Sec. 656.1510. - Wireless communication antennas.

The placement of a new wireless communication antenna on any structure within the City may be initiated only upon approval of an application in accordance with the relevant procedures set forth in this Section; provided, however, "small wireless facilities", as defined in Part 4, Ch. 711 , Ordinance Code, to be placed, maintained or collocated in City Rights-of-Way shall be governed by Part 4, Ch. 711 , Ordinance Code, and not by this Ch. 656 , Ordinance Code. Applications shall be filed with the Coordinator by the owner of the structure upon which the proposed antenna is to be located, or his authorized agent. Within ten working days of receipt of an application, the Coordinator shall determine if the application form has been fully completed and all required items submitted. Upon making this determination, the Coordinator shall notify the applicant, in writing, of the status of the application. If the Coordinator determines that the application is incomplete, the Coordinator shall advise the applicant of those items that need to be submitted. If the Coordinator determines that the application is complete, the Coordinator shall advise the applicant of the estimated schedule for processing the application and projected date for obtaining either an approval or denial of same. (a) Collocation on existing wireless communication towers. Applications for collocations on existing towers shall be filed as part of the building permit application process and routed to the Coordinator for review. Upon proof of compliance with the application requirements set forth in this Section, and proof that either the proposed communication antenna is an approved low impact/stealth or camouflaged design pursuant to Section 656.1509 (c), Ordinance Code, or that the antenna is consistent with the design or placement requirements that were in effect at the time of the initial antennae placement approval, then the Coordinator shall issue an order authorizing the placement of the proposed collocation on an existing wireless communication tower. The permitting of such a collocation shall not abrogate the characterization of a tower as a legally permitted nonconforming use, and the tower site's original landscape plan shall remain in effect. Additionally, expansions of the footprint of an existing wireless communication facility compound to accommodate collocation shall not be deemed an expansion of a nonconforming use; provided, however, that all additional accessory equipment shall be landscaped pursuant to Section 656.1512 (c), or as otherwise determined by the Coordinator so long as the visual impacts of the additional accessory equipment are mitigated. Final orders issued by the Coordinator under this Section may be appealed to the Commission. When the Commission acts on an appeal filed under this Section, such action shall be deemed the final action of the City as of the effective date of the final action by the Commission. A final action under this Section shall not be reviewed further by the City Council. Any person with standing may challenge a final action taken by the Commission in whatever way authorized by federal or State law. (b) Administratively approved antennas. Except for: (i) a historic building, structure, site, object, or district; (ii) a single family structure; (iii) a small wireless facilities governed by Part 4, Ch. 711 , Ordinance Code; or (iv) a tower included in Section 656.1510 (a), the Coordinator shall issue an order authorizing the placement of a communication antenna on an existing structure that meets the requirements set forth in subsections (1)—(5) below. (1) The antenna does not increase the height of the existing structure to which the antennae are to be attached, measured to the highest point of any part of the structure or any existing antenna attached to the structure, by more than 15 feet; (2) The antenna does not increase the area of the wireless communication facility, if any, approved in the site plan for equipment enclosures and ancillary facilities; (3) The antennae, equipment enclosures, and ancillary facilities are of an appropriate camouflaged or low-impact/stealth design or are of a design consistent with the design of an initial antennae placed on the structure, if applicable; and (4) There is no technologically and structurally suitable manner on commercially reasonable terms to place the antenna on an existing structure within the search ring without increasing the height. (5) Neither rooftop nor side-mount antennas shall be sited on any lot containing a single-family dwelling unit as the principal structure. (c) Public hearing for antennas. Those antennas that do not satisfy the requirements set forth in Sections 656.1510 (a) and 656.1510 (b), are not governed by the provisions of Part 4, Ch. 711 , Ordinance Code, shall be reviewed by the Commission. Within seven days of notification from the Coordinator that the application is complete, an application for an antenna which is subject to a public hearing before the Commission, shall be scheduled for review before the next meeting of the Commission. When the Commission acts on an antenna application, such action shall be deemed the final action of the City as of the effective date of the final action by the Commission. A final action under this Section shall not be reviewed further by the City Council. Any person with standing may challenge a final action taken by the Commission in whatever way authorized by federal or State law. The Commission shall approve, deny or conditionally approve an application for a wireless communication antenna based upon its compliance with the applicable siting and design standards, as follows: (1) Low impact/stealth or camouflaged design rooftop antennas, design approved pursuant to Section 656.1509 (c) Ordinance Code, not extending more than 25 feet above the roof line shall be permitted in all zoning districts, subject to the antenna application requirements set forth in this Subpart. (2) Non low impact/stealth or noncamouflaged design rooftop antennas not extending more than ten feet above the roof line shall be permitted in all zoning districts, subject to the application requirements set forth in this Subpart. (3) Side-mount antennas not projecting more than 20 inches from the face of the structure shall be permitted in all zoning districts, subject to the application requirements set forth in this Subpart. Side-mount antennas shall be designed and placed so as to be architecturally and aesthetically compatible with the structure. (4) Neither rooftop nor side-mount antennas shall be sited on any lot containing a single-family dwelling unit as the principal structure. (d) Variance from side-mount and rooftop height and projection requirements on non-tower structures. A variance from the maximum height and projection requirements on non-tower structures set forth in this Subpart may only be obtained from the City Council in accordance with the procedures and criteria set forth in Section 656.1509 , Ordinance Code. (e) Application requirements. (1) Application fee. The application fee for review of an application to site a wireless communication antenna on an existing tower or structure shall be as found in www.coj.net/fees . (2) Submittal information. Applications to site a wireless communication antenna on an existing tower or structure shall contain the following information: (i) The identity of the wireless communication service provider, as well as the owner(s) of the structure and land upon which the antenna will be located; (ii) A written legal description of the site and a boundary/improvements survey; (iii) A site plan clearly indicating the antenna size, type and height, and the location of any accessory buildings; (iv) A landscape plan showing specific landscape materials for accessory equipment located at ground-level; (v) The method of fencing, finished color and, if applicable, the method of aesthetic mitigation and illumination. (f) Notification. Upon approval of an application for a side-mount and rooftop antenna, the Coordinator shall notify the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, Jacksonville Aviation Authority and Jacksonville Information Technology Division, and the District Council Member. (Ord. 2007-561-E, § 2; Ord. 2010-216-E, § 10; Ord. 2011-732-E; Ord. 2016-113-E , § 1; Ord. 2017-665-E , § 29; Ord. 2017-863-E , § 2; Ord. 2018-463-E , § 1; Ord. 2025-410-E , § 4)