16.10.110 General standards and design requirements

16.10.110 General standards and design requirements.

1. Antennas must be mounted on tall structures so as to present the smallest possible silhouette, profile, or cross-section, unless applicant provides sufficient evidence that doing so would prohibit the applicant from properly deploying the network. New antenna mounts must be flush-mounted onto existing tall structures, unless it is demonstrated through RF propagation analysis that flush-mounted antennas will not meet the network objectives of the desired coverage area.

2. Attached, concealed feed lines and antennas must be designed to architecturally match the facade, roof, wall, or structure on which they are affixed so that they blend with the existing design, color, and texture of the structure.

B. Security of Tall Structures. All tall structures must be located, fenced and secured in a manner that prevents unauthorized access.

1. All antennas, towers and other supporting structures must be constructed or shielded to reasonably prevent unauthorized access.

2. Transmitters and telecommunications control points must be installed in a manner to be readily accessible only to persons authorized to operate or service them.

3. A fence or wall not less than eight (8) feet in height with a secured gate must be maintained around the base of the tower, the equipment shelter and any guy wires, either completely or individually as determined by the planning director. The security fence must be locked when the facility is unattended.

1. Support structures must be designed to be the minimum height needed to meet the service objectives of the applicant and anticipated collocators.

2. No new tall structures shall exceed two hundred fifty (250) feet in height. However, in the event of dense vegetation or other substantial obstacles to the intended purpose of the tall structure, facility height can be extended to no more than three hundred fifty (350) feet by special permission of the planning commission.

3. Tall structures that simulate objects that typically occur in landscapes similar to the proposed location (except electrical transmissions or telecommunication towers) may exceed two hundred fifty (250) feet in height if, based on the judgment of the planning commission, it would appear in context to the landscape, is aesthetically acceptable, and would be a preferable alternative to an undisguised facility.

4. Tall structures located atop or within existing buildings or structures may result in an overall increase in height of the structure of no more than ten (10) percent of the structure’s height without the facility or the maximum height allowed in the zoning district in which the structure is located, whichever is less.

1. Tall structures must contain a sign no larger than four (4) square feet with text in a sufficient font size to provide adequate notification to persons in the immediate area of the presence of an antenna that has transmission capabilities. The sign shall contain:

a. The name(s) of the owner(s) and operator(s) of the facility;

b. An emergency phone number(s), and FCC registration number, if applicable;

c. Information for the purpose of identifying the tower such as the antenna structure registration number required by the FCC;

d. The party responsible for the operation and maintenance of the facility; and

e. A twenty-four- (24-) hour emergency contact number.

2. The sign must be on the equipment shelter or cabinet and be visible from the access point of the site. The sign must not be lighted unless authorized by the city or unless applicable provisions of law require such lighting.

3. No other signage is permitted on any tall structure unless required by law.

4. No advertising is permitted on any facility with the exception of identification signage.

5. If more than two hundred twenty (220) volts are necessary for the operation of the facility, warning signs must be located at the base of the facility and must display in large, bold, high contrast letters the following: “HIGH VOLTAGE – DANGER.”

6. Signs other than warning signs and those specifically required by this chapter are not allowed on tall structures.

1. Tall structures may not be lighted or marked unless required by the FCC or FAA.

2. Notice is required to be provided to the FAA, on a form prescribed by the FAA, if the facility falls under notification requirements mentioned in 14 C.F.R. Part 77. The applicant is responsible for determining whether notification is required. Any tall structure that is required to have lighting by the FAA will be lighted with the minimum intensity and number of flashes per minute (i.e., the longest duration between flashes) allowable by the FAA.

3. When lighting is required:

a. The lights must be oriented, shielded or otherwise designed so as not to project directly onto surrounding property, consistent with FAA requirements.

b. Tall structures must use non-strobe-type red lights for night air safety illumination unless otherwise required by law.

c. The negative impact across lot lines caused by tall structure lights and illumination on the site must be minimized.

d. Scenic and night sky views, traffic safety, enjoyment of residential and other lawful uses must be protected.

4. Additional conditions may be required for lighting: type, wattage, brightness, shrouds, direction, location, height and other buffers.

1. All freestanding tall structures between eighty (80) feet and one hundred twenty (120) feet in height must be engineered and constructed to accommodate no fewer than four (4) antenna arrays. All tall structures between one hundred twenty-one (121) feet and one hundred fifty (150) feet must be engineered and constructed to accommodate no fewer than five (5) antenna arrays. All tall structures one hundred fifty-one (151) feet and taller must be engineered and constructed to accommodate no fewer than six (6) antenna arrays.

