Development standards

The following standards shall apply to all applications:

• A. A reasonable effort shall be made to utilize existing structures for telecommunications antennas. Should an existing structure not be utilized, evidence as to why an existing structure is not to be utilized shall be submitted.
• B. Town-owned sites that are located in the prospective development area and which could potentially accommodate the proposed antennas and communication towers shall be identified.
• C. Communication towers shall be set back from all property lines a minimum of one foot for each one foot of tower height. When the property abuts a residential district or historic district, the setback distance shall be 1 1/2 feet for each one foot of tower height. All guy wires and guyed towers shall be clearly marked so as to be visible at all times, and all guy wires shall be set back from all property boundaries the minimum of the zoning district in which they are located.
• D. All communication tower supports and peripheral anchors shall be located entirely within the boundaries of the development site and shall be set back from all property boundaries the minimum of the zoning district in which the communication tower is located, but no less than 25 feet. When located in or abutting a residential district or historic district, the minimum setback distance shall be 35 feet. Supports and/or peripheral anchors shall not encroach upon the minimum landscaped screening requirement. All supports and anchors shall have, at a minimum, a ten-foot horizontal setback from any overhead utility line.
• E. Communication equipment buildings and structures shall be considered accessory uses and comply with the following setbacks:
  • (1) One hundred square feet or less, shall be set back from all property boundaries a minimum of 15 feet, unless located within or abutting a residential district or historic district, which shall require a minimum of 25 feet;
  • (2) Greater than 100 square feet, shall be set back from all property boundaries a minimum of 25 feet, unless located within or abutting a residential district or historic district, which shall require a minimum of 35 feet.
• F. Communication towers shall be constructed and situated to fit in with the topography and features of the surrounding environment. Towers shall be completely screened from all adjacent properties and streets, and appropriately camouflaged if required. Plantings shall be of a height and density to ensure complete screening. Screening shall consist of plants and/or trees accepted by the Chapter A263, Development and Subdivision Review Regulations, or as accepted by the Director of Planning. Screening shall comprise 10% of the minimum established setback requirement, but shall not be less than five feet in width unless located in or abutting a residential district or historic district, which will require that it not be less than 10 feet in width. Screenings may be waived by the Zoning Board of Review on those sides or sections that are adjacent to undevelopable land or land not in public view. Existing vegetation shall be preserved to the maximum extent possible and may be used as a substitute for or supplement towards meeting the landscaped screening requirement. The owner of the property shall be responsible for all maintenance and shall replace any dead plantings within 30 days.
• G. Communication towers shall be enclosed by a fence no less than eight feet in height or more than 10 feet in height from finished grade. Access shall be through a locked gate. Communication towers in or abutting a residential district or historic district shall have opaque fencing made of wood or stone. The Town of East Greenwich reserves the right to choose the color of the tower.
• H. Communication towers shall not be artificially lighted except as required for public safety purposes, by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), or by the Town.
• I. No signs shall be allowed on any communication tower except as required for public safety purposes, by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), or by the Town.
• J. Separation distance between towers.
  • (1) Communication towers shall be located so as to comply with the following standards for the minimum separation distance from existing communication towers and/or communication towers that have received a valid special use permit:

    	Minimum Separation Between Towers (by tower type)
    	Proposed Tower Type	Self-Supporting	Guyed	Monopole - 75 Feet in Height or Greater	Monopole - Less than 75 Feet in Height
    	Self-supporting	3 miles	3 miles	1.5 miles	2,500 feet
    	Guyed	3 miles	3 miles	1.5 miles	2,500 feet
    	Monopole - 75 feet in height or greater	1.5 miles	1.5 miles	1.5 miles	2,500 feet
    	Monopole - less than 75 feet in height	2,500 feet	2,500 feet	2,500 feet	2,500 feet

  • (2) Separation distances shall be calculated and applied respective of jurisdictional boundaries.