§ 21-235. Performance and construction requirements for communication towers.

Communication towers shall be permitted, subject to special approval as set forth in this section and the procedures of section 21-462 of this chapter, only in areas designated as commercial, industrial, or institutional in the future land use element of the City's comprehensive plan.

(a)

Lot sizes. For purposes of determining whether the installation of a communication tower complies with the City's Unified Land Development Code, including, but not limited to, set back requirements, lot-coverage requirements, and other such requirements, the dimensions of the entire lot shall control, even though the tower may be located on leased parcels within such lot.

(b)

Aesthetics. Communication towers shall meet the following requirements:

(1)

Towers shall either maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the FAA, be painted a neutral color so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness. Communication towers not requiring FAA painting/marking shall have either a galvanized finish or be painted a non-contrasting blue, gray, or black finish. The color should be selected so as to minimize the equipment's obtrusiveness.

(2)

The design of the buildings and related structures at a tower site shall, to the extent practicable, use materials, colors, and textures that will blend them into the natural setting and surrounding buildings.

(c)

Building codes; safety standards. To ensure the structural integrity of towers, the owner of a tower shall ensure that communication towers, and any accessory structures are designed, constructed, and maintained in compliance with the City's building codes and to the extent not in conflict therewith, the applicable standards that are published by the Electronic Industries Association, as amended. Designs for new communication towers shall be signed and sealed by an engineer registered in the State of Florida.

(d)

Setbacks. Communication tower setbacks shall be measured from the base (including foundations above ground level) of the tower or protruding accessory building structure at the base of the tower, whichever is closest to the property line of the parcel on which it is located. Communication towers must be set back a distance equal to a least twenty-five (25) feet from any property line.

(e)

Separation from off-site uses/designated areas.

(1)

The following separation from off-site uses/designated areas shall apply to all communication towers.

Communication tower separation shall be measured from the base of the tower to the lot line of the off-site uses and/or designated areas as specified in Table 3.6 below:

Table 3.6 Separation Distances for Communication Towers

Off-site Use/Designated Area	Separation Distance
Single-family or duplex residential units*	200 feet or 300% height of tower, whichever is greater
Vacant land zoned residential, (single-family or duplex) which is either platted or has preliminary subdivision plan	200 feet or 300% height of tower,** whichever is greater
Vacant unplatted residentially zoned lands***	100 feet or 100% height of tower, whichever is greater
Existing multifamily residential units of a greater density than duplex units	100 feet or 100% height of tower, whichever is greater
All lands zoned or used other than for residential	None; only setbacks set forth in subsection (D) apply

 

* Includes modular homes and mobile homes used for living purposes.

** Separation measured from base of tower to closest residential lot line.

*** Includes any unplatted residential use properties without a valid preliminary subdivision plan or valid development plan approval and any multifamily residentially zoned land greater than duplex.

 

(2)

Separation distances between communication towers. Separation distances between communication towers shall be measured between the proposed tower and the preexisting tower and shall be as specified in Table 3.7 below. The separation distance shall be measured by drawing or following a straight line between the base of the existing tower and the proposed base, pursuant to a site plan.

Table 3.7 Separation Distances for Communication Towers

	Lattice	Monopole or Guyed Greater than 75 feet	Monopole, Camouflaged, or Guyed up to 75 feet
Lattice	2500 feet	1500 feet	750 feet
Monopole or Guyed greater than 75 feet	1500 feet	1500 feet	750 feet
Monopole, Camouflaged, or Guyed up to 75 feet	750 feet	750 feet	750 feet

 

(f)

Security fencing. Communication towers, including accessory structures, shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six (6) feet in height and shall also be equipped with an appropriate anti-climbing device.

(g)

Landscaping. In addition to the requirements of section 21-181 the following landscaping and buffering of communication towers shall be required around the perimeter of the tower and accessory structures:

(1)

A row of trees a minimum of eight (8) feet tall and a maximum of twenty-five (25) feet apart shall be planted around the perimeter of the fence;

(2)

A continuous hedge at least thirty (30) inches high at planting capable of growing at least thirty-six (36) inches in height within eighteen (18) months shall be planted in front of the tree line referenced above; and

(3)

All landscaping shall be of the evergreen variety; and once installed, shall be preserved and maintained in an appropriate manner.

Landscaping, as required by this section, shall be installed on the outside of security fences. Further, existing vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable and may be used as a substitute of or in supplement towards meeting landscaping requirements. Existing mature tree growth and natural landforms on the site shall be preserved to the maximum extent practicable. In cases, such as towers sited on large, wooded lots, natural growth around the property perimeter may be a sufficient buffer. Further, in cases where the tower is sited on paved or impervious surfaces, such as parking lots, the placement of landscaping required by this subsection may be modified so long as equivalent screening is provided.

Camouflaged communication towers are exempt from the requirements of this subsection.

(h)

Height.

(1)

No communication tower, whether freestanding or installed on another structure, shall exceed two hundred (200) feet in height from ground level.

(2)

An existing communication tower may be modified to a taller height, not to exceed two hundred (200) feet in total height, to accommodate the collocation of an additional communication antenna(s); provided however, that any communication tower modified by greater than forty (40) feet must continue to be in compliance with all requirements of this section.

(i)

Type of construction. Communication towers shall be monopole, guyed, lattice, or camouflaged construction.

(j)

Signs and advertising. The use of any portion of a communication tower for sign or advertising purposes including, without limitation, company name, banners, or streamers, is prohibited.

(k)

Illumination. Communication towers shall not be artificially lighted except to assure human safety or as required by the FAA.

(l)

Collocation.

(1)

Monopole communication towers shall be engineered and constructed to accommodate a minimum of one (1) additional communication service provider.

(2)

Lattice communication towers shall be engineered and constructed to accommodate a minimum of two (2) additional communication service providers.

(3)

Camouflaged communication towers may be engineered and constructed without accommodating additional communication service providers.

(4)

Communication towers located within electrical substations may be engineered and constructed without accommodating additional communication service providers.

(5)

On-site relocation. A communication tower which is being rebuilt to accommodate the collocation of an additional communication antenna may be moved on-site within fifty (50) feet of its existing location, however, the tower shall meet the setback requirements of this section. After the communication tower is rebuilt to accommodate collocation, only one (1) tower may remain on the site. The relocation of a tower in accordance with this subsection shall in no way be deemed to cause a violation of this section.

(m)

Non-interference. No communication tower or communication antenna shall interfere with public safety communication. Frequency coordination is required to ensure non-interference with public safety systems and/or public safety entities.

(n)

Variance. In addition to authorized variances as specifically set forth in section 21-421, a variance request may be granted to reduce separation distances required in subsection (e) of this section where the applicant meets all of the criteria set forth in section 21-422. As evidence of special conditions, special circumstances, and/or hardship, the applicant may submit engineering data, including a map depicting the propagation coverage, which indicates technological deficiencies in service coverage and/or capacity at other legally permissible site locations within the City.

(Ord. No. O-00-09, Art. 3 (3.11.03.05), 4-24-00; Ord. No. O-01-55, § 4, 10-8-01)