1. Ground-mounted antennas are subject to the following requirements:

2. Roof-mounted antennas shall be solidly screened at least as high as the center of the dish. The screening shall be of a material and design compatible with the building, consistent with the city’s design review manual, and can include parapet walls or other similar screening.

1. Placement. Amateur radio towers reviewed under this section shall not be located within any easement, the front yard, side or rear yard building setback areas. Amateur radio towers may be ground- or roof-mounted; however, ground-mounted towers must be located at a point farthest from lot lines as feasible, or the point farthest from residential structures on abutting properties.

2. Paint Colors. To the extent technically feasible and in compliance with safety regulations, specific paint colors may be required to allow the tower to blend better with its setting.

3. Screening. Screening of the bases of ground-mounted amateur radio towers shall be provided with one or a combination of the following methods: fencing, walls, landscaping, structures, or topography which will block the view of the antenna as much as practicable from any street and from the yards and main floor living areas of residential properties within approximately 500 feet. Screening may be located anywhere between the base and the abovementioned viewpoints. Landscaping for the purposes of screening shall be maintained in a healthy condition. Bases of amateur radio towers shall be solidly screened by a view-obscuring fence, wall, or evergreen plantings at least six feet in height.

4. Signs. Amateur radio towers shall not be used for the purposes of signage and shall not display a sign of any kind.

5. IBC Conformance. Construction plans and final construction of the mounting bases and towers of amateur radio towers covered by this section shall meet the structural design requirements of this section and shall be subject to approval by the city building official.

6. Commercial Use Prohibited. Amateur radio towers located in residential districts shall not be constructed or used for commercial purposes.

7. Height. The height of a ground-mounted tower may not exceed 65 feet unless an applicant demonstrates that physical obstructions impair the adequate use of the tower. Telescoping towers may exceed the 65-foot height limit only when extended and operating. The combined structure of a roof-mounted tower and antenna shall not exceed a height of 25 feet above the existing roofline.

1. Colocation. Installation of a freestanding wireless communication facility may be denied if placement of the antenna on an existing structure can accommodate the operator’s communications needs. The applicant shall be required to comply with the colocation requirements of GHMC 17.61.020. The colocation of a proposed antenna on an existing broadcast and relay tower or placement on an existing structure shall be explored and documented by the operator in order to show that reasonable efforts were made to identify alternate locations.

2. Siting on Lot. No wireless communications facilities shall be located within required building setback areas unless it is demonstrated that locating the proposed facility within the required setback area will take advantage of an existing natural or artificial feature to conceal the facility or minimize its visual impacts.

3. Height. The combined antenna and supporting structure shall not extend more than 15 feet above the existing or proposed roof structure.

4. Signs. No wireless equipment shall be used for the purposes of signage or message display of any kind.

5. Visibility. Location of wireless communication antennas on existing buildings shall be screened or camouflaged to the greatest practicable extent by use of shelters, compatible materials, location, color, and/or other visual mitigation techniques to reduce visibility of the antenna as viewed from any street or residential property.

6. Screening. Screening of wireless equipment shall be provided with one or a combination of the following materials: fencing, walls, landscaping, structures, or topography which will block the view of the antenna and equipment shelter as much as practicable from any street and from the yards and main floor living areas of residential properties within 500 feet. Screening may be located anywhere between the base and the abovementioned viewpoints. Landscaping for the purposes of screening shall be maintained in a healthy condition.

7. Fencing. Any fencing required for security shall meet screening codes in the same manner as applied to screening for mechanical and service areas.

8. IBC Conformance. Construction plans and final construction of the mountings of wireless antenna and equipment shelters shall be approved by the city building official. Applications shall document that the proposed broadcast and relay tower and any mounting bases are designed to reasonably withstand wind and seismic loads.

9. Abandonment, Disrepair. A wireless communication facility shall be removed by the facility owner within 12 months of the date it ceases to be operational or if the facility falls into disrepair and is not maintained. Disrepair includes structural features, paint, landscaping, or general lack of maintenance which could result in safety or visual impacts.

10. Equipment Shelters. Associated above-ground equipment shelters shall not exceed 240 square feet (e.g., 12 feet by 20 feet) unless operators can demonstrate that more space is needed. A dense vegetative screen shall be created around the perimeter of the shelter. Operators shall consider undergrounding equipment if technically feasible or placing the equipment within an existing structure. Aboveground equipment shelters for antennas located on buildings shall be located within, on the sides or behind the buildings and screened to the fullest extent possible.