HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 17-008 Ordinance 17-008
An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance of the City of Brookings
to Include Provisions Pertaining to Small Cell Facilities and Distributed
Antenna Systems in the City of Brookings.
Be It Ordained and Enacted by the Council of the City of Brookings, State of South
Dakota, as follows:
I.
That Section 94-396 of the Ordinances of the City of Brookings be amended to read as
follows:
Sec. 94-396. -Wireless communication facilities.
The purpose of this section is to establish regulations and performance standards for
the siting of wireless communication facilities (WCFs) in a manner that will protect the
public's health, safety, and welfare and maintain the aesthetic integrity of the community
(1) Permit required. An application for a building permit is required prior to the
construction of any WCF. Compliance with all applicable building codes, navigation
hazard requirements, Federal Aviation Administration Regulations and section 94-
164 must be achieved before a permit will be issued.
(2) Definitions. The following definitions shall apply:
Amateur radio operator tower.• A structure used for the transmission, broadcast or
reception of amateur radio or citizen band signals.
Antenna:Any device that radiates or captures electromagnetic wave signals including
digital and analog voice and data signals or video or microwave signals.
Antenna support structure:An existing building or structure such as, but not limited to,
utility poles, light poles, signs, elevated water tanks and steeples upon which an applicant
proposes to install wireless communications facilities.
Broadcast tower.• A structure for the transmission of radio or television broadcast
communications. This term does not include offices or studios.
Co-location/site sharing: Use of an antenna support structure or telecommunications
tower by two or more wireless license holders or by one wireless license holder for more
than one type of communication. This includes the placement of a WCF on a structure
owned and operated by a municipal or public utility.
Distributed Antenna System (DAS):A system consisting of: (1) a number of
remote communications nodes deployed throughout the desired coverage area, with
each node including at least one antenna, but not more than three antennas per
provider, for transmission and reception; (2) a high capacity signal transport medium
(typically fiber optic cable) connecting each node to a central communications hub
site; and (3) radio transceivers located at the hub site (rather than at each individual
node as is the case for small cells) to process or control the communications signals
transmitted and received through the antennas.
Equipment facility:A structure used to contain ancillary equipment for a WCF,
such as cabinets, pedestals and similar devices.
Height:The distance measured from the original grade to the highest point on the
WCF, including the antenna(s).
Small Cell Facility:A wireless service facility that either meets both of the following
qualifications or is within a stealth design that is consistent with the design guidelines:
1. Each antenna is located inside an enclosure of no more than five (5) cubic
feet in volume or, in the case of an antenna that has exposed elements, the
antenna and all of its exposed elements could fit within an enclosure of no
more than five (5) cubic feet, however, the maximum dimensions of the
antenna shall not exceed 36" in height and 16" in diameter; and
2. Each provider's equipment enclosures shall be no larger than seventeen
(17) cubic feet in volume. The following associated equipment may be
located outside of the primary equipment enclosure and, if so located, is not
included in the calculation of equipment volume: electric meter,
concealment, telecommunications demarcation box, underground
enclosures, back-up power systems, grounding equipment, power transfer
switch, and cut-off switch.
Stealth: The ability of freestanding telecommunication towers to blend into the
neighborhood environment at a given location and the ability to camouflage or
conceal the presence of wireless communication facilities when attached to antenna
support structures.
Telecommunications tower.�Any pole, spire, structure or combination thereof,
including supporting lines, cables, wires, braces and mast, designed and constructed
primarily for the purpose of supporting one (1) or more antennas, including self-
supporting lattice towers, guyed towers or monopole towers. A communication tower
may include, but not be limited to, radio and television towers, microwave towers,
common carrier towers, cellular telephone towers and personal communication
service towers.
Temporary WCF:A WCF that is placed in service for less than 180 days.
Wireless communications facilities: One or more antenna, tower, base station,
antenna support structure, mechanical and/or electronic equipment, conduit, cable,
fiber, wire, and associated structures, enclosures, assemblages, devices and
supporting elements that generate, transmit or produce a signal used for
communication that is proposed by an entity other than the City, including but not
limited to radio/tv/satellite and broadcast towers, telephone service, including new
microwave or cellular towers, personal wireless service facilities, DAS, small cell
facilities and Temporary WCF.
