HomeMy WebLinkAboutOrdinance 4178 ORDINANCE NO. 4178
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING CRITERIA TO ASSESS AND
REDUCE VISUAL AND LAND USE IMPACTS ASSOCIATED WITH
THE DEVELOPMENT OF WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
FACILITIES IN THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS.
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville desires to provide a range of locations for wireless
communications facilities in all zones unless prevented by law; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville wishes to minimize the adverse visual impacts of towers and
antennas by encouraging antenna location on existing structures, including utility poles, signs, water towers,
buildings, and other wireless communications facilities where feasible; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville encourages co-location and site sharing of new and existing
wireless communications facilities; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville wishes to facilitate the use of public property and structures for
wireless communications facilities; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville desires to enhance the ability of providers of telecommunications
services to provide such services to the community quickly, effectively and efficiently; and,
WHEREAS, the City of Fayetteville wishes to maintain FCC compliance (in the event there is a
conflict between these regulations and FCC or FAA regulations, the latter regulations shall govern).
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS:
Section 1 . Purpose. The purpose of this Ordinance is to protect the health, safety and welfare
of the community by establishing criteria to assess and reduce visual and land use impacts associated with the
development of wireless communications facilities.
Section 2. Conditional Use Approval Required in all Zoning Districts.
A. That Chapter 161, Zoning Regulations, § 161 .03, District A- 1 , Agricultural,
B. 1 , Permitted Uses, Unit 3, Public Protection and Utility Facilities; § 161 . 17, District I- 1 ,
Heavy Commercial and Light Industrial, B. 1 ., Permitted Uses, Unit 3, Public Protection and
Utility Facilities; and § 161 . 18, I-2, General Industrial, B. 1 . Permitted Uses, Unit 3, Public
Protection and Utility Facilities, of the Code of Fayetteville, are hereby deleted.
B. That Chapter 161, Zoning Regulations, of the Code of Fayetteville, is hereby
amended to add Unit 3, Public Protection and Utility Facilities to Sections 161 .03-161 .20,
Subsections B.2., Uses Permissible on Appeal to the Planning Commission.
Section 3. Definitions. That Chapter 151, Definitions, of the Code of Fayetteville, is hereby
amended to add the following:
Act: The Communications Act of 1934, as it has been amended from time to time,
including the Telecommunications Act of 1996, and shall include any future amendments,
thereto.
Alternative Tower Structure: Man-made trees, clock towers, bell steeples, light
poles, and similar alternative-design mounting structures that camouflage or conceal the
presence of antennas or towers and are built for the express purpose of serving as a tower
or for locating antennas.
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Page 2 4178
Ordinance No.
Antenna: Any structure or device used to collect or radiate electromagnetic waves,
including both directional antennas, such as panels, microwave dishes and satellite dishes
and omnidirectional antennas, such as whips but not including satellite earth stations.
Co-Location: Locating wireless communications equipment for more than one
provider at a single communications facility, on a building, or on an alternative tower
structure.
FAA: The Federal Aviation Administration.
Fall Zone: The area within which a Tower or Antenna might cause damage to
persons or property should the tower or antenna be knocked down, blown over or fall on its
own.
FCC: The Federal Communications Commission.
Guyed Towers: A communication tower that is supported, in whole or in part, by
guy wires and ground anchors.
Height: The vertical distance measured from the mean elevation of the finished
grade to the highest point on the tower or other structure, even if said highest point is an
antenna or antenna array.
Lattice Tower: A guyed or self-supporting three or four sided, open , steel frame
structure used to support telecommunications equipment.
Monopole Tower: A communication tower constructed without the use of guy
wires and ground anchors and consisting of only a single pole.
Original Tower Height: Height of a tower on the date of the passage of this
ordinance.
Personal Use: "Personal Use" refers to a non-commercial use by a resident of the
subject property. If any revenues are generated from the operation of the tower, it will not
be for personal use as such term is used.
Stealth Technology: Systems, components and materials used in the construction
of wireless communications facilities to make it compatible with the surrounding property.
Telecommunications: The transmission, between or among points as specified by
the user of information of the user's choosing, without change in the form or content of the
information as sent and received.
