Stonycreek Township
City Zoning Code
City Zoning Code
ARTICLE XVII
Communications Towers and Antennas
§ 155-67 Scope.
§ 155-68 Definitions.
As used in this Article XVII, unless the context otherwise requires, the following words shall have the following meanings:
Any device used for the transmission or reception of radio, television, wireless telephone, pager, commercial mobile radio service or any other wireless communications signals, including without limitation omnidirectional or whip antennas and directional or panel antennas, owned or operated by any person or entity licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to operate such device. This definition shall not include private residence-mounted satellite dishes or television antennas or amateur radio equipment, including without limitation ham or citizen band radio antennas.
An unmanned building or cabinet containing communications equipment required for the operation of communications antennas and covering an area on the ground not greater than 250 square feet.
A structure other than a building, such as a monopole, self-supporting or guyed tower, designed and used to support communications antennas.
The erection, construction, alteration or maintenance, by public utilities or municipal or other governmental agencies, of underground or overhead gas, electrical, steam or water transmission or distribution systems, collection, communications, supply or disposal systems and their essential buildings, excluding communications towers and communications antennas, as defined herein.
The vertical distance measured from the ground level to the highest point on a communications tower, including antennas mounted on the tower.
A structure, owned and operated by a public utility electric company regulated by the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission, designed and used to support overhead electricity transmission lines.
Any thing built, constructed or erected which requires location on the ground or attachment to something located on the ground.
§ 155-69 Use restrictions.
A.
Any height exceptions set forth in this chapter shall not apply to any communications antennas or communications towers. Further, to the extent that any height restrictions are in conflict with the restrictions and provisions herein, the more stringent shall be applicable.
B.
Omnidirectional or whip communications antennas shall not exceed 20 feet in height and seven inches in diameter.
C.
Directional or panel communications antennas shall not exceed five feet in height and three feet in width.
D.
Communications antennas shall comply with all applicable standards established by the Federal Communications Commission governing human exposure to electromagnetic radiation.
E.
Communications antennas shall not cause radio frequency interference with other communications facilities located in the Township of Stonycreek.
F.
A communications equipment building shall be subject to the height and setback requirements of the applicable zoning district for an accessory structure.
G.
The owner or operator of communications antennas shall be licensed by the Federal Communications Commission to operate such antennas.
§ 155-70 Site restrictions.
A.
A communications tower may be located as a special exemption only within the following geographic boundaries of Stonycreek Township:
(1)
That section of Stonycreek Township which is known as the "Wertz Road" area of the Oakland section of the Township. This area is located in the northwest section of the Township to which access to this area is obtained from Bedford Street (State L.R. 3036), by turning onto Wertz Road and then traveling approximately 1/2 mile up Wertz Road. This area is bounded by the City of Johnstown on the west side and to the southwest by Lorain Borough.
(2)
That section of Stonycreek Township known as the "Glass Hill" area of the Township near the Solomon Run section of the Township. The area is located in the northeast section of the Township to which access to this area is from the Johnstown 56 Bypass (State L.R. 0056) turning onto Widman Street and then turning onto Glass Road and traveling approximately one mile to the top of the hill. The area is bounded to the northeast by Conemaugh Township, Cambria County, and to the east by Richland Township.
B.
Access shall be provided to the communications tower and communications equipment building by means of a public street or easement to a public street. The easement shall be a minimum of 20 feet in width and shall be improved to a width of at least 10 feet, with a dust-free all weather surface for its entire length.
C.
A communications tower may be located on a lot occupied by other principal structures and may occupy a leased parcel within a lot meeting the minimum lot size requirements for the zoning district.
D.
Recording a plat of subdivision or land development shall not be required for a lease parcel on which a communications tower is proposed to be constructed, provided that the communications equipment building is unmanned.
E.
The height of the communications tower shall not exceed 150 feet.
F.
The foundation and base of any communications tower shall be set back from a property line (not lease line) located in any residential district at least 100 feet and shall be set back from any other property line (not lease line) at least 50 feet.
G.
The base of a communications tower shall be landscaped so as to screen the foundation and base and communications equipment building from abutting properties.
H.
The communications equipment building shall comply with the required yard and height requirements of the applicable zoning district for an accessory structure.
I.
The applicant shall submit certification from a Pennsylvania-registered professional engineer that a proposed communications tower will be designed and constructed in accordance with the current Structural Standards for Steel Antenna Towers and Antenna Supporting Structures, published by the Electrical Industrial Association/Telecommunications Industry Association and applicable requirements of the Stonycreek Township Building Code.
J.
The applicant shall submit a copy of its current Federal Communications Commission license; the name, address and emergency telephone number for the operator of the communications tower; and a Certificate of Insurance evidencing general liability coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence and property damage coverage in the minimum amount of $1,000,000 per occurrence covering the communications tower and communications antennas.
K.
All guy wires associated with guyed communications towers shall be clearly marked so as to be visible at all times and shall be located within a fenced enclosure.
L.
The site of a communications tower shall be secured by a fence with a maximum height of eight feet to limit accessibility by the general public.
M.
No signs or lights shall be mounted on a communications tower except as may be required by the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration or other governmental agency which has jurisdiction.
N.
Communications towers shall be protected and maintained in accordance with the requirements of the Stonycreek Township Building Code.
O.
If a communications tower remains unused for a period of 12 consecutive months, the owner or operator shall dismantle and remove the communications tower within six months of the expiration of such twelve-month period.
P.
One off-street parking space shall be provided within the fenced area.
§ 155-71 Enforcement.
It shall be the duty of the Zoning Officer to administer and enforce the regulations prescribed herein. Applications for permits and variances shall be made to the Zoning Officer in accordance with Article XV of this chapter.
§ 155-72 Violations and penalties.
Each violation of this article shall be punishable as set forth in Article XV of this chapter.
§ 155-73 Conflicting regulations.
Where any of the regulations or limitations prescribed in this article are inconsistent or conflict with any other zoning regulations applicable to the same area, whether the conflict is with respect to the height of structures, the use of land or any other matter, the more stringent limitation or requirement shall govern and prevail.