19.115.040 General requirements.
(A) Principal or Accessory Use. Antennas and towers may be considered either principal or accessory uses. A different existing use of an existing structure on the same lot shall not preclude the installation of an antenna or tower on such lot.
(B) Lot Size. For purposes of determining whether the installation of a tower or antenna complies with zoning district regulations, including but not limited to setback requirements, lot-coverage requirements, and other such requirements, the dimensions of the entire lot shall control, even though the antennas or towers may be located on leased parcels within such lot.
(C) Aesthetics. Towers and antennas shall meet the following requirements:
(1) Towers shall be painted, subject to any applicable FAA standards, a neutral color so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness. At a tower site, the design of the buildings and related structures shall, to the extent possible, utilize materials, colors, textures, screening, and landscaping that will blend them into the natural setting and surrounding buildings.
(2) If an antenna is installed on a structure other than a tower, the antenna and supporting mechanical equipment must be of a neutral color that is compatible with the color of the supporting structure so as to make the antenna and related equipment as visually unobtrusive as possible.
(D) Lighting. Towers shall not be artificially lighted, unless required by the FAA or the city and/or other applicable authority for safety reasons. If lighting is required, the lighting alternatives and design chosen must cause the least disturbance to the surrounding views. The owner of the tower shall ensure the ongoing maintenance of all required tower lighting.
(E) State or Federal Requirements. All towers must meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, the FCC, and any other agency of the state or federal government with the authority to regulate towers and antennas. If such standards and regulations are changed, then the owners of the towers and antennas governed by this chapter shall bring such towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations within six (6) months of the effective date of such standards and regulations, unless a different compliance schedule is mandated by the controlling state or federal agency. Failure to bring towers and antennas into compliance with such revised standards and regulations shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower or antenna at the owner’s expense.
(F) Building Codes – Safety Standards. To ensure the structural integrity of towers, the owner of a tower shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable state or local building codes and any other applicable standards, as amended from time to time. If, upon inspection, the city concludes that a tower fails to comply with such codes and standards and constitutes a danger to persons or property, then upon notice being provided to the owner of the tower, the owner shall have thirty (30) days to bring such tower into compliance with such standards. Failure to bring such tower into compliance within said thirty (30) days shall constitute grounds for the removal of the tower or antenna at the owner’s expense.
(G) Interference. The installation of any equipment or commencement of any frequencies that interfere with or compromise any public safety frequencies/installations shall be prohibited.
(H) Measurement. For purposes of measurement, tower setbacks and separation distances shall be calculated and applied to facilities located in the City of Show Low irrespective of municipal and county jurisdictional boundaries.
(I) Nonessential Services. Towers and antennas shall be regulated and permitted pursuant to this chapter and shall not be regulated or permitted as essential services, public utilities, or private utilities.
(J) Franchises. Owners and/or operators of towers or antennas shall certify that all franchises required by law for the construction and/or operation of a wireless communication system in the City of Show Low have been obtained and shall file a copy of all required franchises with the zoning director.
(K) Public Notice. For purposes of this chapter, any conditional use request, variance request, or appeal of an administratively approved use or conditional use shall require public notice in accordance with this title and applicable state law.
(L) Signs. No signs shall be allowed on an antenna or tower, except as may be legally required.
(M) Buildings and Support Equipment. Buildings and support equipment associated with antennas or towers shall comply with the requirements of Section 19.115.080.
(N) Visual Corridor Protection. Except for placement on existing structures or towers, no new tower shall be permitted within two hundred (200) feet of the edge of the right-of-way for any arterial or collector roadways as identified in the City of Show Low’s transportation plan.
(O) Airport Corridor Protection. No tower or antenna shall exceed the airport protection height limitations as set forth in the Show Low Regional Airport Master Plan Part 77 Airspace Plan on file in the office of the city clerk.
(P) Downtown Commercial (DC) Land Use District. No new tower construction shall be permitted in the DC land use district. This prohibition may not restrict the possible collocation of antennas on an existing tower or possible rooftop installations.
(Q) Residential Land Use Zoning Districts. No new towers shall be permitted on any residentially zoned property, except for amateur radio or receive only towers/antennas as described herein. Tower/antenna installations may be considered on publicly owned residentially zoned properties. (Ord. No. 493, 6-19-01; Ord. No. 2009-08, §§ 1, 2, 6-2-09; Ord. No. 2017-04, §§ 1, 2, 3-7-17. 1976 Code § 15-1-69(D))