Purposes. The purposes of these regulations are to regulate the placement and construction of wireless communications facilities and support structures in order to protect the health, safety and welfare of the public, while at the same time not unreasonably interfering with the development of the competitive wireless telecommunications marketplace in the City. Specifically, this section is intended to:
1. Provide for the appropriate location and development of wireless communications infrastructure to serve the citizens and businesses of the City;
2. Minimize adverse visual impacts of wireless facilities and support structures through careful design, siting, landscape screening and innovative camouflaging techniques;
3. Ensure that any new support structure is located in an area compatible with the neighborhood or surrounding community to the extent possible;
4. Encourage the use of disguised support structures so as to ensure the architectural integrity and the scenic qualities of areas within the City;
5. Ensure that regulation of wireless facilities does not have the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless services and does not unreasonably discriminate among providers of functionally equivalent services; and
6. Comply with applicable law, including the Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996, 47 U.S.C. § 332, and the Missouri Uniform Wireless Communications Infrastructure Deployment Act, Section 67.5090, RSMo., et seq.
General requirements. The requirements set forth in this section shall be applicable to all wireless facilities, wireless support structures cabinets and shelters installed, built or modified after January 1, 2018, to the full extent permitted by law.
1. Principal or incidental use. Wireless facilities and wireless support structures may be either a principal use in all zoning districts or an accessory use to existing multifamily, institutional or nonresidential uses, subject to any applicable zoning district requirement relating to location or setback.
2. Building codes, safety standards and zoning compliance. To ensure the structural integrity of wireless facilities and wireless support structures, such facilities and support structures shall be constructed and maintained in compliance with all standards contained in any state or local building code, National Electric Safety Codes, as amended from time to time. In addition to any other approvals required hereunder, no wireless facilities and wireless support structures shall be erected prior to the issuance of a building permit.
3. Regulatory compliance. All wireless facilities and wireless support structures shall meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, FCC and any other governmental agency with the authority to regulate such facilities and support structures. Should such standards or regulations be amended, then the owner shall bring such facilities and support structures into compliance with the revised standards or regulations within six months of the effective date of the revision, unless an earlier date is mandated by the controlling agency.
4. Security. All wireless facilities and wireless support structures shall be protected from unauthorized access by appropriate security devices. A description of proposed security measures shall be provided as part of any application to install, build or modify wireless facilities and wireless support structures. Additional measures may be required as a condition of the issuance of a building permit or administrative permit as deemed necessary by the Director or the Board of Aldermen in the case of a conditional use permit.
5. Lighting. Wireless facilities and wireless support structures shall not be lighted unless required by the FAA or other governmental agency with authority to regulate. In such case, a description of the required lighting scheme shall be made a part of the application to install, build or modify the wireless facilities or wireless support structures.
6. Advertising. Unless a wireless facilities and/or wireless support structure is disguised in the form of an advertising device, such as a pylon sign or similar structure, the placement of advertising on support structures, cabinets or shelters regulated by this section is prohibited.
7. Design.
a. Wireless facilities and wireless support structures, except disguised support structures shall maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to the requirements of the FAA and/or any applicable governmental agency, be painted a neutral color consistent with the natural or built environment of the site.
b. Wireless facilities other than antennas shall have an exterior finish compatible with the natural or built environment of the site and shall also comply with such other reasonable design guidelines as may be required by the City.
c. Wireless facilities mounted on a building or a disguised support structure shall be of a color identical to or closely compatible with the surface to which they are mounted and should be made to appear as unobtrusive as possible by location as far away as feasible from the edge of a building. Wireless facilities and wireless support structures mounted on the ground shall not exceed 100 feet in height, except as provided in Subsection F3 of this section. Wireless facilities installed on a building shall not exceed 20 feet from the highest point of the building, other than for licensed amateur radio uses.
