Ordinance 91-084 ORDINANCE 91- 8/+ ~ C%
--- ~ ~
ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE 82-2, THE Cf)
~.PREHENSIVE ZONING REG~T~ONS FOR THE
I~NCORPO~TED AR~ OF COLL~E~ CO~TY BY ~
~END~NG SECTION 8, SUPPL~EN~ARY D~STR~C~ ~
~GrJ~T~O~S BY ADD~.G THERETO SUSSECT~ON
~0A, CO~UN~CAT~ON ~OWERS, PROViDinG FOR
~CON~L~CT AND SEVEI~B~L~TY~ ~D PROViDiNG ~
WHEREAS, on January 5, 1982, the Board of County Commissioners
approved ordinance Number 82-2, which established the Comprehensive
Zoning Regu].ations for the Unincorporated Area of Collier County;
and
WHEREAS, under the standards of the Electronic Industries
Association Publication EIA/TIA 222-E, Collier County is within 100
miles from hurricane oceanline, is a coastal saltwater environment,
and has a basic wind speed of 110 mile per hour; and
WHEREAS, Community Development Services Division petitioned the
Board of County Commissioners of Collier County, Florida, to amend
Ordinance Number 82-2, Section 8, Supplementary District Regulations
by adding thereto Subsection 8.10A, Communication Towers.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT ORDAINED by the Board of County
Commissioners of Collier County, Florida:
SECTION ONE:
Section 8, Supplementary District Regulations of Ordinance
82-2, the Zoning Ordinance of Collier County, Florida is hereby
amended by adding Subsection 8.10A, to read as follows:
8.10A Communication Towers:
a. Intent and Purpose: This ordinance applies to specified
communication towers that support any antenna designed
to receive or tran:~it electromagnetic energy, such as
but not limited 'to telephone, television, radio or
microwave transmissions. This ordinance sets standards
for construction and facilities siting; is to minimize
wlhere applicable adverse visual impacts of towers and
antennas through careful design, siting and vegetation
screening; to avoid potential damage to adjacent
properties from tower failure; to maximize the use of
specified new communication towers and thereby to
minimize need to construct new towers; to maximize the
shared use of specified tower sites to minimize the need
for additional tower sites; and to consider the concerns
of the Collier County Mosquito Control District as to
aircraft safety.
Subject to general law, provisions in deed restrictions
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and private restrictive covenants supersede this
ordinance to the extent they are more restrictive.
Definitions. As used herein "antenna" does not include
wire antennas. A "tower" is a structure for the primary
purpose to raise the height of an antenna. An "antenna
structure" is a base, stand, or other method of
stabilizing an antenna but the primary purpose is other
than raising the height of an antenna. "Effective
radius" means a radius of 6 miles from the respective
tower unless a lesser radius is approved. "Lesser
effective radius" means an approved radius of less than
6 miles. "Zoning district" includes areas within Planned
Unit Developments (PUD) that have density requirements
similar to those specified in this ordinance. "Ail",
"any", and "each" means exempt and non-exempt towers,
structures, and owners unless the context clearly
indicates otherwise, but does not include old towers or
old sites e):cept in Subsection e.13) related to
inspections. An "old" tower or site means a tower or
site that was approved prior to the effective date of
this ordinance. A "new" tower or site means a tower or
site that requires approval under this ordinance. An
"approved" tower or site is a tower or site that has
been approved under this ordinance. "Owner" refers to a
sole owner or any co-owner. "Rent" means to rent, lease,
or otherwise provide tower or site space. "Monopole
communications tower" means a commercial vertical
single tubular self supporting tower for non parabolic
antennas with small effective radii. "Unavailable to
the applicant" means a tower that cannot accommodate the
applicant's proposed antenna or a site that cannot
accommodate the applicant's tower, antenna, and related
facilities. "Unavailable" means that no additional
tower or site capacity is available to anyone. "County
Manager" includes designees of the County Manager. The
singular includes the plural and vice versa unless the
context clearly indicates otherwise. "Government" means
the United States government and any agency thereof, the
State of Florida and any agency thereof, any municipal
corporation and any agency thereof, Collier County and
any agency thereof, and any District. Except as to
monopole communications to%~ers, and structures and
anten]'.~s that are limited to twenty (20) feet or less in
height without provisional use approval, heights of
towers and structures specified herein are exclusive of
any antennas affixed thereto and are exclusive of the
respective ground elevation.