Tower or Communications Tower: Any structure that is designed and
constructed for the primary purpose of supporting one or more antennas, including lattice
towers, guy towers, or monopole towers. The term includes radio and television
transmission towers, microwave towers, common-carver towers, cellular telephone towers,
alternative tower structures, and the like. This term is imLintended to describe buildings or
other structures that have been constructed primarily for a purpose other han supporting one
or more antennas, despite the fact that such structure may currently, or in the future, actually
support one or more antennas.
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Ordinance No. 4178
Wireless Communications Facility (WCF): A land use facility that transmits
and/or receives electromagnetic signals for the purpose of transmitting analog or digital
voice or data communications. It includes antennas, microwave dishes, homs and other
types of monopoles, or similar structures supporting said equipment, equipment buildings,
shelters or cabinets, and other accessory development. Wireless communications facility
includes personal wireless services as defined in the Federal Telecommunications Act of
1996, and as subsequently amended.
Section 4. Wireless Communications Facilities. That Chapter 163, Use Conditions, of the
Code of Fayetteville, is hereby amended to add the following:
§163.29. Wireless Communications Facilities.
A. The following general requirements shall apply to all new wireless
communications facilities.
1. Noise Requirements. Equipment used in connection with a tower or antenna
array shall not generate noise that can be heard beyond the site. This prohibition does not apply to
air conditioning units no noisier than ordinary residential units or generator used in emergency
situations where regular power supply for a facility is temporarily interrupted; provided that any
permanently installed generator shall be equipped with a functional residential muffler.
2. Compliance With Federal Regulations. Applicant shall comply with
all applicable federal regulations. Proof of compliance shall be provided upon request of the
City Planner.
3. Lighting and Signage
a. Wireless communications facilities shall be lighted
only if required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). Security
lighting or motion-activated lighting may be used around the base of a
tower and within the wireless communication facility, provided that the
lighting is shielded in such a way that no light is directed towards
adjacent properties or rights-or-way.
b. Signs shall be limited to those needed to identify the
property and the owner and warn of any danger. No signs, symbols,
identifying emblems, flags, or banners shall be allowed on towers.
B. New Towers. New wireless communication towers shall meet the following
requirements:
1. Type of Towers Allowed. New towers shall be limited to monopole
type structures or alternative tower structures.
2. Tower and Antenna Height Limitations. Towers or alternative
tower structures are permitted to a maximum height of one hundred and fifty (150') feet.
3. Fall Zone. The minimum distance from the base of any tower to any
residential dwelling unit shall be the tower height or required setback, whichever is greater,
unless all persons owning said residences or the land on which said residences are located
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Ordinance No. 4178
consent in a signed writing to the construction of said tower. This setback is considered
a "fall zone". In the event that an existing structure is proposed as a mount for a wireless
communication facility, a fall zone shall not be required.
4. Camouflaging or Stealth Technology for New Towers. If the
applicant demonstrates that it is not feasible to locate on an existing structure, towers shall
be designed to be camouflaged to the greatest extent possible, including but not limited to:
use of compatible building materials and colors, screening, landscaping and placement
within trees.
5. Color of Towers. To the extent that any antenna extend above the
height of the vegetation immediately surrounding it, they shall be a neutral color, painted or
unpainted, unless the FAA requires otherwise.
6. Information Required To Process New Tower Requests.
a. Provide a map of the geographic area that your
project will serve.
b. Provide a map that shows other existing or planned
facilities that will be used by the wireless communication service provider
who is making the application.
c. Provide a map that shows other potential stand-alone
locations for your facility that have been explored.
d. Provide a scaled site plan containing information
showing the property boundaries, proposed tower, existing land use,
surrounding land uses and zoning, access road(s) location and surface
material, existing and proposed structures and topography. The plan shall
indicate proposed landscaping, fencing, parking areas, location of any
signage and specifications on proposed lighting of the facility.
e. Describe why the proposed location is superior, from
a community perspective, to other potential locations. Factors to consider
in the community perspective should include: visual aspects, setbacks and
proximity to single family residences.
I. Describe your efforts to co-locate your facility on one
of the poles or towers that currently exists, or is under construction. The
applicant should demonstrate a good faith effort to co-locate with other
carriers. The Planning Commission may deny a permit to an applicant that
has not demonstrated a good faith effort to provide for co-location. Such
good faith effort includes:
( 1 ). A survey of all existing structures that may be
feasible sites for co-locating wireless communications
facilities;
(2). Contact with all the other wireless
communications licensed carriers operating in the City
and Washington County; and
(3). Sharing information necessary to determine if co-
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Ordinance No. 4178
location is feasible under the design configuration most
accommodating to co-location.
