest extent possible, in areas where the adverse impact on the community is minimal;
(f)
Encourage the implementation of small cellular equipment and antennas in a way that minimizes the adverse visual impact of the small cellular equipment and antennas through careful design, siting, landscape screening, and innovative camouflaging techniques;
(g)
Enhance the ability of the providers of telecommunications services to provide such services to the community quickly, effectively, and efficiently;
(h)
Consider the public health and safety of small cellular equipment and antennas; and
(i)
Avoid potential damages to adjacent properties from small cellular equipment and antennas failures through engineering and careful siting of small cellular equipment and antennas.
2.
In furtherance of these goals, the Borough of Rumson shall give due consideration to the Borough Master Plan, Zoning Map, existing land uses, and environmentally sensitive areas in approving sites for the location of small cellular equipment and antennas.
b.
Design. The design of small cellular equipment and antennas shall comply with § 22-6.11, Wireless Telecommunications Towers, Antennas, and Transmission Facilities on Non-Municipal Property, and § 22-7.34, Wireless Telecommunications Towers, Antennas, and Transmission Facilities, as applicable, unless otherwise stated herein.
1.
No small cellular equipment and antenna shall be installed within a Borough or county right-of-way without the issuance of a Borough road opening permit.
2.
Siting small cellular equipment and antennas, when utilities are aerial:
(a)
No small cellular antenna shall be taller than 35 feet or 110% of the height of poles in the surrounding streetscape, whichever is less;
(b)
No small cellular equipment and antenna shall be located closer than 18 inches behind the face of curb or edge of pavement;
(c)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall not adversely impact the accessible route of a public sidewalk existing or proposed;
(d)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall use an existing utility pole or replace an existing utility pole. No new pole shall be installed;
(e)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall be located on the same side of a street as the existing overhead utilities;
(f)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall be located where property lines abut or on side property lines of corner lots to the greatest extent possible;
(g)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall not impact sight distances from public or private streets, driveways, or parking lots.
3.
Siting small cellular equipment and antennas, when utilities are underground:
(a)
No small cellular antenna shall be taller than 35 feet;
(b)
No small cellular equipment and antenna shall be located closer than 18 inches behind the face of curb or edge of pavement;
(c)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall not adversely impact the accessible route of a public sidewalk existing or proposed;
(d)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall be located where property lines abut or on side property lines of corner lots to the greatest extent possible;
(e)
Small cellular equipment and antenna shall not impact sight distances from public or private streets, driveways, or parking lots.
4.
Ground-mounted equipment.
(a)
All ground-mounted equipment shall be located outside the 500-year special flood hazard areas as delineated on the FEMA Flood Insurance Rate Maps currently adopted by the Borough of Rumson.
(b)
All ground-mounted equipment shall be located in an enclosed cabinet. Only an electric utility meter shall be mounted outside the equipment enclosure.
(c)
Ground-mounted equipment shall be screened from public view with site appropriate landscape buffering. Refer to §§ 22-8.2f, Landscape Design, and 22-8.4, Design Standards — Landscaping, for landscape design standards.
(d)
All ground-mounted equipment shall be treated in an all-weather, long-lasting paint which is aesthetically congruent with the surrounding environment.
(e)
All ground-mounted equipment shall not impact sight distances from public or private streets, driveways, or parking lots.
(f)
All ground-mounted equipment shall not exceed six feet, six inches in overall height as measured from existing ground surface.
5.
Pole-mounted antenna and equipment.
(a)
A single antenna shall not exceed three cubic feet in volume;
(b)
Multiple antennas on a single pole shall not exceed six cubic feet in volume;
(c)
Equipment cabinets mounted on single pole shall not exceed 12 cubic feet in volume;
(d)
All pole-mounted elements shall be finished and/or painted and otherwise camouflaged, in conformance with best available stealth technology methods, as to blend in compatibility with its background and so at to minimize its visual impact on surrounding properties;
(e)
All pole-mounted elements shall not impact sight distances from public or private streets, driveways, or parking lots;
(f)
All pole-mounted elements shall not impact the accessible route of a public sidewalk existing or proposed;
(g)
The applicant shall provide a certification from a New Jersey licensed professional engineer attesting the pole is structurally suitable to carry the proposed equipment loads. The certification shall include the utility pole number as delineated in the field.
