Spring Lake Heights
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
§ 22-652.6
Site Design Standards.
[Ord. #3-2000 § F]
The following site design standards shall apply to wireless telecommunications facilities:
a.
New Towers.
1.
Telecommunications towers may not be located closer than 50 feet to any residential property. Antennas located on pre-existing buildings or structures are exempt from this requirement.
2.
Fall Zone. A fall zone shall be established such that the tower is setback 125% of the height from any adjoining lot line or non-appurtenant building.
3.
Security Fencing. Towers shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six feet in height. Towers shall also be equipped with appropriate anti-climbing measures.
4.
Landscaping. The following requirements shall govern the landscaping surrounding towers:
(a)
Tower facilities shall be landscaped with a buffer of plant materials that effectively screens the view of the tower compound from property used for residences or planned residences or any other area frequented by the public. The standard buffer shall consist of a landscaped strip at least 10 feet wide outside the perimeter of the compound. However, at a minimum, the facility should be shielded from public view by evergreen trees at least eight feet high at planting and planted in staggered double rows 15 feet on center.
(b)
In locations where the visual impact of the tower would be minimal, the landscaping requirement may be reduced at the sole discretion of the approving authority.
(c)
Existing mature tree growth and natural land forms in the site shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible.
5.
Ancillary buildings. Any proposed building enclosing related electronic equipment shall not be more than 10 feet in height nor more than 200 square feet in area, and only one such building shall be permitted on the lot for each provider of wireless telecommunication services located on the site. Such buildings must satisfy the minimum zoning district requirements for accessory structures.
6.
Aesthetic. Towers and antennas shall meet the following requirements:
(a)
Towers shall either maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the FAA, be painted a neutral color so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness.
(b)
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.
7.
Lighting. No lighting is permitted except as follows, which shall be subject to review and approval by the Planning Board as part of the site plan application:
(a)
The building enclosing electronic equipment may have one light at the entrance to the building, provided that the light is attached to the building, is focused downward, properly shielded and is switched so that the light is turned on only when workers are at the building; and
(b)
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.
8.
Signs. No signs are permitted except those required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the Electronic Industries Association (EIA) and/or the Telecommunication Industry Association (TIA) or by law, such as warning and equipment information signs.
9.
All ground-mounted telecommunication towers shall be self-supported monopoles and must be capable of withstanding 140 mile per hour hurricane force winds or per local codes, whichever is more stringent.
b.
Antennas on existing towers. An antenna may be attached to a pre-existing tower and, to minimize adverse visual impacts associated with the proliferation and clustering of towers, co-location of antennas by more than one carrier on existing towers shall take precedence over the construction of new towers, provided such co-location is accomplished in a manner consistent with the following:
1.
A tower which is modified or reconstructed to accommodate the co-location of an additional antenna shall be of the same tower type as the existing tower, unless reconstruction as a monopole is proposed.
2.
An existing tower may be modified or rebuilt to a taller height, not to exceed the maximum tower height established by this section.
3.
Onsite location.
c.
Noise Standards. Noise attenuation measures shall be included to reduce noise levels at the facility to a maximum exterior level of 60 decibels. Backup generators may only be operated during power outages and for testing and maintenance purposes.