(4). Letter from tower owner stating why co-location
is not feasible.
g. Describe how you will accommodate other antenna
arrays that could co-locate on your facility. Describe how this
accommodation will impact both your pole or tower, and your ground
mounted facilities. Provide documentation of your provider's willingness
to accommodate other providers who may be able to co-locate on your
facility.
7. Required (after condition) and Balloon Test or Crane Test
Photographs. The proposed tower shall be photographed from four locations taken 90°
apart and 300' from the center of the tower. The proposed tower shall be superimposed on
the photographs. A balloon or crane test shall be performed to illustrate the height of the
tower and photographed from the same four locations. The time period, not to exceed one
week, within which the test will be performed, shall be advertised in a newspaper of general
circulation in the City at least 14 days, but not more than 21 days prior to the test. The four
locations shall be approved by the City Planner.
S. Sight Line Representation. A sight line representation shall be drawn
from four points 90° apart and 100' from the proposed tower. Each sight line shall be
depicted in profile, drawn at one inch equals 40 feet. The profiles shall show all intervening
trees and buildings.
9. Structural Integrity and Inspections of Towers.
a. The applicant shall provide a certification letter that
states the tower meets or exceeds design criteria and all local, state, and
federal requirements regarding the construction, maintenance, and
operation of the tower.
b. If a tower fails to comply with the requirements and
criteria above and constitutes a danger to persons or property, then upon
written notice being provided to the owner of the tower, the owner shall
have thirty (30) days to bring such tower into compliance with such
requirements and criteria. If the owner fails to bring such tower into
compliance within thirty (30) days, the City may terminate that owner's
conditional use permit and/or cause the removal of such tower (at the
owner's expense).
c. By making an application hereunder, the applicant
agrees to regularly maintain and keep in a reasonably safe and
workmanlike manner all towers, antenna arrays, fences and outbuildings
owned by applicant which are located in the City. The applicant further
agrees to conduct inspections of all such facilities not less frequently than
every 12 months. The applicant agrees that said inspections shall be
conducted by one or more designated persons holding a combination of
education and experience so that they are reasonably capable of
identifying functional problems with the facilities.
Page 6
Ordinance No. 4178
10. Security Fencing and Anti-climbing Device. Through the use of security
fencing, towers and equipment shall be enclosed by wood board fencing not less than six (6) feet in
height. The tower shall also be equipped with an appropriate anti-climbing device. The facility shall
place signs indicating "No Trespassing", "High Voltage" or other pertinent information on the outside
of the fence, unless it is decided that the goals of this ordinance would be better served by waiving
this provision in a particular instance. Barbed wire fencing or razor wire shall be prohibited.
11. Vegetative Screening Requirements. Wireless communications facilities
shall be surrounded by buffers of dense tree growth and understory vegetation in all directions to
create an effective year-round visual buffer. Trees and vegetation may be existing on the subject
property or installed as part of the proposed facility or a combination of both.
12. Setbacks from property lines. Wireless communications facilities
shall meet current setbacks as required by zoning.
C. Co-location. Applicants for co-location shall meet the following requirements:
1. Administrative Approval for Antenna Co-locations and Locations
on Other Structures. The City Planner, following an administrative review without
requiring the issuance of a Conditional Use Permit, may approve the following antenna
installation:
a. Locating on Existing Structures. Installation of
an antenna on an existing structure other than a tower (such as a building,
sign, light pole, electric transmission tower and similarly scaled public
utilities /facilities, water tower, or other free-standing non-residential
structure), provided that the addition of the antenna does not add more
than twenty (20') feet to the height of the original structure.
b. Locating on Existing Towers. Installation of an
antenna on an existing tower of any height, and the placement of
additional buildings or other supporting equipment used in connection
with such additional antenna, so long as the proposed additions would add
no more than twenty feet (20) of height to the original height of the
tower. The addition or modification, to the extent possible, should be
designed to minimize visibility.
c. For the purposes of co-location, the applicant must
submit information from a licensed professional engineer certifying the
capacity of the tower for additional providers and a letter of intent from
the applicant indicating their intent to share space.
