The Ocean City Planning Board approved an ordinance governing the use of wireless communication towers on public and city-owned land Wednesday, after recommending numerous revisions.
The Planning Board met at City Hall to discuss Ordinance 25-01 that addresses the large structures that support antennas used to transmit and receive wireless telecommunication signals for radio, television, cellular phone and internet signals.
The group critiqued the ordinance to ensure alignment with the Ocean City Master Plan, which was first adopted in 1988.
“Usually, these reports come through with not that many conditions,” said Gary Griffith, the board’s solicitor. “This is a little bit of a different one for us, so we want to make sure that the direction that we give to the council specifically identifies the conditions in this report.”
The ordinance was reviewed with recommendations to clarify regulations around signage, tower locations, and to feature design requirements.
“Perhaps the ordinance would be more beneficial, more complete if some of these recommendations were addressed,” said Randall Scheule, the board planner. “That's what the intent is of these recommendations.”
The ordinance states that wireless communication towers and antenna would be permitted for use in public zones and land owned by the city, under the following conditions:
● Communication towers shall only be permitted on property owned, leased or otherwise controlled by the city.
● The city must give its consent before its property may be used for a communication tower. This consent shall be in the form of a resolution of approval adopted by the governing body.
● No communication tower shall be erected or operated within the city except pursuant to a license issued by the governing body or a lease entered into between the operator of the facility and the city.
● No tower shall be erected within the city if there exists the ability to extend a pre-existing structure to adequately and lawfully accommodate a communication tower.
● All towers shall either maintain a galvanized steel finish or, subject to any applicable standards of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), be painted a neutral color so as to reduce visual obtrusiveness.
● All towers shall not be artificially lighted, unless required by the FAA or other applicable authority. If lighting is required, the lighting alternatives and design chosen must cause the least disturbance to the surrounding views.
● No signs should be allowed on an antenna or tower.
While the ordinance currently prohibits all signs on the towers,
Scheule recommended an allowance for signs that may be required by federal commissions and laws, such as warning signs and informational signs about equipment.
“Public safety signs could be required on these facilities, just to warn people,” he said. “Right now, the ordinance doesn't permit any signs at all.”
The board also recommended clarifying that the towers are permitted only for use in public zones and land owned by the city within the Ocean City. Additionally, they recommended adding use regulations, site design standards, co-location requirements, monitoring, maintenance and abandonment procedures.
The Planning Board unanimously passed the motion.
There will be a second reading and public hearing at Thursday’s City Council meeting.
