Dimensional standards
Extracted standards
32 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Design
- Camouflage design required
All towers and facilities shall be of camouflage design standards.
Height
- Collocation capacity
Towers 100 ft or more shall support at least 3 providers; towers under 100 ft shall support at least 2 providers.
- Exempt from Article III heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. requirements
Telecommunications facilities and towers, as defined below, are exempt from the height requirements of article III of the zoning ordinance.
- Existing tower heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. increase for collocation25 ft
Height of existing towers may be increased to accommodate collocation not to exceed 25 feet above the existing tower or tank.
Lighting
- Tower lighting restriction
Towers shall not be artificially lighted except as required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Noise
- Noise restriction
No equipment shall be operated at towers or telecommunications facilities so as to produce noise, except during emergencies or during periodic routine maintenance which requires the use of a back-up generator.
Other
- Abandonment period180 days
If any tower shall cease to be used for a period of one hundred eighty (180) consecutive days, the town manager shall notify the owner that the site will be subject to a determination that such site has been abandoned.
- Access to town
All parcels upon which towers are located shall provide access to the town and its representatives.
- Antenna support structure allowed
Any telecommunications facilities which are not attached to a tower, may be permitted on any antenna support structure, regardless of the zoning district where the structure is located as long as the facility complies with all requirements of the zoning ordinance and provided the antenna does not exceed the height limit for the district in which it is located.
- Balloon test required4 ft
The applicant shall erect a balloon of at least four (4) feet in diameter located directly over the proposed telecommunication facility.
- Conditional useConditional useAllowed only after a discretionary approval — usually a public hearing and a board vote. permit required
All new telecommunications towers and telecommunications facilities require the submission of an application and approval of a conditional use permit and site plan in every zoning district.
- Existing tower modification without CUP
An existing tower may be modified or rebuilt to accommodate collocation of additional telecommunications facilities ... without the issuance of a conditional use permit.
- Fall zone equal to tower heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.
Every tower shall be designed to fall within the boundaries of the parcel on which the tower is located with a fall zone equal to the height of the tower.
- Grounding required
All towers must be permanently and effectively grounded.
- Habitable structures prohibitedProhibitedNot allowed in the district at all, short of rezoning or a variance. in fall zone
Habitable structures shall not be located within the fall zone.
- Liability insurance required
Proof of general liability insurance for claims for injury or death and property damage in an amount approved by the town is required.
- Maintenance bond percentage10 pct
A maintenance bond is required in the amount of ten (10) percent of the cost of construction of the tower.
- Maintenance standards
Tower owners shall install and maintain towers, telecommunications facilities, wires, cables, fixtures and other equipment in good order and repair.
- Minimum perimeter fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
Tower equipment and base shall be secured by a minimum six (6) foot tall perimeter fence.
- Minimum vegetative screening heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft
Vegetative screening shall be designed to a height of at least six (6) feet from grade.
- Non-transferable permit
A conditional use permit application and permit granted by the town are valid to the applicant and are non-transferable.
- Public notice radius1 mile
Written notice of the public hearing shall be given by the planning commission and town council to all property owners within a one mile radius of the applicant's property.
- Removal bond required
A bond or irrevocable letter of credit is required in an amount determined by the town manager to ensure removal of said tower.
- Removal period after abandonment75 days
Upon issuance of the final determination of abandonment, the owner shall, within seventy-five (75) days, dismantle and remove the tower.
- Site plan required
The submission of a site plan which complies with article X of the zoning ordinance must be signed and scaled by appropriate certifying professionals.
- Structural certification frequency5 years
All towers shall be certified by a structural engineer ... every five (5) years thereafter.
- Structural integrity required
All towers and facilities must be designed and signed by a professional engineer licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia to be structurally solid.
- Visual simulations required
The applicant shall provide visual simulations from at least three (3) different viewpoints of the proposed facility.
Setback
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. equal to underlying zoning districtZoning districtA mapped area with one set of rules, identified by a code like R-1 or B-2.
Setback requirements for towers shall be a minimum distance equal to the underlying zoning district.
Signage
- High voltage warning signs
If high voltage is necessary, warning signs shall be permanently attached to the exterior side of the perimeter fence at a height of eight (8) feet from adjacent ground elevation and located every twenty (20) feet.
- Maximum sign area6 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
Signs not exceeding six (6) square feet per side shall be allowed on any towers or telecommunications facilities at a height not to exceed eight (8) feet from adjacent ground elevation.
- Maximum sign heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.8 ft
Signs not exceeding six (6) square feet per side shall be allowed on any towers or telecommunications facilities at a height not to exceed eight (8) feet from adjacent ground elevation.
From the ordinance
Towers cannot exceed a total height limit of one hundred ninety-nine (199) feet.