D. Other requirements.
1. Wireless Communications Facilities Placed on Top of Buildings.
When a wireless communications facility extends above the roof height of a building on
which it is mounted, every effort shall be made to conceal the facility within or behind
existing architectural features to limit its visibility from public ways. Facilities mounted on
a roof shall be stepped back from the front facade in order to limit their impact on the
buildings's silhouette.
Page 7
Ordinance No. 4178
2. Wireless Communications Facilities Placed on Sides of Buildings.
Antenna which are side-mounted on buildings shall be painted or constructed of materials
to match the color of the building material directly behind them.
E. Exemptions.
1. Personal Use. Towers for personal use which, including the height of
all antenna arrays, do not extend more than 80' from the ground and shall meet the current
setbacks as required by zoning.
2. Temporary Structures. Temporary structures designed to be used for
not more than 14 days in connection with a special event or for any reasonable period of
time in and immediately following an emergency, including without limitation those towers
which are identified as "C.O.W.s." or "Cellular on Wheels."
3. Existing Towers. All existing towers may be replaced with the same
type and height of tower structure as currently exists.
4. Emergency and Utility Towers and Antennas. Towers and antennas
under thirty five (35') in height used for 9-1- 1 services and utility monitoring (gas, water,
sewer, traffic lights, etc.)
F. Municipal Profits from Towers. The City of Fayetteville should actively
market its own property and existing structures as suitable co-location sites. As noted above
the review process is shortened and simplified when co-location on city property is
submitted by applicant. An annual lease amount should be charged according to the fair-
market value of the location. The revenues can be earmarked to improve the public area
within which the tower is located. In cases where the company no longer needs the tower,
the City may require it to be removed. Applicants can provide co-location space for city-
owned antenna.
G. Abandoned Antennas or Towers. At such time that a licensed carrier
abandons or discontinues operation of a wireless communications facility, such carrier will
notify the City of the proposed date of abandonment or discontinuation of operations. Such
notice shall be given no less than 30 days prior to abandonment or discontinuation of
operations. In the event that licensed carrier fails to give such notice, the wireless
communications facility shall be considered abandoned upon such discontinuation of
operations. Upon abandonment or discontinuation of use, the carver shall physically remove
the wireless communications facility within 90 days from the date of abandonment or
discontinuation of use. "Physically remove" shall include, but not be limited to:
1. Removal of antenna, mount, equipment shelters and security barriers
from the subject property.
2. Proper disposal of the waste materials from the site in accordance with
local and state solid waste disposal regulations.
3. Restoring the location of the wireless communications facility to its
natural condition, except that any landscaping and grading shall remain in the after-
condition.
Page 8 4178
Ordinance No.
H. Notification of Change of Ownership/Operator. Upon assignment or
transfer of a Conditional Use Permit or any of the rights thereunder to a new wireless
telecommunications operator, the owner or operator shall provide written notice within thirty
(30) days to the City Planner.
Section 5. Public Notification. That Section 157.04 is hereby amended to add the following:
B.6. Wireless Communications Facilities. Applicants requesting permits for new
towers shall notify property owners within a 500' radius from the center of the tower;
applicants requesting pemilts for co-location shall not require notification. Notification shall
be certified mail for adjoining property owners, including across streets and regular mail for
the remaining property owners within the notification area.
Section 6. Emergency Clause. This ordinance is necessary to preserve the public peace, health,
safety, and welfare, and because of such, an emergency is declared to exist and this ordinance shall be in full
ce and effect from the date of its passage and approval.
PVE� Tcv`/tom
•�\ SED AND APPROVED this I ]_' day of August, 1999.
APPROVED:
A •� .` Fre Hanna,Ivlayor
Heather Woodruff, City Clerk
FAYE 'I'TEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE. ARKANSAS
DEPARTMENTAL CORRESPONDENCE
To: Tim Conklin, Planning Director
From: Heather Woodruff, City Clerk
Date: September 9, 1999
Attached is a copy of the new Cell Tower ordinance for you records. Please distribute to your
staff.
CC. Engineering
Public Land Maintenance
Inspections
l
RECEIVED
STATE OF ARKANSAS
DEC 2 2 1999
County of Washington ss.