b. Shared Use of Towg_~s.' A tower with a height in excess
of 185 feet above natural grade shall not be approved in
Collier County unless the applicant demonstrates that no
old or approved tower of equal or greater height (or of
lesser height) within the effective radius can
accommodate the applicant's proposed antenna and
ancillary equipment. Towers owned by or leased to any
government are exempt from these shared.use provisions
except as to sharing with other governments.
1) For the purpose of discovering availability for use
of towers within the effective radius, the
applicant shall contact the owner of all old and
approved towers, within the effective radius, of a
height equal to or greater than the height of the
proposed tower, or a tower of lesser height, that
can possibly accommodate the needs of the
applicant. The County Manager may pre-approve the
minimum allowable height to determine which towers
may be available for use by the applicant. A list
of all owners contacted, the date of each contact,
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the form an,~ content of each contact, and all
responses shall be a part of the provisional use
application. As an accommodation to applicants,
the County Manager shall retain all shared use
plans, records of past responses and a list of old
and approved towers. If the owner of an old tower
does not respond to applicant's inquiry within a
reasonable time, generally 30 days or less, or the
owner of an old tower will not rent space to the
applicant at a reasonable rental for a reasonable
time period, such old tower shall be deemed
unavailable to that applicant. If the old tower is
a non-conforming structure, additional antennas may
be installed thereon in accordance with an approved
shared use plan, provided however, no structural
alterations may be made to the tower, and the
height of the tower inclusive of its antennas may
not be increased.
2) Lesoer Effects: If the applicant asserts
that the effective radius for the intended use is
less than 6 miles, the applicant shall provide
evidence that the asserted lesser effective radius
is based on physical and/or electrical
characteristics. Based on the evidence submitted
by the applicant, the County Manager may establish
a lesser effective radius. If a radius can be
increased by signal amplification or other
means, such means must be considered in determining
the lesser effectiv.a radius. The antenna
manufacturer's specifications shall be conclusive
unless the applicant can prove they are incorrect
in the specific case.
3) If an approved tower within the applicant's
approved effective radius may have capacity
available for the antenna proposed by the
applicant, the application for a new tower shall
not be complete without the following information
regarding each such possibly available approved
tower. Such information shall also be provided for
old towers to the extent it can be obtained.
Identifl¢:ation of the site of each possibly
available tower by coordinates, street
address or legal description, existing uses,
and tower height.
(b) Whether shared use by the applicant of the
tower is prohibited (or is not feasible) for
any reason.
(c) If it has been determined that the tower owner
will allow structural changes, whether a tower
can accommodate the proposed antenna if
~ reasonable structural changes are made. If
so, the applicant shall specify what
structural changes would be required and an
approximation of the costs of such changes.
If the costs of the required changes are
financially impracticable, such tower shall be
deemed unavailable to the applicant.
4) The applicant shall ~ontact the owner of each
possibly available approved tower to request the
needed information. To enable the tower owner to
respond, th~ applicant ~hall provide the following
information regarding applicant's proposed antenna
and equipment:
:~ (~) All output frequencies of tranemitter.
(b) Type of modulation, polarization of radiation,
and proposed use of antenna.
(c) Manufacturer, type, manufacturerts model
number, a diagram of the antennats radiation
pattern, and the manufacturer's specifica-
tions.
(d) Power input to antenna and gain of antenna in
decibels with respect to an isotopic radiator.
(e) Range in feet of maximum and minimum height of
antenna above base of tower.
(f) A list of necessary ancillary equipment and
description of type of transmission cable to
be used.
(g) Any other pertinent information needed to
enable the owner to respond in full to the
inquiry.
c. Shared Use of Tower Sites: A tower with a height in
excess of 185 feet above natural grade shall not be
approved in Collier County on a new tower site unless
the applicant demonstrates that the proposed tower,
antennas and accessory structures or uses cannot be
located on any conforming old site or approved site
situated within the effective radius. Sites owned by
any government or leased to any government are exempt
from these shared use provisions except to other
governments.
