This chapter shall be known as the "Telecommunications Towers Law of
the Town of Williamson."
A.Â
The purposes of this chapter include the provision for
communication installations and freestanding towers for the enjoyment and
convenience of the residents of the Town of Williamson, while at the same
time providing for the maximum protection of the health, safety and aesthetic
sensibilities of the residents.
B.Â
It is a further purpose of this chapter to prevent visual
intrusion of such communication installations and freestanding towers and
to protect residents from unsafe structures and equipment; to promote the
health, safety and general welfare of the residents of the Town of Williamson;
to provide standards for the safe provision of telecommunications consistent
with the applicable federal and state regulations; and to protect the natural
features and aesthetic characteristics of the Town of Williamson. The intent
of this chapter is to protect the town's interest in properly siting towers
in a manner consistent with sound land use planning, while also allowing wireless
services providers to meet their technological and service objectives. Among
other things, reasonable controls contribute to the good appearance of the
town, stabilize property values, assure the safety of the owner and others
and, in general, contribute to the preservation of a pleasant community in
which to work and live.
C.Â
This chapter shall be construed and administered so as
not to unduly hamper reasonably satisfactory reception of satellite television
signals.
D.Â
This chapter is intended to comply fully with the Federal
Telecommunications Act of 1996.
As used in this chapter, the following terms shall have the meanings
indicated:
An accessory facility or structure serving or being used in conjunction
with a communications tower and located on the same lot as the communications
tower, including utility or transmission equipment storage sheds or cabinets.
A system of electrical conductors that transmit or receive radio
frequency signals. Such signals shall include but not be limited to radio,
television, cellular, paging, personal communications services (PCS) and microwave
communications.
A structure designed to support antennas. It includes, without limit,
freestanding towers, guyed towers, monopoles and similar structures that employ
camouflage technology. It is a structure intended for transmitting and/or
receiving radio, television, telephone or microwave communications, but excluding
those used either for fire, police and other dispatch communications, or exclusively
for private radio and television reception and private citizen's and amateur
radio and other similar communications.
Environmental assessment form.
The Environmental Protection Agency.
The Federal Aviation Administration.
The Federal Communications Commission.
Nonionizing electromagnetic radiation.
A use that is deemed allowable within a given zoning district, but
which is potentially incompatible with other uses and, therefore, is subject
to special standards and conditions of such use and subject to the review
of the Planning Board and approval of the Zoning Board of Appeals.
The transmission and reception of audio, video, data and other information
by wire, radio, light and other electronic or electromagnetic systems.
A structure on which one or more transmitting and/or receiving antenna
is located.
A.Â
No transmission tower, telecommunications tower or communication
installation shall hereafter be used, erected, moved, reconstructed, changed
or altered except after approval of a special use permit and in conformity
with this chapter.
B.Â
No existing structure shall be modified to serve as a
transmission tower, telecommunications tower, communication installation or
freestanding tower unless in conformity with this chapter.
The following are exempt from the application of this chapter:
