§ 69-13. Lattice, self-supporting and guy towers.

A CUP may be issued to erect, repair, construct, relocate or maintain a lattice, self-supporting or guy tower within the city provided:

(1)

The tower is not greater than 150 feet in height (the council may allow up to 30 feet additional height for each co-location opportunity made available on each tower, up to a maximum height allowed by the council for each particular location, according to the circumstances thereof);

(2)

The tower maintains a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the FAA, is painted a neutral color so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness;

(3)

The tower or telecommunication facility display no advertisements;

(4)

No illumination is permitted on telecommunications facilities unless required by the FCC, FAA or other state or federal agency of competent jurisdiction, unless necessary for air traffic safety. Any required lighting shall be restricted to dual lights (medium intensity white strobe lights daylight mode and red obstruction lights nighttime mode) unless the FAA or state aeronautics division requires some other form of lighting;

(5)

The tower and telecommunication facility use materials, colors, textures, screening and landscaping that blend the tower and base facility to the natural setting and built environment;

(6)

The tower and telecommunication facility meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, the FCC or such other governing agency with the authority to regulate telecommunication towers and antennas. If such standards and regulations are changed, the owner of the tower or telecommunication facility shall bring such tower or facility into compliance with any revised standards and regulations within six months of the effective date of such standards and regulations, unless a more stringent compliance schedule is mandated by the controlling agency. Failure to comply with this provision shall be grounds for the city to require removal or re-permitting of the antenna at the owner's expense;

(7)

The applicant demonstrates to the reasonable satisfaction of the city that no existing telecommunication facility can accommodate the applicant's proposed antenna;

(8)

The tower and its supporting facilities and structures meet the following setback requirements:

a.

All towers, including but not limited to lattice towers and guy towers, are set back from any property line abutting a residential district, as measured from the base of the tower, a distance of 300 feet. For a guyed structure, such setback shall be adequate to provide a vegetative, topographic or other buffer sufficient to obscure visibility of the anchor from adjoining properties;

b.

All towers and telecommunication facilities must have a front yard setback of 150 feet and sufficient rear and side yard set backs to fully contain the structure in the event of tower failure.

(9)

The tower and telecommunication facility is equipped with an anti-climbing device to prevent unauthorized access;

(10)

The tower complies with all current safety, design, structural and wind loading standards of applicable building and technical codes adopted by the city, so as not to endanger the health and safety of residents;

(11)

The tower and telecommunication facility is designed to structurally accommodate the maximum number of additional users technically practical;

(12)

The site plan meets the following landscape buffer/screening requirements:

a.

Towers or telecommunication facilities which abut residentially zoned property have a minimum 50 feet landscaped, horizontal buffer that effectively screens the view of the tower and base facility from adjacent property, including a solid, opaque fence or vegetative buffer sufficient to screen the tower and base facility completely to a height of six feet from adjacent properties and rights-of-way. When topography and existing conditions allow, the required 50-foot horizontal buffer should be an undisturbed buffer; provided, however, the buffer may be crossed by an access drive of not greater than 12 feet in width;

b.

Towers or telecommunication facilities which abut property zoned other than residential shall have a minimum 15 feet landscaped, horizontal buffer that effectively screens the view of the tower or base facility from adjacent property, including a solid, opaque fence or solid vegetative buffer sufficient to screen the tower and base facility completely to a height of six feet from adjacent properties and rights-of-way;

c.

Existing mature tree growth and natural land forms on the site are preserved to the maximum extent possible. Where towers or facilities are sited on wooded lots in excess of five acres, natural growth around the property perimeter may be a sufficient buffer; and

d.

In locations where the visual impact of the tower or facility would be minimal, such as developed heavy industrial areas, the landscaping requirement may be reduced or waived.

(13)

The equipment at the tower or telecommunication facility is automated to the greatest extent possible to reduce traffic and congestion;

(14)

All access roads to the tower or telecommunication facility are constructed of dustless and durable Portland cement, concrete or asphalted concrete complying with specifications established by the city and maintained in a usable condition; and

(15)

The site plan meets the following requirements for principal, accessory and joint uses:

a.

Accessory structures used in direct support of a tower are not used for offices, vehicle storage or other outdoor storage. Mobile or immobile equipment not used in direct support of a tower facility are not stored or parked on the site of the tower, except to the extent that such equipment is necessary to repair or maintain the facility while repair or maintenance is continuing;

b.

Towers located on sites containing another principal use in the same buildable area comply with siting, set back, separation, and general requirements of this section. Towers may occupy a leased portion of a premises where the leased portion allows for the minimum set back and spacing requirements for the zoning district in which it is located. When joint use of a lot is permitted, the city shall require the execution of a unity of title if two or more lots are utilized for setback purposes or to prohibit the unlawful division of a lot containing a tower and another principal use. The minimum distance between a tower and other principal use located on the same lot shall be the greater of 100 percent breakpoint of the tower or 150 feet. This separation is required to assure compatibility of land uses and to provide for the health, safety and welfare of individuals and structures occupying the same site; and

c.

Towers are not located on property where volatile, flammable, explosive or hazardous materials such as propane, gasoline, natural gas and dangerous chemicals are stored, transferred, sold or placed.

(16)

No advertising is permitted on telecommunications facilities. However, an antenna installation may be allowed on any legally permitted permanent billboard or outdoor advertising sign as long as the other requirements of this chapter are met.

(Ord. No. 10-2007, § 1, 8-13-07)