1) ~xcept as to each old site or approved site
determined by the County Manager or in a shared use
plan to be unavailable to the applicant, the
a, pplicant shall oontact the ownor of all othor
¢Ionforming old sites and approved tower sites
%~ithin the effective radius, containing sufficient
land area to possibly accommodate the needs of the
applicant.
2) For each such possibly available tower site the
application for a new tower site shall not be
complete without the following information:
(a) Identification of the proposed new tower site
by coordinates, street address or legal
description, area, existing uses, topography,
and significant natural features.
(b) Evidence that no old and no approved
tower site within the effective radius can
-o accommodate the applicant's needs.
(c) If the owner of an old tower site does not
respond to applicant's simple letter of
interest inquiry within 30 days, or the owner
of an old tower site will not rent land to
accommodate applicants neods for a reasonable
period of time at reasonable rentals, such old
tower site shall be deemed unavailable to the
applicant.
3) The applicant is not required to supply this
information to owners of conforming old sites
unless the old site appears to be available to the
applicant: by a shared use plan or the site's owner
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has responded positively to the applicant's initial
letter of inquiry. To enable the site owner to
respond, the applicant shall provide the site owner
(and the owner of any tower on the site) with the
dimensional characteristics and other relevant data
about the tower, and a report from a professional
engineer licensed in the State of Florida, or other
qualified expert, documenting the following:
(a) Tower height and design, including technical,
engineering and other pertinent factors
governing the intended uses and selection of
the proposed design. An elevation and a
cross-section of the tower structure shall be
included.
(b) Total anticipated capacity of the tower,
including number and types of antennas and
needed transmission lines, accessory use needs
including specification of all required
ancillary equipment, and required building and
parking space to accommodate same.
(c) Evidence of structural integrity of the
proposed tower as required by the Building
Official and, for metal towers, a statement
promising full compliance with the then latest
edition of the standards published by the
Electronic Industries Association (currently
EIA/TIA 222-E), or its successor functional
equivalent, as may be amended for local
application.
(4) If the site owner, or owner of a tower on the
respective site, asserts that the site cannot
accommodate the applicant's needs, the respective
owner shall specify in meaningful detail reasons
why the site cannot accommodate the applicant.
To the extent information is current and correct in
the respective tower site's approved shared use
plan, the site owner or tower owner can refer the
applicant to the respective shared use plan. If
the shared use plan is not then up-to-date, the
plan shall be brought up-to-date immediately by the
owner and the written reply to the applicant shall
specify to what extent the shared use plan is
incorrect, incomplete, or otherwise not up-to-date.
(5) No provision in a shared use plan, land lease,
mortgage, option to purchase, lease-option,
contract for deed, or other controlling document
shall provide or have the effect that the site is
exclusive to one tower unless there is good reason
for such restriction other than the prevention of
competition or a desire or inclination not to
cooperate in good faith. If the site size is
physically and electrically compatible with the
installation on site of any other tower, no such
document shall prevent other towers except for
reasons approved by the County Manager. An
unapproved document provision of tower exclusivity
shall be grounds to disapprove an application for
tower site approval.
d. Required Sharing% Each new tower in excess of 185 feet
in height (shared use tower), except towers that are
approved to be perpetually unavailable, shall be
designed to stru(:turally accommodate the maximum amount
of additional antenna capacity reasonably practicable.
Although it is not required that a new tower be
constructed at additional expense to accommodate
antennas owned by others, no new tower shall be designed
to accommodate only the tower owner's proposed antennas
when, without additional expense, antenna space for
other owners can be made available on the tower.