(3) Siting and co-location criteria. The siting and co-location of all WCFs shall be
subject to the following criteria before consideration will be given to a new site:
a. WCFs shall be located on existing antenna support structures, such as utility
poles, light poles, signs, elevated water tanks, buildings and other WCFs; or
b. WCFs shall co-locate or site share upon existing telecommunication towers; or
c. WCFs shall consider the use of public property and structures.
d. If an applicant has shown a good faith effort to co-locate but has found it not
to be feasible, a written statement indicating the reasons why co-location is
not feasible shall be provided
(4) Application requirements. The following information is required prior to the siting of
all WCFs. Installing antenna(s) on existing WCFs and amateur radio operator towers
are exempt from these requirements.
a. In business and industrial districts, a scaled drawing or aerial map, showing
the subject property and all properties within one and one-half times the
height of the proposed tower and the location of all existing buildings and
structures, and the exact location of the tower and equipment facility. In
residential districts, a WCF on an existing antenna support structure shall
be considered through administrative review. A proposed
telecommunication tower shall be considered through the conditional use
permit process. An application shall be accompanied by a scaled drawing
or aerial map showing the subject property and all properties within three
times the height of the proposed tower and the location of all existing
buildings and structures and the exact location of the tower and equipment
facility.
b. If applicable, an application must also include written documentation under
a licensed engineer's stamp verifying the need for a guyed-lattice tower
when no other means of antenna support structure is available due to
technical engineering constraints.
c. Procedure for Administrative Review for WCFs in the public right of way:
1. The City shall issue a written decision concerning the application within
sixty (60) days of submission of the initial application unless (a) the City
notified the applicant that its application was incomplete within thirty (30)
days of filing. If so, the remaining time from the sixty (60) day total
review time is suspended until the applicant provides the missing
information, (b) extension of time is agreed to by the applicant, or (c)
additional time required by processes of the Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA), the State Historic Preservation Office or the
Historic Preservation Commission, if applicable to the proposed
installation, and to the extent that the same are beyond the control of the
City. The running of the aforementioned sixty (60) day period shall not
otherwise be tolled.
2. Failure to issue a written decision within sixty (60) days shall constitute
an approval of the application.
3. The provisions of this subsection (c) do not apply to applications for
facilities outside of the public rights of way in the municipality.
(5) Development standards.
a. Location and setback
1. Antenna:Antenna(s) that are attached to support structures are exempt
from the setback requirements in the district in which they are located.
The antenna(s) may extend up to five feet horizontally beyond the edge
of the support structure provided it does not encroach over the property
line.
2. Telecommunication towers:A telecommunication tower shall meet the
setback requirements for the district in which it is located. A
telecommunication tower shall also be constructed on a lot so that it is
as far away as possible from existing off-site buildings, and in no event
nearer to any residential building than a distance of one hundred
percent of the height of the tower. A telecommunications tower shall not
be closer to a residential district boundary line than one hundred percent
of its height. Where telecommunication towers are required to meet FAA
paint and/or lighting regulations, the distance befinreen them shall not be
less than one-half mile.
3. Equipment facilities:All equipment facilities shall meet the setback
requirements for the district in which they are located.
4. Amateur radio operator tower.�All amateur radio operator towers shall
meet the setback requirements for the district in which they are located.
b. Height.
1. Antenna(s) attached to antenna support structures may not add more
than 20 feet in height to the existing building or structure to which it is
attached. In residential districts, the maximum height including the
antenna support structure and the antenna(s) is 100 feet.
2. Telecommunication towers:
(i) In all industrial districts, the tower structure shall not exceed the
maximum height of 200 feet.
(ii) In all business districts, except the RB-4, B-2A and B-5 districts, the
maximum height is 100 feet.
(iii) In the agricultural/conservation district, as depicted on the adopted
future land use plan, the maximum height is 200 feet.
(iv) In residential districts, the maximum height shall be determined
through the conditional use permit process.
3. Amateur radio operator towers shall have a maximum height of 35 feet.
Exceptions: Antennas co-located upon existing structures. In addition, for
every one additional foot in from the side or rear building setback lines,
one additional foot in height may be added, to a maximum height of 60
feet.
