3.7.200 Definitions.
The following words and phrases used in this chapter, which supplement the definitions found in BDC Chapter 1.2 and elsewhere in this code, shall have the following meanings:
Antenna means any system of wires, poles, rods, reflecting discs or similar devices designed for telephonic, radio, facsimile, data, or television communications through sending and/or receiving of electromagnetic waves when such system is either external to or attached to the exterior of a structure. Antennas shall include, but not be limited to, devices having active elements extending in any direction, and directional beam-type arrays having elements carried by and disposed from a generally horizontal boom that may be mounted up and rotated through a vertical mast or tower interconnecting the boom and antenna support, all of which elements are deemed to be part of the antenna.
Antenna height means the vertical distance measured from the ground surface at grade to the tip of the highest point of the antenna on the proposed structure.
Antenna support means any pole, telescoping mast, tower, tripod or any other structure that supports a device used in the transmitting and/or receiving of electromagnetic waves.
Appurtenances means attachments to the tower including, but not limited to, antennas, radios, mounts, rods, and other equipment related to the operation of the wireless communication facility.
Base station means a structure or equipment at a fixed location that enables Federal Communications Commission (FCC) licensed or authorized wireless communications between user equipment and a communications network. The term does not encompass a tower as defined in this section or any equipment associated with a tower.
1. The term includes, but is not limited to, equipment associated with wireless communications services such as private, broadcast, and public safety services, as well as unlicensed wireless services and fixed wireless services such as microwave backhaul.
2. The term includes, but is not limited to, radio transceivers, antennas, coaxial or fiber-optic cable, regular and backup power supplies, and comparable equipment, regardless of technological configuration (including distributed antenna systems and small-cell networks).
3. The term includes any structure other than a tower that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the State or local government under BDC 3.7.550, supports or houses equipment described in subsections (1) and (2) of this definition that has been reviewed and approved under the applicable zoning or siting process, or under another State or local regulatory review process, even if the structure was not built for the sole or primary purpose of providing such support.
4. The term does not include any structure that, at the time the relevant application is filed with the State or local government under BDC 3.7.550, does not support or house equipment described in subsections (1) and (2) of this definition.
Broadcast communication facility means any facility that transmits radio or television signals including, but not limited to, antennas, dish antennas, microwave antennas, and other types of equipment for the transmission of such signals, including towers and similar supporting structures, equipment cabinets or buildings, parking areas, and other accessory development. This definition does not apply to amateur radio stations as defined by the Federal Communications Commission, Part 97 of the Commission’s Rules.
Camouflaged means any wireless or broadcast communication facility that is designed to blend into the surrounding environment. Examples of camouflaged facilities may include architecturally screened roof-mounted antennas, building-mounted antennas painted to match the existing structure, antennas integrated into architectural elements, towers made to look like trees and antenna support structures designed to look like flag poles or light poles.
Co-location means locating wireless or broadcast communication equipment from more than one provider on a single support structure.
Equipment building, shelter or cabinet means a cabinet or building used to house equipment used by wireless or broadcast communication providers at a facility.
Facade-mounted antenna means an antenna architecturally integrated into the facade of a building or structure.
Facility means a wireless or broadcast communication facility.
Facility or personal wireless service facility for small wireless facilities means an antenna facility or a structure that is used for the provision of personal wireless service, whether such service is provided on a stand-alone basis or commingled with other wireless communications services.
Faux tree means a wireless or broadcast communication tower camouflaged to resemble a tree.
Guyed tower means a wireless or broadcast communication tower that is supported, in whole or in part, by guy wires and ground anchors.
High visibility means the following types of wireless or broadcast communication facilities:
1. Monopoles, lattice towers and guyed towers.
2. Any wireless or broadcast communication facilities that do not meet the definition of stealth, low visibility, or moderate visibility.
Lattice tower means a guyed or self-supporting three- or four-sided, open, steel frame support structure used to support wireless or broadcast communication equipment.
Low visibility means the following facilities if they do not exceed the height limit of the applicable zoning district, or if they do not increase the height of an existing facility:
1. Whip antennas not exceeding six feet in length or height, including mounting, and measuring no more than three inches in diameter, located on existing structures including, but not limited to, water storage tanks, high-voltage transmission towers, utility towers and poles, sign standards, and roadway overpasses, with equipment cabinets that are screened from view.
2. Facilities, including equipment cabinets, that are screened from view through the use of architectural treatments, such as cupolas, steeples, and parapets, and are consistent with existing development on adjacent properties.
3. Additions to existing permitted low visibility facilities if the additions themselves meet the definition of low visibility and are designed to minimize visibility of both the facility and equipment cabinets.