d. Wireless facilities, wireless support structures and cabinets mounted on the ground shall be surrounded by a landscape strip of not less than 10 feet in width and planted with materials which will provide a visual barrier to a minimum height of six feet at the time of installation. Such landscape strip shall be exterior to any security fencing. In lieu of the required landscape strip, a minimum six-foot-high decorative fence or wall may be approved by the Director of Public Services in the case of an application for a building permit or administrative permit, or by the Board of Aldermen in the case of a conditional use application, upon demonstration by the applicant that an equivalent degree of visual screening is achieved.
e. All wireless support structures shall be separated from any single- or two-family residential structure a distance equal to the height of the wireless support structures. Wireless support structures on parcels adjacent to residentially zoned property shall meet the setbacks of the applicable zoning districts required for a principal structure along the adjoining property line(s). Where adjacent to nonresidential zoned property, wireless support structures shall maintain setbacks as are required for accessory structures in such district.
f. Ground anchors of all guyed wireless support structures shall be located on the same parcel as the wireless support structures and meet the setbacks of the applicable zoning district.
g. Vehicle or outdoor storage on any of the site of any wireless facility or wireless support structure is prohibited.
h. On-site parking for periodic maintenance and service shall be provided at all locations as deemed necessary by the Director of Public Services or by the Board of Aldermen in the case of a conditional use permit.
8. Time limits. All applications regarding wireless facilities and wireless support structures shall be processed in accordance with the time limits established by Sections 67.5090 through 67.5103, RSMo.
9. Fees. Fees for applications regarding wireless facilities and wireless support structures shall not exceed the limits established by Sections 67.5090 through 67.5103, RSMo.
10. New wireless support structure/substantial modification. Prior to the issuance of a building permit, administrative permit, or a conditional use permit, the City shall require an applicant proposing to construct a new wireless support structure, or to make a substantial modification to a wireless support structure, to include a copy of a lease, letter of authorization, or other agreement from the property owner evidencing the applicant's right to pursue the application and shall require such applicant to comply with all applicable permitting and land use ordinances of the City. Any decision denying such application shall be provided in writing to the applicant. With regard to an application for a new wireless support structure, the applicant shall provide to the City a statement affirming that it conducted an analysis of available collocation opportunities on existing wireless towers within the same search ring defined by the applicant, solely for the purpose of confirming that an applicant undertook such an analysis.
Permitted use. The placement of the following is permitted in all zoning districts by issuance of a building permit by St. Louis County:
1. Collocation and replacement applications, provided that no permit may be issued for collocation to a certified historic structure as defined in Section 253.545, RSMo., until at least one public hearing has been held by the Director of Public Services within 30 days prior to issuance. The Director of Public Services shall post public notice of such hearing in a prominent location at the City Government Center at least 15 days in advance of such hearing and shall provide written notice to all property owners within the City limits whose property lies within 300 feet of the parcel for which an application has been submitted. Collocation and replacement applications shall be required to comply with all applicable state and local building codes, National Electric Safety Code, recognized industry standards for structural safety, capacity, reliability, and engineering, but shall not be required to comply with other zoning or land use requirements, including design or placement requirements or public hearing review.
2. The mounting of antennas on any building or structure such as a water tower, provided that the presence of the antennas is concealed by architectural elements or camouflaged by painting a color identical to the surface to which they are attached.
3. The installation of antennas or the construction of a wireless facility or wireless support structure on buildings or land owned by the City following the approval of a lease agreement by the Board of Aldermen.
4. The installation of antennas or the construction of a wireless facility or wireless support structure on buildings or land owned by the state or any agency of the federal government.
Administrative permit required. An administrative permit issued by the Director of Public Services is required as set forth below:
1. Permitted placement. The placement of the following is permitted in all zoning districts upon issuance of an administrative permit approved by the Director of Public Services:
a. The construction of a disguised support structure, provided that all related equipment shall be placed underground when the structure is located on property zoned for residential use. Equipment may be placed in a cabinet if the disguised support structure is incidental to a multifamily, institutional, or nonresidential use.
b. The installation of wireless facilities or the construction of a wireless support structure on buildings or land owned by a political subdivision of the state.
c. The placement of dual solar panel antennas on wooden or steel utility poles, not to exceed 40 feet in height, provided that all related equipment is contained in a cabinet.
d. Wireless support structures erected and maintained for a period not to exceed 30 days for the purpose of replacing an existing tower, testing an existing or proposed network, or special events requiring mobile towers.