4. Broadcast towers may be erected to a height as approved by the city
council upon conditional use review.
c. Screening and landscaping. Telecommunication tower sites and equipment
facilities shall be screened when there exists a clear view from adjacent
residential uses. A fence, wall, berm, shrubbery or tree plantings shall be
installed to a sufficient height along the perimeter or in appropriate areas in
order to reduce the visual impact of the tower base and buildings. Existing
mature tree growth and natural landforms shall be preserved to the maximum
extent possible and may be a sufficient buffer. If a chainlink fence is erected,
the fence shall have wood or plastic slats woven into the fence, open mesh
windscreens installed or additional shrubbery or tree plantings located outside
the fence.
d. lllumination. Towers shall not be artificially lighted unless required by the FAA
or other governing authority. Security or safety lighting for equipment facilities is
permitted.
e. Design. Towers shall be of a neutral color unless otherwise required by the FAA.
Antenna(s) installed on support structures shall be of a neutral color that is the
same as or compatible with the support structure. Buildings and other structures
shall be made of exterior materials and colors that will blend the facilities to the
natural setting and built environment. In residential districts, aesthetics is a high
priority. Therefore, only a monopole design shall be permitted unless otherwise
approved during the administrative review or conditional use process. In
addition, incorporating stealth design into the tower and equipment facilities
whenever possible will be an important factor in the review of any conditional
use permit application.
f. Maintenance. Telecommunication towers, antenna support structures, and
WCFs shall be maintained in compliance with Electronic Industries
Association/Telecommunications Industries Association Standard (EIA/TIA) 222
Revision G Standard entitled "Structural Standards for Steel Antenna Towers
and Antenna Supporting Structures" as it may be updated or amended.
g. Abandonment. Any wireless communication facility that is no longer in use shall
be reported to the city by the facility owner. If a WCF is not operated for a
continuous period of 12 months, it shall be considered abandoned and the
ow�er shall remove the WCF within six months.
h. Development Standards for Small Cell Facilities and Distributed Antenna
Systems (DAS):
1. The applicant shall demonstrate that through location, construction, or
stealthing, the proposed facility or nefinrork of facilities will have minimum
visual impact upon the appearance of adjacent properties and the views
from adjacent residential neighborhoods and the pedestrian environment,
while retaining viable opportunities for future collocation, provided
applications for designs consistent with the design guidelines provided for in
subsection 5.e of this section shall be deemed to have met the requirement
of this subsection.
2. Documentation of the number of other entities desiring to use the
telecommunications facility that can be accommodated within the design
parameters of the telecommunications facility as proposed.
3. A statement indicating the owner's commitment to allow feasible shared use
of the facility within its design capacity for collocation.
4. The proposed site plan and design plans meet or exceed all applicable
standards, including without limitation those of the FAA, Federal
Communications Commission (FCC), American National Standards Institute
(ANSI), and Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)
standards for power density levels and structural integrity, American
Concrete Institute (ACI), American Standards Testing and Materials
Institute (ASTM), the National Electrical Code, and the American Steel
Institute. The telecommunications facility must comply with building codes
and other federal, state, and local regulations, Applicant must also comply
with applicable Historic Preservation ordinances of the City.
5. With respect to telecommunication facilities within public rights-of-way.
a. Support structures and above-ground transmission equipment shall
be located outside the pedestrian portion of any sidewalk.
b. New telecommunication facility support structures may not be
erected to a height greater than the height surrounding utility poles or
street lights, whichever is greater. If no utility poles are present, the
total height shall be built to a maximum height of 35', including
antennas, lightning rods or other extensions. All new proposed
structures, or a stealth telecommunications support structure
replacing an existing support structure or alternative structure, within
the right-of-way shall be designed for a minimum of two wireless
communication facility providers.
c. Telecommunication facilities shall be constructed consistent with the
design requirements of the Community Development Department,
and, where applicable, the Historic Preservation Commission
II.
Any or all ordinances in conflict herewith are hereby repealed.
First Reading: May 9, 2017
Second Reading: May 23, 2017
Published: May 26, 2017
CITY OF BROOKINGS, SD
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