2. All utilities for a tall structure site must be installed underground whenever possible and in compliance with all ordinances, rules and regulations of the city, including, but not limited to, the most current versions of the National Electrical Code, the National Electrical Safety Code, and Structural Standard for Antenna Supporting Structures and Antennas (EIA/TIA 222) where appropriate.

3. All appurtenant or associated facilities of a tall structure must maximize use of building materials, colors and textures designed to blend with the structure to which it may be affixed, or to harmonize with the natural surroundings or built environment, which must include the utilization of concealed or concealment technology for facilities appurtenant to concealed tall structures. If located in or abutting a residential, commercial or mixed-use district, the appurtenant or associated facility must be placed inside an enclosed structure, fenced and screened with sight-obscuring foliage, which will be as tall as the appurtenant or associated facility.

G. Setbacks. Freestanding towers and appurtenant structures shall be subject to the setbacks described below:

1. If the tower is not constructed using breakpoint design technology, the minimum setback distance from the nearest property line must be equal to the height of the proposed tower.

2. If the tower has been constructed using breakpoint design technology, the minimum setback distance must be equal to one hundred ten (110) percent of the distance from the top of the structure to the breakpoint level of the structure, or the minimum yard setback requirements, whichever is greater. For example, on a one-hundred- (100-) foot-tall freestanding tower with a breakpoint at eighty (80) feet, the minimum setback distance would be twenty-two (22) feet (one hundred ten (110) percent of twenty (20) feet, the distance from the top of the tower to the breakpoint) plus the minimum side or rear yard setback requirements for that zoning district. Certification, by a professional engineer registered in the state of Alaska, of the breakpoint design and the design’s fall radius must be provided with the application.

3. Any appurtenant structure must be located so as to comply with the applicable minimum setback requirements for the property on which it is situated.

4. Guy, guy anchors, and accessory facilities must meet zoning district setback requirements.

5. Setbacks will be determined from the dimensions of the entire lot, even though the tall structure may be located on lease areas within the lot.

6. A variance from the setback requirement may be granted by the planning commission upon receipt of signed and duly notarized waivers by all adjoining property owners agreeing to such modification or waiver.

H. Parking. For all tall structures regulated under this chapter, vehicle parking must be provided on the subject property, outside of public use easements and rights-of-way to enable emergency vehicle access. No more than two (2) spaces per provider are required.

I. Equipment Shelters. No equipment shelter for a tall structure may exceed seven hundred fifty (750) square feet in area or twelve (12) feet in height. All such shelters must be screened with vegetation or other aesthetically pleasing materials. Furthermore, all such shelters must be secured with approved fencing and a locked gate.

J. Landscaping. The planning commission has the authority to impose reasonable landscaping requirements surrounding the tall structure and all accessory equipment. When landscaping is required, existing mature tree growth and natural land on the site must be preserved to the greatest extent feasible.

K. Facility Color. The tall structure, facility and fence must be earth tone or natural colors that blend with the surrounding area, except when specific colors or color patterns are required by state or federal regulations.

1. Tall structures must be configured and located in a manner that minimizes adverse effects including visual impacts on the landscape and adjacent properties and must be maintained in accordance with the requirements of this chapter.

2. Tall structures must be designed to either resemble the surrounding landscape and other natural features where located in proximity to natural surroundings, or be compatible with the surrounding, built environment, through matching or complementing existing structures and specific design considerations such as architectural designs, height, scale, color, and texture.

3. Surrounding topography and development must be used to reduce negative impacts. Height above nearby ridge lines, hills, trees and buildings must be the minimum needed to reasonably conduct the use.

4. Aerial lines crossing parks, trails and water bodies must be minimized.

M. Structural Assessment. The owner of a freestanding tall structure shall have a structural assessment of the tower conducted by a professional engineer licensed in the state of Alaska if:

1. The tall structure is within the distance from the top of the structure to the breakpoint level of the structure from a dwelling, parking lot, playground, or right-of-way; or

2. If the tall structure was not constructed using breakpoint design technology and the tower is at a distance equal to the tower’s height from a dwelling, parking lot, playground, or right-of-way.

The owner shall submit the structural assessment report required by this subsection, signed by the engineer who conducted the assessment, to the director by July first (1st) every fifth (5th) year from the date of issuance of the special use permit.

N. Ice and Wind. A professional engineer, licensed in the state of Alaska, must provide certification that the proposed tall structure, at a minimum, will withstand one-hundred- (100-) year return wind speed for the site and one-half (1/2) inch of solid radial ice. [Ord. 15-27 § 3.]