15.88.050 General siting criteria.
Siting criteria for WCFs is necessary to encourage the siting of those facilities in locations most appropriate based on land use compatibility, neighborhood characteristics, and aesthetic considerations. No general siting criteria are necessary for small satellite dishes or amateur ratio towers because these facilities are allowed within all zoning districts.
Generally, collocating on existing WCF towers is encouraged by fewer standards and less complex permit procedures. Further, attachment of antenna(s) to existing nonresidential structures and buildings primarily within light industrial and commercial zoning districts is preferable to new WCF support structures. The town may request feasibility studies which demonstrate that locations on existing structures have been explored as the preferred siting alternative.
A. Attached Wireless Communication Facilities. The following sites shall be considered by applicants as the preferred order of location of proposed wireless facilities including antenna(s), equipment, and equipment shelters. As determined feasible, and in order of preference, the sites are:
1. Existing towers: On any existing site or tower where a legal wireless telecommunication facility is currently located regardless of underlying zoning.
2. Publicly used structures: Attached to existing public facilities such as water towers, utility poles, utility structures, fire stations, and other public buildings within all zoning districts not utilized primarily for recreational uses.
3. Light industrial: Structures or sites used exclusively for industrial and manufacturing uses within the light industrial zoning districts. These are areas for more intensive land use and where a full range of public facilities are expected. Attached WCFs within the LI zoning districts shall require approval by the design review board as part of the telecommunications facility permit review process.
4. Commercially zoned sites: Structures or sites used exclusively for commercial and office uses. These are areas of more intensive land uses where a full range of public facilities are expected. Attached WCFs within these zoning districts shall require approval by the town council as part of the telecommunications facility permit review process.
5. Residential zones: Structures or sites which are not used wholly for residential use, including residential accessory structures (e.g., detached garages). Where the installation complies with all FCC regulations and standards, institutional structures, places of worship and other nonresidential sites may be considered. Attached WCFs within all residential zoning districts shall require approval by the town council as part of the telecommunications facility permit review process.
B. Freestanding Wireless Communication Facilities with Support Structures. WCF with support structures shall be minimized by collocating wireless facilities on existing towers. New WCFs with support structures are most appropriately located within certain public (P) zoning districts, light industrial (LI) zoning districts, and highway commercial business (HCB) zoning districts, followed in order by commercial (CB-1 and CB-2), and business (GO, NB, H) zoning districts. All new support structures, including monopole and lattice towers, will require a conditional use permit. New WCFs with support structures are not allowed within the agricultural (AG) and residential zoning districts. [Ord. 339 § 5, 1997.]