08-21-1996 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Standard Provisions 110 In addition to designated permitted zones and location, local jurisdictions also establish development standards with which wireless communications facilities must comply. In general, these development standards are specific to a particular zoning district. Local agencies also levy additional requirements not specifically set forth in their zoning ordinances via the discretionary permit process. Specific conditions of approval are usually included when individual conditional use permits are approved. Setbacks. Screening and Landscaping Primary local objectives are to eliminate or minimize the visual effects of wireless communications facilities, and to make such facilities compatible with surrounding uses. To accomplish these objectives, most local agencies require that minimum setbacks, adequate screening, and landscaping are provided for these facilities. Examples of local zoning ordinances containing specific development standards are provided in Appendix 2. • Height Most local zoning ordinances contain specific height limits for each zoning district. Wireless communications facilities such as towers or monopoles are typically allowed to exceed that height limit, subject to discretionary permit approval. Co-location Some communities require applicants to co-locate or share the use of their facilities with other wireless communications providers. In this paper, co-location is defined as locating wireless communications equipment for more than one provider on a single site. There are several factors that determine feasibility of co-location. These include technical factors such as: 1. A tower or building's structural capacity: An existing tower or building may not be able to support weight or wind loarisSTom additionalantennas_without structuralsedesign_(which may have additional visual impacts). In addition, co-location is problematic when designing the structural capacity of new towers. A provider is able to design a tower which supports the weight and wind loads of its own antennae and equipment, but cannot predict how much more structural capacity is needed to accommodate antennae and equipment from other users; 2. Radiofrequency interference: Co-location may create signal interference between antennas. Approximately 20 feet of horizontal and vertical separation is typically needed between different antennas. On a tower, the need for separation may have a cumulative effect of adding multiple platforms which may make the tower more visually obtrusive; 3. Mechanical or electrical incompatibilities: Like structural capacity, mechanical or electrical al incompatibilities may make it difficult for different providers to share existing or new sites; • 26