ACCTG. DEPT
I , JEFF JEFFUS, hereby certify that I am the publisher of THE
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS TIMES, a daily newspaper having a second class
mailing privilege, and being not less than four pages of five columns each,
published at a fixed place of business and at fixed (daily) intervals
continuously in the City of Fayetteville, County of Washington, Arkansas for
more than a period of twelve months, circulated and distributed from an
established place of business to subscribers and readers generally of all
classes in the City and County for a definite price for each copy, or a fixed
price per annum, which price was fixed at what is considered the value of the
publication, based upon the news value and service value it contains, that at
least fifty percent of the subscribers thereto have paid for their subscriptions
to the newspaper or its agents or through recognized news dealers over a
period of at least six months and that the said newspaper publishes an
average of more than forty percent news matter.
1 further ify that the legal notice attached in the matter of
was published in the regular daily issue of said newspaper for
consecutive insertions as follows:
The first insertion on the day of 19
the second insertion on the day of 19 —
c� the third insertion on the day of 19
the fourth insertion on the a —
ubhsher/General Manager
Sworn to and subscribed before me on this day of
194
[ Catherine
ill, StateD, X kansas ; Notary Public
Notaryin toncounty 105 '
My Commission Expires:
� tqy Commission
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Fees for Printing.......................................................$
Costof Proof.............................................................$
Total.........................................................................$
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STAFF REVIEW FORM
X AGENDA REQUEST
CONTRACT REVIEW
GRANT REVIEW mT ^ 0016/
For the Fayetteville City Council meeting of December 5 , 200( I /
FROM : 1112J61)
Tim rnnklin Planning pul t tri! _
Name Division Depar ment
ACTION REQUIRED : To approve an amendment to the Wireless Communication Facility Ordinance 4178.
COST TO CITY :
Cost of this Request Category/ Project Budget Category/Project Name
Account Number Funds Used To Date Program Name
Project Number Remaining Balance Fund
BUDGET REVIEW : Budgeted Item Budget Adjustment Attached
Budget Manager Administrative Services Director
CONTRACT/GRANT/LEASE REVIEW : GRANTING AGENCY : _
Acco ting Manager Date Internal Auditor Date
xoodf l-�ozz
City Att ney Date ADA Coordinator Date
Purchasing Officer Date
STAFF RECOMMENDATION : Staff forwards the recommendation of the Planning Commission and Ordinance Review
Committee to amend the Wireless Communication Facility Ordinance 4178.
�i ision nHea`d / �p Date Cross Reference
(�fl��ltJ "� New Item : Yes
Vctor a�-t
Ad Is J1- '� Prev Ord/Res # :
rvices Director to� Orig Contract Date :
Date
Orig Contract Number :
FAYE'TTEVILLE
THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE. ARKANSAS
113W. Mountain St.
Fayetteville, AR 72701
Telephone:
PLANNING DIVISION CORRESPONDENCE 501-575-8264
TO: Ordinance Review Committee Members
Interested Citizens
Tower Service Providers
Cellular and PCS Service Providers
FROM : Tim Conklin, City Planner
DATE: November 6, 2000
SUBJECT: Wireless Communication Facility Ordinance 4178
Proposed Amendment for Replacement Towers
The Ordinance Review Committee will meet on November 14, 2000 to consider amending
Section 163 .29 (E)(3) "Exceptions" to clarify the intent of the section which regulates
replacement towers. The Planning Commission met on September 25, 2000 and voted to amend
the ordinance with the following language:
• This amendment shall apply only to existing guyed towers
0 A demolition permit shall be issued prior to a building permit being issued for the
replacement tower
• The demolition permit shall expire within 90 days and shall require the existing tower to
be demolished within 90 days from issuance of the building permit for the replacement
tower
• The new tower shall be constructed as close as technically feasible to the existing tower
• The replacement tower structure height may be increased 20' above the existing tower
structure height. The existing fawet: struettire height shAdi -FIR- t- t-h-A height of HR51
• The replacement tower structure may be increased in width to a maximum of 36" .
Existing guyed towers over 36" shall not be increased in width with a replacement tower.
Attached are minutes of the Planning Commission meeting, staff report, interpretation of the
current ordinance and current ordinance. Please call me if you have any questions or comments
regarding this proposed amendment.