Woodland Park City Zoning Code
§ 22-43.6
Site Design Standards for Wireless Telecommunications Facilities.
In addition to the general requirements set forth in subsection 22-43.4 hereof, the following site design standards shall apply to wireless telecommunications facilities and shall be considered part of the site plan review process and require approval pursuant to N.J.S.A. 40:55D-16 and 40:55D-50:
a.
Antennas Mounted on Existing Structures or Rooftops.
1.
Side and roof-mounted personal wireless service facilities shall not project more than ten (10) feet above the height of an existing building or structure nor project more than ten (10) feet above the height limit of the zoning district within which the facility is located. Personal wireless service facilities may locate on a building or structure that is legally nonconforming with respect to height, provided that the facilities do not project above the existing building or structure height.
2.
The equipment structure shall not contain more than two hundred (200) square feet of gross floor area or be more than ten (10) feet in height. In addition, for buildings and structures, which are less than forty-eight (48) feet in height, the related unmanned equipment structure shall be located on the ground and shall not be located on the roof of the structure.
If the equipment structure is located on the roof of a building, the area of the equipment structure and other equipment and structures shall not occupy more than ten (10%) percent of the roof area.
Equipment storage buildings, structures or cabinets shall comply with all applicable building codes.
b.
Antennas on Legally Pre-Existing Towers. An antenna may be attached to a legally pre-existing tower in a nonresidential zone and, to minimize adverse visual impacts associated with the proliferation and clustering of towers, co-location of antennas by more than one (1) carrier on pre-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 legally pre-existing tower, unless reconstruction as a monopole is proposed.
2.
A legally pre-existing tower may be modified or rebuilt to a taller height, not to exceed the maximum tower height established by this section.
3.
On-site Location
c.
New Wireless Telecommunications Facility Site Requirements.
1.
Nonresidential Siting. Excluding antennas located on preexisting buildings or structures, which are exempt from this requirement, telecommunications towers may not be located closer than five hundred (500) feet to any residential zone district.
2.
Fall Zone. A fall zone shall be established such that the tower is set back seventy-five (75%) percent of the height of the tower from any adjoining lot line or nonappurtenant building.
3.
Security Fencing. Towers shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six (6) feet in height and approved by the Borough Engineer. Towers shall also be equipped with appropriate anti-climbing measures to prevent unauthorized access.
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 or intended for residences or any other area frequented by the public. The standard buffer shall consist of a landscaped strip at least ten (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 (8) feet high at planting and planted in staggered double rows fifteen (15) feet on center.
(b)
Existing mature tree growth and natural land forms on the site shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible.
(c)
The landscaping requirements set forth herein may be reduced at the sole discretion of the approving authority.
5.
Ancillary Buildings. Any proposed building enclosing related electronic equipment shall not be more than ten (10) feet in height nor more than two hundred (200) square feet in area, and only one (1) 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 setback requirements for accessory structures.
6.
Finish. Towers shall either maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the Federal Aviation Administration, be painted a neutral color so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness.
7.
Lighting. Towers shall not be artificially lighted, unless required by the F.A.A. or other applicable authority. If lighting is required, the lighting alternatives and design chosen shall cause the least disturbance to the surrounding properties and views and shall be subject to the approval of the Governing Body. The building enclosing electronic equipment may have one (1) light at the entrance to the building, provided that the light is attached to the building, is focused downward and is switched so that the light is only turned on when workers are in the building.
8.
Blending to Surroundings. 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 towers and related structure into the natural setting and surrounding buildings.
9.
Equipment Color. 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.
10.
Signs. No signs shall be allowed on any antenna or tower except as may be required by the FAA or FCC or as required by the Borough Planning Board or Zoning Board of Adjustment as part of site plan approval.
11.
Interference with Public Safety Communications. No cellular antenna and/or its related electronic equipment shall interfere with any public safety communications.
12.
Noise. Noise level at any property line shall not exceed fifty (50) decibels or current noise standards promulgated by the State of New Jersey, whichever is less.
13.
Parking. Parking for at least one (1) vehicle shall be provided with gravel or paved surface adjacent to any equipment building at all tower sites.
14.
Area, Bulk and Yard Requirements:
15.
Monopole. Any proposed new tower shall be a monopole unless the applicant can demonstrate that a different type of pole is necessary for the collocation of additional antennas on the tower. The applicant, at the request of the Planning Board, may be required to employ camouflage technology.