Structure Code: 6500
Applicability; Exceptions. See § 10.17.1 Applicability; Exceptions.
Purpose; Intent. See § 10.17.2 Purpose; Intent.
Structural and Other Standards Applicable to Antenna Supporting Structures.
Height.
The height limitations of wireless communication facilities shall be governed by Table 10-3. Except for stealth facilities, amateur radio antennas as covered in Section
10.17.14 below, or height restrictions as otherwise provided in this Section below, the overall height of any antenna supporting structure shall not exceed 150 feet:
1. AM and FM broadcast antenna supporting structures may not exceed 200 feet in overall height;
2. Television broadcast antenna supporting structures may not exceed 250 feet; and
3. Antenna supporting structures proposed of a height of more than 200 feet or within proximity of an airport as set forth in 47 CFR section 17.7 (Antenna Structures Requiring Notification to the FAA) and Title 14 CFR Part 77 (Safe, Efficient Use, and Preservation of the Navigable Airspace) both as most recently amended, shall comply with the provisions of those regulations and provide the Administrator with a copy of either the Determination of Hazard to Navigation or the No Determination of Hazard to Navigation, whichever has been issued pursuant to 14 CFR section 77.9. See
Table 10-3 for height limitations.
Setbacks.
1. Antenna supporting structures, equipment enclosures, and ancillary appurtenances shall meet the minimum setback requirements for the zoning district in which they are proposed.
2. To provide for public safety in the event of an antenna catching fire or becoming structurally unstable and falling to the ground, all new antenna supporting structures shall be set back from the property line a distance equal to at least its potential fall radius, as certified in writing by a New Mexico professional engineer duly licensed by the State of New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors. When computing the potential fall radius of a new antenna supporting structure, the following additional conditions shall apply:
a. an applicant shall take future modifications to its structure into consideration that could add height and thus increase the fall radius;
b. except for an antenna supporting structure sited in a residential zone, the potential fall radius shall, at a minimum, be at least the height of a tower and, in the event of its fall, cannot fall outside of the boundaries of the property on which it is sited;
c. no new antenna supporting structure shall be placed adjacent an existing tower such that if it fell to the ground, it would not fall against any existing antenna supporting structure; and
d. no new antenna supporting structure shall be placed adjacent an existing electrical power line, including its supporting tower(s), such that if it fell to the ground, it would not fall against the power line or its supporting tower(s).
3. In addition to any minimum setback requirements described in paragraph 1 above, antenna supporting structures with a tower height of at least 20 feet sited adjacent to residential property shall be set back a minimum of 100 feet, or a distance equal to twice the tower height, whichever is greater, measured from the property line of any property on which a residence is located. An antenna supporting structure shall be sited such that if it falls, it will not fall outside of the boundaries of the property on which it is sited nor will it fall onto any residence or accessory structure of an abutting property. It shall be certified in writing by a New Mexico professional engineer duly licensed by the State of New Mexico Board of Licensure for Professional Engineers and Professional Surveyors that an antenna supporting structure satisfies these setback and fall restrictions. This Section shall not apply in a P/I district for emergency communication facilities.
Construction.
Antenna supporting structures shall be of a monopole-type construction only, guyed or unguyed, except as follows:
1. Broadcast structures with an overall height of greater than 200 feet may have a lattice-type construction;
2. Amateur radio antennas may have a monopole-, lattice-, or guyed-type construction; and
3. AM broadcast antenna supporting structures may have a monopole- or guyed-lattice-type construction.
Lighting.
1. Except for motion sensing security lighting to deter intruders, no lights, signals, or other illumination shall be permitted on any antenna supporting structure or ancillary appurtenances unless that lighting is required by the FAA or the FCC. The installation and use of any security lighting shall comply with
§ 7.853 Security lighting of this Code.
2. Site lighting may be placed in association with an approved equipment enclosure but shall be shielded to prevent light trespass. Site lighting shall remain unlit except when authorized personnel are present.
Intensity Requirements.
The floor area for a wireless communication facility shall be calculated based on the total square footage of all equipment enclosures associated with the facility.
Color.
Antenna supporting structures and ancillary appurtenances, including transmission lines, shall maintain a tan adobe finish or other contextual or compatible color as determined by the Administrator, except as otherwise required by the FAA or the FCC.
Fencing.
