Zoning Ordinance

The location and design of driveways and/or access easements to the facility from a public street shall be depicted on the site plan and all access points shall be approved by the Athens Planning Commission in accordance with these regulations.

I. Lighting

1. Towers: Towers may be lighted within the City limits of Athens if required by the FAA (Federal Aviation Administration).

2. Structures: Outside lighting of structures, if required for safety and security purposes, shall be of a sensory fashion in which illumination occurs only when the site is approached. The lighting shall be arranged to minimize glare and reflection on adjacent residential properties and public streets and does not exceed 0.4 feet candles measured at the property line, easement line or abutting properties zoned for residential use.

J. Security

The entire area of the cellular tower facility (which includes all the co-location areas, but excludes access drives) shall be fully secured through the installation of a security fencing/wall system of a minimum height of eight (8) feet and shall also be equipped with an appropriate anti-climbing device to deter unauthorized entry into the facility.

K. Removal of Obsolete Towers

1. Any tower that is no longer in use for its original communications purpose shall be removed at the owner’s expense. The owner shall provide the City with a copy of the notice of intent to the FCC to cease operations and shall be given ninety (90) days from the date of ceasing operations to remove the obsolete tower and accessory structure(s), provided another operator has not submitted a request for a tower during that time period. In the case of multiple operators sharing a single tower, this provision shall not become effective until all users cease operations.

2. Prior to the issuance of a permit for any tower, co-use of any tower or co- use of any utility structure, a surety instrument (i.e. letter of credit or bond), which shall serve to ensure prompt removal of the tower once it ceases to operate, shall be provided by all users. The amount of the surety instrument shall be determined by the town’s designated official and then approved by the Board of Zoning Appeals during the site plan review process.

L. Site Plan Requirements

Prior to the issuance of a building permit, the construction of a tower or the utilization of an existing structure for telecommunications or television transmission purposes, the

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