1) Shared Use Plans: Each shared use plan shall be in
a standard format that has been approved by the
County Manaqer. Each shared use plan shall specify
in detail to what extent there exists tower and/or
site capacity to accommodate additional antennas
and/or additional towers, ancillary equipment and
accessory uses. Available antenna capacity on a
tower shall be stated in detailed clearly
understandable terms, and may be stated in
equivalent flat plate area and total additional
available transmission line capacity. The tower
owner (as to tower shared use plans) and the land
owner (as to site shared use plans) shall update
its respective approved shared use plan by promptly
filing pertinent update information with the
County Manager. Owners of old towers and/or old
sites may file shared use plans in accord with this
ordinance.
a) Res~rv&~ion of Capacity. If an applicant for
a shared use tower does not plan to install
all of its proposed antennas during initial
construction of the tower, the applicant must
specify the planned schedule of installing
such later added antennas as part of the
shared use plan. An applicant cannot
indefinitely prevent the use of unused
available antenna space on a tower by
reserving to itself such unused space. No
available space can be reserved for the owner
or anyone else unless approved in the shared
use plan. If an antenna is not installed by
the scheduled deadline, the reserved space
shall automatically be rendered available for
use by others unless the shared use plan has
by the deadline been amended with the approval
of the County Manager. Deadlines may be
extended even if the tower is a non-conforming
structure. If space has been reserved in a
shared use plan for future additional antenna
use by the tower owner and it becomes clear
that such space will not be utilized by the
owner, the shared use plan shall be amended
promptly to refl~ct the availability of such
space.
(b) Re~_9~v~.].on of Site Capacity, The policy
stated above applies also to additional tower
space on an approved tower site to prevent
indefinite reservation of available site
space.
(c) Protection of Non-ConforD~ty. As an incentive
to promote the filing of shared use plans, old
towers, whether or not conforming and new
towers and/or tower sites that are conforming
at the date of approval of the initial shared
use plan and/or any amendment thereto may
proceed in accord with the approved plan
irre~pective of the fact that the tower and/or
tower site is then non-conforming. The intent
of this provision is to grandfather towers
and/or new tower sites against a
non-conforming status to the extent that
future capacity, including accessory
structures, is provided for in the shared use
plan. If the initial shared use plan or
amendment to a shared use plan requires
approval of the Board of County Commissioners
and it appears that the site is threatened to
become non-conforming for the intended use,
the pending non-conformity will be a material
element in deciding whether to approve or deny
the application for the shared use plan or
amendment.
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in
any Collier County Ordinance, any then
non-conforming tower that is destroyed by any
means to an extent of more than fifty (50)
percent of its actual replacement cost at the
time of destruction, as determined by a cost
estimate submitted to the Zoning Director,
shall not be reconstructed or repaired without
prior approval of the Board of County
Commissioners.
(d) Filin~ Skated Use plans. Each approved shared
use plan shall be filed and recorded in the
office of the Collier County Clerk of Courts
prior to any site development plan approval.
A copy of the initial shared use plan shall be
filed with and approved by the County Manager
prior to Provisional Use approval.
(e) Shared Use Plans for Old towers and Old Tower
Sites~ Initial shared use plans and
amendments for old towers require approval of
the County Manager. Initial shared use plans
and amendments for old tower sites require
approval of the Board of County Commissioners,
except where an amendment reduces site and/or
antenna capacity.
2) Transmitting and receiving equipment serving
similar kinds of uses shall, to the extent
reasonable and commercially practicable, be placed
on a shared use tower in such a manner that any of
the users in a group can operate approximately
equal to other users in the group utilizing
substantially ~imilar equipment.
3) Once a shared use plan for a tower is approved,
additional antennas may be added to that tower in
accord with the approved shared use plan without
additional provisional use approval even if the
tower is then a non-conforming structure. The
shared use plan shall be immediately updated to
reflect each such change. Likewise, once a new
shared use plan for a tower site is approved,
additional towers and accessory buildings and uses
may be added to that site in accord with the plan
without additional provisional use approval even if
the site is then non-conforming. The shared use
plan shall be immediately up-dated to reflect each
change.
For each tower with a height in excess of 185 feet
that is approved, the tower owner shall be
required, as a condition of approval, to file an
approved shared use plan except when a government
tower is approved to be perpetually unavailable.
To the extent that there is capacity for other
antennas on the tower, the plan shall commit the
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tower owner and all successor owners to allow
shared use of the tower in accord with the shared
use plan for antennas of others at reasonable
rates. The initial proposed rates (or a range of
reasonable rat~s) shall be specified in the shared
use plan and shall be amended each time the rates
are changed. When antenna space on a tower is
rented to others, each rental agreement shall be
filed with the shared use plan. Any agreement that
purpo=ts to reserve antenna space for future use
must be approved by the County Manager.
