New Orleans Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance

Printed: 3/29/2024 4:19:02 AM

20.3.JJJ.9 Additional Standards for Wireless Telecommunications Towers

a.   Wireless telecommunications towers exceeding sixty-five feet (65’) shall be designed to accommodate at least three (3) telecommunications providers. The area surrounding such a tower shall be of a sufficient size to accommodate accompanying wireless telecommunications facilities for at least three (3) telecommunications providers.

b.  Unless otherwise required by the Federal Communications Commission, the Federal Aviation Administration or the City, towers shall have a galvanized silver or gray finish.

c.  As part of the conditional use approval, the City may require the applicant to reserve a portion of the tower for use by the local, state, or federal government for a governmental function provided that adequate compensation is paid.

d.  All telecommunication towers shall have back-up power systems with sufficient power to operate for at least  three (3) days following a massive power outage. Towers shall be equipped with systems that automatically engage during such power failures. Back-up generators and any necessary fuel supplies shall be stored in a secure structure to prevent unauthorized access, damage and theft and to protect from weather damage.

e.  To minimize the adverse visual impact of wireless telecommunications towers, where such towers are permitted only as conditional uses, they will be permitted in the in the following order of preference for locating new facilities. If lower priority locations are requested, the applicant may be required to provide engineering data certified by the appropriate Louisiana licensed professional, or other information the City deems necessary, that the use of a higher priority location is not technically, or otherwise feasible, and that the requested location is a matter of engineering necessity.

i. First Priority

First priority sites are the C-3, EC, MC, MS, LI, HI, MI, and BIP Districts. In addition, co-location of antennas in any district where there is an existing wireless telecommunications tower is considered a first priority site.

ii.  Second Priority

Second priority sites are the OS-R, NA, ESD, MU-1, MU-2, LS, and C-2 Districts.

iii. Third Priority

Third priority sites are any districts not cited as a first or second priority.