60-96 ORDINANCE NO. 60-96
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE
ACCEPTANCE OR CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR
CONDITIONAL USE APPROVALS FOR CERTAIN PERSONAL
WIRELESS SERVICE TOWERS AND TOWER FACILITIES;
PROVIDING FOR THE TREATMENT OF OUTSTANDING
APPLICATIONS; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING
FOR EXCLUSIONS; PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE, A
GENERAL REPEALER CLAUSE, AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Delray Beach has permitted the
construction of personal wireless service tower facilities as a
conditional use within certain zoning districts; and
WHEREAS, various provisions of the City of Delray Beach
Code of Ordinances contain provisions regulating the placement and
construction of these personal wireless service tower facilities; and
WHEREAS, Public Law 104-104, commonly known as the
Telecommunications Act of 1996 (the Act), was signed into law on
February 8, 1996; and
WHEREAS, the Act preserves the authority of local
governments to make decisions regarding the placement, construction
and modification of personal wireless service facilities so long as
those decisions do not unreasonably discriminate among providers of
functionally equivalent services or prohibit or have the effect of
prohibiting the provision of personal wireless services; and
WHEREAS, passage of the Act, changes in wireless
communication technology, additional licenses granted by the Federal
Communications Commission and the increased consumer demand for
personal wireless services has had the effect of creating a climate
of heightened competition among the providers of personal wireless
services and numerous providers of personal wireless services have
expressed the desire to locate personal wireless communications
facilities within the City; and
WHEREAS, this increased competition has resulted in an
increase in the number of applications for conditional use approval
in the City; and
WHEREAS, the number of potential sites within the City
which would be acceptable for the installation of personal wireless
communications facilities is limited; and
WHEREAS, citizens of the community have expressed a desire
that personal wireless communications facilities be located and
constructed in a manner protective of their health, safety and
welfare, as well as the aesthetic welfare of the City; and
WHEREAS, current industry technology exists which will
allow personal wireless communications facilities to be designed and
installed in ways that minimize aesthetic, health, safety and welfare
concerns; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined that the
current provisions within the City's Code of Ordinances relating to
the regulation of the placement and construction of personal wireless
communications facilities are inadequate as they relate to
compatibility with surrounding properties, proliferation of towers
and ensuring that co-location of antennas is required; and
WHEREAS, the City requires time to study the adequacy of
its current regulatory ordinances and to explore and develop
modifications or additions to those ordinances; and
WHEREAS, processing applications for conditional use
approval for personal wireless communications facilities without the
benefit of additional information and study to determine the need for
providers to design facilities to allow for co-location may result in
the inability to allow adequate sites for all competing providers;
and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has directed staff to draft
any needed amendments to the City's Code of Ordinances determined to'
be required to protect the aesthetic, health, safety and welfare
concerns found to exist; and
WHEREAS, City staff has begun the process of researching
and drafting any such amendments to the City's Code of Ordinances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF
THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City of Delray Beach does hereby
impose a ninety (90) day moratorium upon the acceptance or
consideration of applications for conditional use approval for
personal wireless service tower facilities, also known as
communications towers or facilities.
- 2 - Ord. No. 60-96
Section 2. That this ordinance shall not apply to any
legally sufficient application for conditional use approval for
personal wireless service tower facilities which is pending on
December 17, 1996, and shall not apply to any existing structure
which is legally grandfathered or the onsite replacement of such
structure.
Section 3. The definition of "personal wireless services"
and "personal wireless service facilities" shall be the same as those
terms are defined in Section 704 of the Telecommunications Act of
1996, and shall include communication facilities as described in the
City's Code of Ordinances.
Section 4. This ordinance addresses tower facilities and
their support structures. It specifically excludes and shall not
effect pole attachments or the placement of antennae, where such
attachment or placement does not involve the construction or
structural modification to or expansion of a tower structure.
Section 5. That should any section or provision of this
ordinance or any portion thereof, any paragraph, sentence or word be
declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be invalid, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remainder hereof as a
whole or part thereof other than the part declared to be invalid.
Section 6. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in
conflict herewith be, and the same are hereby repealed.
Section 7. That this ordinance shall become effective
immediately upon its passage on second and final reading.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second and final
reading on this the 7th day of January , 1997.
ATTEST:
First Reading December 17r 1996
Second Reading January 7~ 1997
- 3 - Ord. No. 60-96
MEMORANDUM
TO: MAYOR AND CITY COMMISSIONERS
FROM: CITY lVlg2q'AGER~/~
SUBJECT: AGENDA ITEM #/~ - REGULAR MEETING OF JANUARY 7, 1997
SECOND READING/SECOND PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCE NO.