5) For each new shared use tower site that is
approved, the owner shall be required, as a
condition of approval, to file an approved shared
use plan except as to a government site that is
approved to be perpetually unavailable. If there
is land available on the site to accommodate
additional towers and accessory facilities the plan
shall commit the land owner and successor owners to
accommodate such additional facilities on the site
at reasonable rents. To the extent practicable,
the proposed rents (or a range of reasonable rents)
shall be ~pecified in the shared use plan. When
land is rented for facilities on the site, the
rental agr(~ement shall be filed with the shared use
plan. Any agreement that purports to reserve land
for future use of tower and other facility space
must be approved by the County Manager.
6) Each new tower owner or site owner, as the case may
be, shall agree as a condition of approval to
respond in writing in a comprehensive manner within
30 days to each request for information from a
potential shared use applicant. Government owners
need to reply only to requests from another
government. To the extent that correct and
up-to-date information is contained in an approved
shared use plan, the owner may refer the applicant
to the shared use plan for the information. If the
shared use plan is incorrect, incomplete, or
otherwise not up-to-date, the respective owner
shall in the response specify in detail such
information and shall immediately bring the shared
use plan up-to-date.
7) The tower owner or site owner, as the case may be,
shall as a condition of approval negotiate in good
faith for shared use of tower space and/or site
space by applicants in accord with its shared use
plan.
8) Ail condi%ions of approval regarding a tower shall
run with the ownership of the tower and be binding
on all subsequent owners of the tower. All
conditions of approval regarding an approved tower
site shall run with the land and be binding on all
subsequent owners of the tower site.
e. D~YeloDment Standards for Commu~%c~t~oD Tower~:
1) Except to the extent that amateur radio towers, and
ground mounted antennas with a height not to exceed
twenty (20) feet, are exempted by paragraph 25
herein, no new tower of any height shall be
permitted in the RSF-1 thru RSF-6, RMF-6, and
E-Estate zoning districts. However, notwithstand-
ing other provisions of this ordinance, including
the separation requirements of paragraph 6 below,
towers may be allowed to any height as a
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provisional use in the E-Estate zoning district
only on site,s approved for a specified essential
service listed in paragraph 3, below. There shall
be no variances to this paragraph except for
varianc~ applications by a government for a
governmental ~lse.
2) ~ermitted qround Mounted Towers, Towers not
exceeding the stated maximum heights are a
permitted use subject to other applicable
provisions of this ordinance, including separation
requirements and shared use provisions. Towers
that exceed these specified maximum heights require
provisional use approval.
a) All____~:mmercial and industrial zoning
distri~t~lk Tower~3 not exceeding two hundred
(200) f~et.
b) A_q]L[~ral zonin¢! districts within the Urban
designated area: Towers not exceeding two
hundred (200) feet.
c) A~ricult3ral zoning districts within the Rural
desi~nat3d area: Towers not exceeding two
hundred and eighty (280) feet.
d) All aur~icultural zoning districts: No tower
shall be allowed on any site comprising less
than twenty (20) acres under common ownership
or control except on essential
services-specified provisional use sites,
where towers can be approved as a provisional
use on sites of less than 20 acres.
3) ~~ces - SD~cified Provisional Uses:
Except in the RSF-1 through RSF-6, and RMF-6 zoning
districts, towers may be allowed to any height as a
provisional use on sites approved for a provisional
use - essential service for any of the following
provisional uses: safety service facilities
including, but not necessarily limited to, fire
stations, sheriff's sub-station or facility,
emergency medical services facility, and all other
similar uses where a communications tower could be
considered an eccessory or logically associated use
with the safety service provisional use on the
site.
4) New towers shall be installed only on rooftops in
the RMF-12, RMF-16, RT, VR, MHSD, MHRP and TTRVC
zoning districts. Except, however, that ground
mounted monopole communication towers up to 150
feet in height above the natural grade, including
antennas affixed thereto, may be allowed as a
provisional use within these zoning districts. The
height of each monopole communication tower shall
be limited to the height necessary for its use at
its location.
