Zoning Regulations Amendments through ... - Town of Vernon

TOWN OF VERNON
ZONING REGULATIONS
SECTION 23 – COMMERCIAL WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION SITES
23.1 Background and Purpose
Recent advances in wireless communications technology have resulted in a new
generation of telecommunication services. These new services transmit radio waves
of such a frequency and power that will likely require numerous antenna locations.
These antennas may be located on buildings, water towers, and other similar
structures but will also frequently be located on new or enlarged towers. This
requires that the Town of Vernon regulate these wireless communication system
facilities in a different manner than conventional television and radio transmission
towers, which are able to transmit their signals at much greater distances.
A number of providers of wireless communication services have recently been
licensed by the Federal Communications Commission and additional providers are
expected to be licensed in the near future. These firms are expected to pursue
antenna sites within the Town of Vernon and these efforts are expected to include
requests to construct new communication towers and antennas.
The intent of the Regulation is to provide for the establishment and/or expansion of
cellular telephone, mobile radio and personal communication systems within the
Town of Vernon while protecting neighborhoods and minimizing the adverse visual
and operational effects of wireless telecommunication facilities through careful
design, siting, and screening. More specifically this regulations has been developed
in order to:
23.1.1 Maximize use of existing and approved towers and other structures to
accommodate new antennas and transmitters in order to reduce the number
of communication towers needed to serve the Community.
23.1.2 Encourage providers to co-locate their facilities on a single site;
23.1.3 Site facilities below visually; prominent ridge lines;
23.1.4 Minimize the location of facilities in visually sensitive areas;
23.1.5 Encourage creative design measures to camouflage facilities;
23.1.6 Protect historic and residential areas from potential adverse impacts of
communication towers;
23.1.7 Avoid potential damage to adjacent properties from tower failure through
engineering and careful siting of tower structures.
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