60-96 (CELLULAR TOWER MORATORIUM)
DATE: JANUARY 2, 1997
This is second reading and the second public hearing for Ordinance
No. 60-96 which imposes a ninety (90) day moratorium upon the
acceptance or consideration of applications for conditional use
approval for communications towers or facilities.
The ordinance does not affect pending conditional use applications
as of the date of first reading, or December 17, 1996. At first
reading, the Commission passed the ordinance by a vote of 4 to 0.
Recommend approval of Ordinance No. 60-96 on second and final
reading.
ref:agmemo2
Writer's Direct Line: (407) 243-7090
DELRAY BEACH
AIl.ln~ica City MEMORANDUM
'IIIt December5, 1996
1993
TO: David Harden, City Manager
FROM: Susan A. Ruby, City Attorney
SUBJECT: Moratorium - Cellular Towers
Attached is the ordinance regarding the cellular tower moratorium.
The ordinance calls for a 90 day moratorium upon the acceptance or consideration of
applications for placement of cellular towers. This ordinance does not effect pending
conditional use applications as of the date of fa'st reading. (That date needs to be
incorporated in the ordinance once the first reading date is established).
The ordinance needs to be advertised for two public hearings pursuant to F.S. Sec.
166.041(3)(c).
P~ou have any questions.
SAR:ci
ORDINANCE NO. 6 0- 9 6
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA
IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE OR
CONSIDERATION OF APPLICATIONS FOR CONDITIONAL USE
APPROVALS FOR CERTAIN PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE TOWERS
AND TOWER FACILITIES; PROVIDING FOR THE TREATMENT OF
OUTSTANDING APPLICATIONS; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS;
PROVIDING FOR EXCLUSIONS; PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE, A
GENERAL REPEALER CLAUSE AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the City of Delray Beach has permitted the construction of personal wireless
service tower facilities as a conditional use within certain zoning districts; and,
WHEREAS, various provisions of the City of Delray Beach Code of Ordinances contain
provisions regulating the placement and construction of these personal wireless service tower
facilities; and,
WHEREAS, Public Law 104-104, commonly known as the Telecommunications Act of
1996 (the Act), was signed into law on February 8, 1996; and,
WHEREAS, the Act preserves the authority of local governments to make decisions
regarding the placement, construction and modification of personal wireless service facilities so
long as those decisions do not unreasonably discriminate among providers of functionally
equivalent services or prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless
services; and,
WHEREAS, passage of the Act, changes in wireless communication technology,
additional licenses granted by the Federal Communications Commission and the increased
consumer demand for personal wireless services has had the effect of creating a climate of
heightened competition among the providers of personal wireless services and numerous
providers of personal wireless services have expressed the desire to locate personal wireless
communications facilities within the City; and,
WHEREAS, this increased competition has resulted in an increase in the number of
applications for conditional use approval in the City; and,
WHEREAS, the number of potential sites within the City which would be acceptable for
the installation of personal wireless communications facilities is limited; and,
WHEREAS, citizens of the community have expressed a desire that personal wireless
communications facilities be located and constructed in a manner protective of their health, safety
and welfare, as well as the aesthetic welfare of the City; and,
ORD. 60-96
WHEREAS, current industry technology exists which will allow personal wireless
communications facilities to be designed and installed in ways that minimize aesthetic, health,
safety and welfare concerns; and,
WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined that the current provisions within the
City's Code of Ordinances relating to the regulation of the placement and construction of personal
wireless communication facilities are inadequate as they relate to compatibility with surrounding
properties, proliferation of towers and ensuring that co-location of antennas is required; and,
WHEREAS, the City requires time to study the adequacy of its current regulatory
ordinances and to explore and develop modifications or additions to those ordinances; and,
WHEREAS, processing applications for conditional use approval for personal wireless
communication facilities without the benefit of additional information and study to determine the
need for providers to design facilities to allow for co-location may result in the inability to allow
adequate sites for all competing providers; and,
WHEREAS, the City Commission has directed staff to drat~ any needed amendments to
the City's Code of Ordinances determined to be required to protect the aesthetic, health, safety
and welfare concerns found to exist; and,
WHEREAS, City staff has begun the process of researching and drafting any such
amendments to the City's Code of Ordinances.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DELRAY BEACH, FLORIDA, AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the City of Delray Beach does hereby impose a ninety (90) day
moratorium upon the acceptance or consideration of applications for conditional use approval for
personal wireless service tower facilities, also known as communications towers or facilities.