5) Rooftop towers, antenna structures and antennas.
a) Rooftop towers, antenna structures and
antennas are allowed in all zoning districts
except the RSF-1 thru RSF-6, RMF-6, and
E-Estate zoning districts.
b) Rooftop towers, antenna structures and
antennas are, as specified, subject to the
following:
(1) ~_9~mitted Uses: Rooftop antenna
structures and antennas are a permitted
use up to a height of 20 feet above the
maximum roofline provided the height of
the maximum roofline is 20 feet or more
above the average natural grade. If the
maximum roofline is less than 20 feet
above the average natural grade, an
antenna structure or antenna is a
permitted use up to a height that equals
the distance from the average natural
grade to the maximum roofline. For
example, if the distance from the average
natural grade to the maximum point of the
roofline is 15 feet, an antenna structure
and/or antenna is a permitted use up to a
height of 15 feet above the maximum
roofline. Any antenna structure, tower
or antenna that exceeds its permitted use
height as provided herein shall require
provisional use approval and the maximum
allowable height of the structure, tower,
and all antennas shall be determined in
each specific case. Distance from RSF-1
thru RSF-6, and RMF-6 zoning districts
shall be a major consideration in
determining the allowable height of
rooftop facilities.
(2) Towers and antenna structures shall be
set back from the closest outer edge of
the roof a distance not less than ten
(10) percent of the rooftop length and
width, but not less than 5 feet, if the
antenna can function at the resulting
location.
(3) Antenna etructures and dish type antennas
shall be painted to make them
unobtrusive.
(4) Except for antennas that cannot be seen
from street level, such as panel antennas
on parapet walls, antennas shall not
extend out beyond the vertical plane of
any exterior wall.
(5) Where technically feasible dish type
antennas shall be constructed of open
mesh design.
(6) Where feasible, the design elements of
the building (i.e., parapet wall, screen
enclosures, other mechanical equipment)
shall be used to screen the
communications tower, structure, and
antennas.
(7) The building and roof shall be capable of
supporting the roof mounted antenna,
etructure and tower.
(8) No rooftop shall be considered a
tower site. This ordinance does not
require any sharing of any rooftop,
rooftop tower or antenna structure.
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;. 6) With the exception of rooftop towers, each new
communication tower exceeding lS5 feet in height
shall be located at least 1,000 feet from RSF-1
thru RSF-6, and ]~F-6 zoning districts including
Planned Unit Developments where predominant use is
consistent with RSF-1 thru RSF-6 and ~/~F-6 zoning
districts. If a part of a PUD is not developed and
it is inconclusive whether the part of a PUD area
within 1,000 feet of the proposed tower site may be
developed with a density of 6 units per acre or
less, it shall be presumed that the PUD area
nearest to the proposed site will be developed at
the lowest density possible under the respective
PUD.
7) Ail owners of approved towers are Jointly and
severally liable and responsible for any damage
caused to off-site property as a result of a
collapse of any to,;er owned by them.
8) Placement o~ more than one tower on a land site is
preferred and encouraged, and may be permitted
provided, however, that all setbacks, design and
landscape requirements are met as to each tower.
Structures may be located as close to each other as
technically feasible provided tower failure
charact,ris~ics of the towers on the site will not
likely result in multiple tower failures in the
event that one tower fails, or will not otherwise
present an unacceptable risk to any other tower on
the site. It shall be the policy of the County to
make suitable county owned land available for
towers and ancillary facilities at reasonable
rents.
9) Any accessory buildings or structures shall meet
the minimum yard requirements for the respective
zoning district. Accessory uses shall not include
offices, long-term vehicle storage, outdoor
storage, broadcast studios except for temporary
emergency purposes, other structures or uses that
ars not needed to send or receive transmissions,
and in no event shall such uses exceed 25 percent
of the floor area used for transmission or
reception equipment and functions. Transmission
equipment shall be automated to the greatest extent
economically feasible to reduce traffic and
congestion. Where the site abuts or has access to
a collector street, access for motor vehicles shall
be limited to the collector street. All equipment
shall comply with then applicable noise standards.