2. Application procedures.
a. Applications for administrative permits shall be made on the appropriate forms to the Director of Public Services, accompanied by payment of the prescribed fee.
b. A detailed site plan, based on a closed boundary survey of the host parcel, shall be submitted indicating all existing and proposed improvements, including buildings, drives, walkways, parking areas and other structures, public rights-of-way, the zoning categories of the subject and adjoining properties, the location of and distance to off-site residential structures, required setbacks, required buffer and landscape areas, hydrologic features, and the coordinates and height above ground level of the existing or proposed wireless facility and/or wireless support structure.
c. The application shall be reviewed by the Director of Public Services to determine compliance with the applicable standards and transmit the application for review and comment by other City departments as may be affected by the proposed wireless facilities and/or wireless support structures.
d. The Director of Public Services shall issue a decision on the permit within the applicable time limits. The Director of Public Services may consider the purposes of this section and the factors established herein for granting a conditional use permit as well as any other considerations consistent with this section and applicable law. A decision to deny an application shall be made in writing, and state the specific reasons for the denial.
Conditional use permit required. All proposals to install, build or modify a wireless facility or wireless support structure not covered under § 26-77D or E, above, shall require the approval of the Board of Aldermen by conditional use permit following receipt of recommendation by the Planning, Zoning, and Architectural Review Commission and a duly advertised public hearing by the Board of Aldermen.
1. Applications for a conditional use permit shall be filed and processed in the manner and time frame as established under the zoning code and, if applicable, Sections 67.5090 through 67.5103, RSMo.
2. The review procedure for an application for a conditional use permit under this section shall be in the manner set forth in Article
III (Applications and Procedures), §
26-11 (Conditional use permit), of this Code. A decision by the Board on an application shall be accompanied by substantial evidence supporting the decision, which shall be made a part of the written record of the meeting at which a final decision on the application is rendered.
3. No wireless support structure shall be approved in excess of 100 feet in height unless the applicant clearly demonstrates that such height is required for the proper function of the applicant's system or that of a public safety communications system of a governmental entity sharing the support structure. Such showing must also be supported by the opinion of a telecommunications consultant hired by the City at the expense of the applicant. The report of the consultant shall include a statement that no available alternatives exist to exceeding the height limitation or the reason why such alternatives are not viable.
Removal of antenna support structures. Any wireless facility or support structure no longer used for its original communications purpose shall be removed at the owner's expense. The owner and applicable co-users shall provide the City with a copy of any notice to the FCC of intent to cease operations and shall have 90 days from the date of ceasing operations to remove the facility and/or support structure. In the case of co-use, this provision shall not become effective until all users cease operations. Any wireless support structure, or the upper portion of any wireless support structure, which is occupied by an inactive antenna for a period of six months shall be deemed a nuisance and shall be removed by the City at the owner's expense.
Filing of bond or other security prior to permit issuance. To the extent permitted by law, any applicant for a new wireless facility or wireless support structure not built as a disguised support structure shall file with the City a bond or other security satisfactory to the City prior to the issuance of any permit hereunder to ensure that such structure does not become unsafe or otherwise fail to comply with the requirements of this section, including without limitation, failure to remove such structure as required pursuant to Subsection G of this section, or any other applicable regulations. The bond or security shall be in the form approved by the Director of Public Services, in an amount not less than $15,000, or such additional amount as is determined by the Director of Public Services to protect the City in the event of noncompliance with the requirements hereof.
Unlawful operation of wireless facilities or support structures. Notwithstanding any right that may exist for a governmental entity to operate or construct a wireless facility or support structure, it shall be unlawful for any person to erect or operate for any private commercial purpose any new wireless facility or support structure in violation of this section, regardless of whether such facility or support structure is located on land owned by a governmental entity.