A fence of at least six (6) feet but no more than eight (8) feet in height from finished grade shall be installed in order to completely enclose the base of the antenna supporting structure and associated equipment. Access to the antenna supporting structure shall be controlled by a locked gate. The fence shall be constructed in accordance with
§ 7.7: FENCES AND WALLS of this Code. Any access gate(s) shall be secure and kept locked except for access by Applicant’s personnel including any maintenance individuals.
Signage.
1. No signs may be placed on antenna supporting structures, ancillary appurtenances, equipment enclosures, or on any fence or wall except as required by this Section.
2. If high voltage is necessary for the operation of a proposed wireless antenna structure, bold-lettered “High Voltage–Danger” and “No Trespass” warning signs not greater than one square foot in area shall be permanently attached to the fence or wall at a height of at least five (5) feet and spaced at intervals of at least 40 feet and also upon the access gate. Such signs shall be maintained so they are clearly visible and not obstructed by landscaping.
3. A sign not greater than one square foot in area shall be attached to the access gate that indicates the following information: FCC Registration Number, if applicable, name of owner or contact person; and emergency contact number which shall be kept current.
Safety; ANSI/TIA-222-G Compliance.
All antenna supporting structures shall comply with the safety standards contained in the American National Standards Institute/Telecommunications Industries Association (ANSI/TIA) document 222-G, “Structural Standard for Steel Antenna Towers and Supporting Structures,” as amended, revised or supplemented by addenda. ANSI/TIA-222-G addresses such factors that include, but are not limited to, default design parameters, wind speed resistance based on a three-second-gust wind speed, ice formation, climber safety, structure load details, mounting frames, classification of structures, earthquake design, topographic categories, ground surface exposure categories and soil parameters.
Standards for Modifications.
The short processing time and mandatory approval for a modification under the Spectrum Act applies to an eligible facilities request for modification of an existing wireless tower or base station that substantially changes the physical dimensions of an eligible support structure, and involves:
1. Collocation of new transmission equipment;
2. Removal of transmission equipment; or
3. Replacement of transmission of equipment.
Substantial Modifications.
In determining whether a modification substantially changes the physical dimensions of an eligible support structure, changes in height shall be measured from the original support structure in cases where deployments are or will be separated horizontally such as on a building’s rooftop. In other circumstances, changes in height shall be measured from the dimensions of the tower or base station, inclusive of originally approved appurtenances and any modifications that were approved prior to the passage of the Spectrum Act (February 22, 2012). A substantial change occurs, if it meets any of the following criteria:
1. For towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, it increases the height of the tower by more than 10% or by the height of one additional antenna array with separation from the nearest existing antenna not to exceed twenty (20) feet, whichever is greater; for other eligible support structures, it increases the height of the structure by more than 10% or more than ten (10) feet, whichever is greater;
2. For towers other than towers in the public rights-of-way, it involves adding an appurtenance to the body of the tower that would protrude from the edge of the tower more than twenty (20) feet, or more than the width of the tower structure at the level of the appurtenance to the body of the structure that would protrude from the edge of the structure by more than six (6) feet;
3. For any eligible support structure, it involves installation of more than the standard number of new equipment cabinets for the technology involved, but not to exceed four (4) cabinets; or, for towers in the public rights-of-way and base stations, it involves installation of any new equipment cabinets on the ground if there are no pre-existing ground cabinets associated with the structure, or else involves installation of ground cabinets that are more than 10% larger in height or overall volume than any other ground cabinets associated with the structure;
4. It entails any excavation or deployment outside the current site;
5. It would defeat the concealment elements of the eligible support structure; or
6. It does not comply with conditions associated with the siting approval of the construction or modification of the eligible support structure or base station equipment, provided however that this limitation does not apply to any modification that is noncompliant only in a manner that would not exceed the thresholds identified in paragraphs 1 through 4 above.
Standards for Water Tower-Mounted Antenna Supporting Structure.
Even though a water tower may be considered an accessory structure or its use an accessory use, antennas may be placed on water towers in zoning districts where antennas for wireless communication facilities are designated as conditional uses in the use matrix. No portion of any water tower-mounted antenna or its base station shall extend above the height of the water tower walls unless specifically permitted as part of a conditional use for good reason demonstrated.
See
§ 10.17: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION FACILITIES for complete, detailed information.