Section 2. That this Ordinance shall not apply to any legally sufficient application for
conditional use approval for personal wireless service tower facilities which is pending on
December .__, 1996, and shall not apply to any existing structure which is legally grandfathered or
the onsite replacement of such structure.
Section 3. The definition of "personal wireless services" and "personal wireless service
facilities" shall be the same as those terms are defined in {}704 of the Telecommunications Act of
1996, and shall include communication facilities as described in the City's Code of Ordinances.
Section 4. This Ordinance addresses tower facilities and their support structures. It
specifically excludes and shall not effect pole attachments or the placement of antennae, where
such attachment or placement does not involve the construction or structural modification to or
expansion of a tower structure.
ORD. 6 0 -96
Section 5. That should any section or provision of. this ordinance or any portion
thereof', any paragraph, sentence, or word be declared by a Court of' competent jurisdiction to be
invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of' the remainder hereof' as a whole or part
thereof' other than the part declared to be invalid.
Section 6. That all ordinances or parts of ordinances in conflict herewith be and the
same are hereby repealed.
Section 7. That this ordinance shall become effective immediately upon its passage on
second and final reading.
PASSED AND ADOPTED in regular session on second and final reading on this the ~
day of ,199_.
MAYOR
ATTEST:
City Clerk
First Reading,
Second Reading
ORD. 60-96
NOTICE OF IMPOSING A MORATORIUM ON THE
ACCEPTANCE OR CONSIDERATION OF APPLICA-
TIONS FOR CONDITIONAL USE APPROVALS FOR
~ CERTAIN PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE TOWERS
AND TOWER FACILITIES THROUGHOUT
THE CITY OF DELRAY BEACH
The Cily Commission of the City of Deiray Beach, Florida, proposes to adop~
the following-°rdinance: .
ORDINANCE NO. 60.96
AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY COMMISSION OF THE
CITY OF DELRAY .BEACH, FLORIDA, IMPOSING
MORATORIUM ON THE ACCEPTANCE OR CONSlDERA'-
TION OF APPLICATIONS FOR CONDITIONAL USI~
APPROVALS FOR CERTAIN PERSONAL WIRELESS
SERVICE TOWERS AND TOWER FACILITIES; PROVID£
lNG FOR THE TREATMENT OF OUTSTANDING APPL!~
CATIONS; PROVIDING FOR DEFINITIONS; PROVIDING
FOR EXCLUSIONS; PROVIDING A SAVING CLAUSE,
GENERAL REPEALER CLAUSE AND AN EFFECTIV~
DATE.
The City Commission will conduct two (2) Public Hearing~
for the purpose of accepting public testimony regarding the
proPosed ordinance. The first Public Hearing will be held 'on
TUESDAY. DECEMBER 17. 1996. AT 5:00 P.M, (or at any
continuation of' such meeting which is set by the
Commission), in the Commission Chambers at City Hal!,
100 N.W. 1st Avenue, Delray Beach, Florida. If the ordi-
nance is paSsed on first reading, a second Public Hearing
will be held on TUESDAY. JANUARY 7. 1997. AT 7:00 P.M..
(or at any continuation of such meeting which is set by the
Commission). _,
All interested citizens are invited to attend the public hear-
ings and Comment upon the proposed ordinance or submit
their comments in writing on or before the date of thes~
hearings to the City Clerk's Office. For further information (~r
to obtain a copy of the proPosed ordinance, please conta(~
the City Clerk's Office, City Hall, 100 N.W. 1st Avenue~
Delray Beach, Florida 33444, (Phone 407/24'3-7050)
between the hours of 8:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m., Monday/
through Friday, excluding holidays, j
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT IF A PERSON DECIDES TO
APPEAL ANY DECISION MADE BY THE CITy
COMMISSION WITH RESPECT TO ANY MATTER CONr
SIDERED AT THESE HEARINGS, SUCH PERSON MAY
NEED TO ENSURE THAT A VERBATIM RECORD
INCLUDES THE TESTIMONY AND EVIDENCE UPON
WHICH THE APPEAL IS TO BE BASED. THE CiTY DOES
NOT PROVIDE NOR PREPARE SUCH RECORD.
PURSUANT TO F,S. 286.0105. ,,
PUBLISH:Delray Beach News OF DELRAY
BEAC~
CITY
December 10, 1996 Alison MacGregor Harty ~
December 30, 1996 City Clerk