10) For new commercial towers exceeding 185 feet in
height, a minimum of two parking spaces shall be
provided on each site; an additional parking space
-~ for each two employees shall be provided at
facilities which require on-site personnel.
Facilities which do not require on-site personnel
may utilize impervious parking.
11) All new tower bases, guy anchors, outdoor
equipment, accessory buildings and accessory
structures shall be fenced. This provision does
not apply to amateur radio towers, or to ground
mounted antennas that do not exceed 20 feet above
grade.
12) No tower shall be artificially lighted except as
required by the Federal Aviation Administration,
the Federal Communications Commission, or other
applicable laws, ordinances or regulations.
13) Effectiv~ January 1, 1992, all guyed towers,
including o].d towers, exceeding 185 feet in height
shall be in~pected every two (2) years. Such self
supporting towers shall be inspected every four (4)
years. Each inspection shall be by a qualified
professional engineer or other qualified
professional inspector, and any inspector
recommended repairs and/or maintenance should be
completed without unnecessary delay. At a minimum
each inspsction shall include the following:
(a) Tower Structure - including bolts, loose or
damaged members, signs of unusual stress or
vibration.
(b) Guy Wires and Fittings - check for age,
strength, rust, wear, general condition and
any other signs of' possible failure.
(c) Guy Anchors and Foundations - assess for
cracks in concrete, signs of corrosion,
erosion, movement, secure hardware, and
general site condition.
(d) Condition of antennas, transmission lines,
lighting, painting, insulators, fencing,
grounding, and elevator, if any.
(e) For guyed towers: Tower vertical alignment
and guy wire tension - (both required tension
and present tension).
14) A copy of each inspection report shall be filed
with the County Manager not later than December 1st
of the respective inspection year. If the report
recommends that repairs or maintenance are
required, a letter shall be submitted to the County
Manager to verify that such repairs and/or
maintenance have been completed. The County shall
have no responsibility under this ordinance
regarding such repairs and/or maintenance.
15) Any tower that ie voluntarily not used for
communications for a period of one year shall be'
removed at the tower owner's expense. If a tower
is not removed within three (3) months after one
year of such voluntary non-use, the County may
obtain authorization to remove the tower and
accessory items from a court of competent
jurisdiction, and after removal shall place a lien
on the subject property for all direct and indirect
costs incurred in dismantling and disposal of the
tower and accessory items, plus court costs and
attorney fees.
16) For all ground mounted guyed towers in excess of 75
feet in hei,]ht, the site shall be of a size and
shape sufficient to provide the minimum yard
requirements of that zoning district between each
guy anchor and all property lines.
17) Ail new to'wers shall require a site plan in
accordance with Section 10.5 as part of the
building permit application except:
(a) Ground mounted amateur radio towers that do
not exceed a height of 75 feet excluding
ant(~nnas;
(b) Monopole towers that do not exceed a height of
75 feet including antennas; or
(c) Ground mounted al%tennas that do not exceed a
height of twenty (20) feet above natural
grade.
18) Ail new metal tower~3 including rooftop towers,
except amateur radio towers, shall comply with the
standards of the then latest edition published by
the Electric Industries Association (currently
EIA/TIA 222-E) or the publication's successor
functional equivalent unless amended for local
application by resolution of the Board of County
Commissioner£~. Each new amateur radio tower with a
height of 75 feet or less shall require a building
permit specifying the exact location and the height
of the tower exclusive of antennas. Each new
ground mounted dish type antenna that does not
exceed a heigl~t of twenty {20) feet shall require a
building permit.
19) Within the proposed tower's effective radius,
information that specifies the tower's physical
location in respect to public parks, designated
historic buildings or districts, areas of critical
concern, and conservation areas, shall be submitted
as part of the provisional use application. This
shall also apply to site plan applications and/or
permit applications for rooftop installations that
do not require provisional use approval.
20) No communication tower shall be located on any land
or water if such location thereon creates or has
the potential to create harm to the site as a
source of biological productivity, as
indispensable components of various hydrologic
regimes, or as irreplaceable and critical habitat
for native species of flora or fauna.
