Cell Phone Towers to be Limited by Location, Aesthetics

How would you like to have a 130-foot-tall cell phone tower erected on your property?

It could happen under Horsham Township's existing wireless communications facilities ordinance. 

But, the township council is taking steps to prevent towers from being built in residential areas and, in working to revise the existing regulation, is setting height, co-location and "visual" requirements as well.  

The governing body this week introduced the 23-page amended ordinance and set Nov. 13 at 7:45 p.m. for a public hearing. The revised ordinance would take effect 30 days after its adoption, which could come on Nov. 13. 

Township attorney Mary Eberle said other municipalities experienced situations last year where wireless communication carriers had installed equipment in residential areas. Horsham's proposed ordinance, she said, is aimed at preventing that from happening. 

Horsham is the first municipality in Montgomery County to consider such an ordinance, Eberle said. 

"We're trying to make sure our zoning ordinance stays on top of the technology," Eberle said. 

In Northampton Township in Bucks County, a similar ordinance was approved earlier this year after residents last year fought the installation of new communication towers in their neighborhoods. 

If that were permitted in Horsham, Eberle said, "It would destroy the character" of the town.

Besides keeping wireless communication equipment out of residential areas, the proposed ordinance sets the height of tower-based facilities at a maximum of 130 feet high; prevents artificial lighting "except as required by law"; and requires that an applicant "demonstrate that a significant gap in wireless coverage exists."

The tentative ordinance also considers aesthetics as outlined. 

"The township reserves the right to deny an application for the construction or placement ... based upon visual and/or land use impact," according to the draft ordinance.