4. Changes to an existing building that are consistent with the building’s architectural style and the equipment cabinets are not visible.
Maintenance means emergency or routine repairs or replacement of transmitters, antennas, or other components of previously approved wireless telecommunication facilities which do not create a significant change in visual appearance or visual impact.
Microcells provide additional coverage and capacity where there are high numbers of users within urban and suburban macrocells. The antennas for microcells are mounted at street level, typically on the external walls of existing structures, lamp-posts, and other street furniture. Microcell antennas are usually smaller than macrocell antennas, and when mounted on existing structures, can often blend into building features. Microcells provide radio coverage over distances, typically between 100 meters and 1,000 meters, and operate at power levels substantially below those of macrocells.
Moderate visibility means the following facilities if they do not exceed the height limit of the applicable zoning district, or do not increase the height of an existing facility, unless approved through a Conditional Use Permit:
1. Panel-shaped antennas not exceeding eight feet in length or height that are flush-mounted to an existing building facade or other existing structure on at least one edge, or extend a maximum of 24 inches from the building facade or other structure at any edge, do not exceed the height of the building or other structure, and are designed to blend with the color, texture, and design of the existing building or structure, with equipment cabinets that are screened from view.
2. Wireless or broadcast communication facilities that are camouflaged, such as faux trees, flag poles, and light poles; provided, that the equipment building, shelter, or cabinet for the facility is screened or camouflaged.
Monopole means a wireless or broadcast communication facility consisting of a single pole constructed for purposes of supporting one or more antennas without guy wires or ground anchors.
Neighborhood character means those unique attributes including, but not limited to, architecture, historical and cultural features, historical development patterns, landscape, hardscape, and the size, scale and spacing of buildings and other structures that define a neighborhood’s identity.
Panel or directional antenna means an antenna or array of antennas designed to concentrate a radio signal in a particular area.
RF means radio frequency.
Roof-mounted antenna means any antenna with its support structure placed directly on the roof of any building or structure.
Screened means concealed from view with a sight-obscuring fence, wall or vegetation.
Service area means the area served by a single wireless or broadcast communication facility.
Side-mounted antennas means those antennas that are mounted on the side of a tower structure at any height, and includes both the antennas and equipment with protective radome coatings. This term also includes microwave dish antennas, solid or not, located at 150 feet or lower on a tower structure, regardless of the dish diameter. The term does not include solid microwave dish antennas exceeding six feet in diameter that are located above 150 feet on a tower structure.
Small top-mounted antennas means any antenna mounted on the top of a tower structure where the antenna is 20 feet or less in height and six inches or less in outside diameter.
Small wireless facility means a low-power wireless communication facility used to increase capacity to wireless communication demand areas or provide infill coverage in areas of weak reception, including a separate transmitting and receiving station serving the facility, or that is considered a small wireless facility under Federal law.
Speculation tower means an antenna support structure designed for the purpose of providing location mounts for wireless or broadcast communication facilities, without a binding written commitment or executed lease from a service provider to utilize or lease space on the tower at the time the application is submitted.
Stealth means facilities, including, but not limited to, microcells, antennas, equipment cabinets, and any other ancillary equipment that cannot be seen from any street or any adjacent property, improved or unimproved, and that do not result in any apparent architectural changes or additions to existing buildings. The addition of landscaping, walls, fences, or grading as screening techniques does not make an otherwise visible facility a stealth facility.
Structure means a pole, tower, base station, or other building, whether or not it has an existing antenna facility, that is used or to be used for the provision of personal wireless service (whether on its own or commingled with other types of services).
Telecommunications means the transmission, between or among points specified by the user, of information of the user’s choosing, without change in the form or content of the information as sent and received.
Tower or telecommunications tower means any mast, pole, monopole, guyed tower, lattice tower, freestanding tower, or other structure designed and primarily used to support antennas.
Whip antenna means an antenna that transmits or receives signals in 360 degrees. Whip antennas are typically cylindrical in shape, less than three inches in diameter and no more than six feet long, including the mounting.
Wireless communication facility means any facility that transmits and/or receives electromagnetic waves, including, but not limited to, antennas, dish antennas, microwave antennas, and other types of equipment for the transmission or receipt of such signals, including telecommunications towers and similar supporting structures, equipment cabinets or buildings, parking areas, and other accessory development. This definition does not apply to amateur radio stations as defined by the Federal Communications Commission, Part 97 of the Commission’s Rules. [Ord. NS-2328, 2019; Ord. NS-2158, 2011; Ord. NS-2016, 2006]