21) A landscaped buffer area no less than 10 feet wide
shall be developed around the perimeter of each new
tower that requires security fencing. This buffer
shall encompass all new structures including the
tower base. At least one row of native vegetation'
shall be planted within the buffer to form a
continuous hedge at least three feet in height at
planting. This hedge shall also be planted around
any ground level guy anchors. The buffer must be
maintained in good condition.
22) Native vegetation on the site shall be preserved to
the greatest practical extent. The site plan shall
show existing significant vegetation to be removed
and vegetation to be replanted to replace that
lost. Native vegetation may constitute part or all
of the required buffer area if its opacity excoeds
eighty percent (80%).
23) All new towers (including amateur radio towers) and
all antennas affixed thereto shall be in
compliance with Section 9.9, Ordinance No. 82-2,
"Special Regulations for Specified Areas in and
around airports in Collier County". There shall be
no variances to this provision.
24) For all new towers, a statement from the applicant
or an official document that specifies that the
tower and its antennas will comply with all
applicable regulations of the Federal
Communications Commission shall be filed with the
County Manager.
25) New towers and antennas affixed thereto, new roof
mounted towers, structures and antennas, and new
accessory structures are exempt from provisional
use approval:
(a) To the extent exempted by federal law or
regulation, or Florida law or regulation, at
the time of the application.
(b) Ground mounted amateur radio towers that do
not exceed a height of seventy-five (75) feet
above natural grade, exclusive of all
antennas.
(c) Stations in the amateur radio service licensed
by the Federal Communications Commission.
(d) Ground mounted antennas that do not exceed a
height of twenty (20) feet above natural
grade, including dish type antennas.
(e) Rooftop antennas, antenna structure and towers
that do not exceed the applicable permitted
use height specified in subsection
e.5)b)(1) herein.
26) Ail new non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation
(NIER) sources shall comply with the then current
applicable standards adopted by the Federal
Government. The County shall not be required by
this ordinance to enforce such standards.
27) A copy of each application for a tower in excess of
two hundred (200) feet in height shall be supplied
by the applicant to the Collier County Mosquito
Control District or its successor in function.
28) As to communications towers and antennas, including
rooftop towers, antenna structures and antennas,
the height provisions of this ordinance supersede
all other height limitations specified in County
Ordinance 82-2.
29) Willful, knowing failure of any owner to comply
with any of the provisions herein shall be a
violation of this ordinance and shall be subject to
general penalty provisions of Ordinance 82-2, and
shall be grounds for revocation of provisional use
approval.
~ CONFLICT AND S~;ERABILITY
In the .event this Ordinance conflicts with any other Ordinance
of Collier County or other applicable law, the more restrictive
shall apply. If any phrase or portion of this Ordinance is held
invalid or unconstitutional by any court of competent jurisdiction,
such portion shall be deemed a separate, distinct and independent
provision, and such holding shall not affect the validity of the
-14-
remaining portion.
This Ordinance shall become effective upon receipt of notice
£rom the ~3ecretary of State tha~ this Ordinance has been ~iled with
the S~cretar¥ of State.
PASSED AND DULY ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Collier County, Florida this 9th day of September , 1991.
DAT~: September 9~ 1991 BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
COLLIER COUNTY, FLORIDA
JAM~ES. d'.. GILES, _~E. RK PATRICI~ A~NE dbO'DNI~HT, CHA~4~
A~PR~o~A:~,,T~6RM~AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
THOMAS. C. PALmiER
ASSIST~T CO~Y ATO~EY
STATE OF FLORIDA )
COUNTY OF COLLIER )
Twentieth Judicial Circuit, Collier County, Florida, do
hereby ce:rtif~! that the lor~gotng is a true copy of:
Ordinance No. 91-84
'which was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on
the 9th day of September, 1991, during Special Session.
WITNESS my hand and th. offtcia! seal of the Board of
,Oount¥ Commiss, tonera of Col//er County. Florida. this lath
day of September. 1991.
JAMES C. ~Ir. ES , \.~,{{~ , . ,.
Clerk of Courts and Cler. M.~-' .... ~ ~ '~
E:(-officio to Board of :, .~..r .. ~,
County Commissioners .:.~. .. w
Deputy Clerk '~; '" '