HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-22-1994 - C-3 (b) ORANGE COUNTY 053
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 22, 1994
Action Agenda
Item if C 3 h
SUBJECT: ZONING ORDINANCE TEXT AMENDMENT
(Article 8.8.17 Radio, Television and Communication Towers,
and Elevated Water Storage Tanks (Class B Special Use)
DEPARTMENT: PLANNING PUBLIC HEARING X Yes No
ATTACHMENT(S) : INFORMATION CONTACT: Eddie Kirk
Ext. 2582
Proposed Amendment
Map of Cellular Tower Sites
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough - 732-8181
Durham - 688-7331
Mebane - 227-2031
Chapel Hill - 967-9251
PURPOSE: To receive citizen comment on a proposed amendment of
the Zoning Ordinance to add new requirements for
additional information and standards of evaluation
regarding communications towers.
BACKGROUND: The Orange County Board of Adjustment has grown
increasingly concerned about the number of
communications towers they have seen applications for
recently. The Board has reviewed five Special Use
applications for towers since 1990. The concerns
relate to the number of towers and the reasons they
cannot co-locate on an existing tower in the vicinity.
Generally there are good reasons why towers cannot
co-locate, i.e. , loading capabilities, frequency
incompatibility, and directional focusing of signals.
However, in some instances there may be situations
where towers can co-locate.
The proposed amendments would require an applicant to
first look into co-locating on an existing tower and
second where feasible to provide lease space on their
tower for other users.
RECOMMENDATION: Article 20.3 of the Zoning Ordinance requires that the
Zoning Officer's recommendation be presented to the
Planning board within 30 days of receipt of an
application. However, Article 20.4 exempts any
application for amendments to the zoning Ordinance by
0 54 either the public or the County from the provisions of
Article 20.3. In either case, though, the public
hearing is the time scheduled for presentation of the
Zoning Officer's recommendation.
Zoning Officer Recommendation
Provided that the Planning Board and Board of
Commissioners find in the affirmative, the Zoning
Officer recommends approval of the proposed text
amendments.
Administration Recommendation
The Administration recommends that the proposed
amendments be referred to the Planning Board for a
recommendation to be returned to the Board of
Commissioners no sooner than October 3, 1994 .
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PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT
ORDINANCE: ZONING ORDINANCE
REFERENCE: ARTICLE 8 .8 . 17 RADIO, TELEVISION, AND
COMMUNICATIONS TOWERS, AND ELEVATED WATER STORAGE
TANKS (CLASS B SPECIAL USE)
ORIGIN OF AMENDMENT: _x_ Staff Planning Board
BOCC Public
Other:
STAFF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION: High Middle x Low
Comment:
EXPECTED PUBLIC HEARING DATE: August 22 , 1994
PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT:
To add new requirements for additional information and standards
of evaluation regarding communications towers to the Class B
Special Use section.
IMPACTS/ISSUES:
The Zoning Ordinance does not presently address the location or
number of communications towers in the County. The Orange County
Board of Adjustment has grown increasingly concerned about the
number of communications towers they have seen applications for
recently. The Board has reviewed five Special Use applications
for towers since 1990. Four of these applications have been
approved. The concerns raised deal directly with the number of
towers and the reasons they cannot co-locate on an existing tower
in the vicinity. Generally, loading capabilities, frequency
incompatibility, and directional focusing of signals may keep
towers from co-locating. In these cases towers would be needed
to provide appropriate communications coverage. However, in some
instances there may be situations where towers can co-locate.
The proposed standards would require an applicant to first look
into co-locating on an existing tower and second where feasible
to provide lease space on their tower for other users.
If it is found to be feasible to lease space on an existing tower
instead of erecting an additional tower, the number of towers in
Orange County could be reduced.
EXISTING AND PROPOSED AMENDMENT:
-R
8.8. 17 Radio,Television and communication Towers, and Elevated
Water Storage Tanks (class B special Use)
8.8. 17.1 Additional Information
In addition to the information required in Subsection
8 .2 and 8 .8, the following shall be submitted as part
of the application:
a) A Site Plan showing siting and size of all
existing and proposed structures, existing and
proposed topography at a contour interval of five
feet and any officially designated floodways and
floodplains, or the presence of alluvial soils.
b) Plans, and elevations for all proposed structures
and descriptions of the color and nature of all
exterior material.
C) A Landscape Plan showing, at the same scale as the
Site Plan, existing and proposed trees, plus
shrubs, ground cover and other landscape
materials.
d:. T'f` an. eX: st hg> .co m�tnica.tions tower :is ldcated' in
t .e> ge»era.7:. o: rii: .of: tie:- pzepasec
o=gn1cat.i.ons> toiaer;;:. tha- appl I C-ant: :sha l:. attempt
to .o t s> :spa;c :. ;on: thai: e �st.kni t ez'::: A. le.tter
from: the..-. ;f r :: :GOntaet'ed: a.»d:. a:. letter: .from.. the
a ca»t : t d .ca ric this-- Attempt. :sh$ 1. -
sbm .tted: tn: the: application:: materals.
e A.. sta.teiert. : »dcatnc the: applicant: is; willing t.a
l:ease: .space: o t.s:: coin un1dat:ions: to er and
equpie:»t:. :stc�race: ;a:re .: to Qther com�unicat: :ans
.......
p c v�c�`er :.` dose.. u:se: 'wou�.ct:. no:A.. ert, with
app ca»t's: use> Qn:: a:: commerc .a.:L y rea.sona:ble
has: s:
f}. A: state tei t.. :ftoit . th app:Xicaht. :Inial.0t r c: tie
. . . : .
Qiaizru Ieat :ons t er s> o- stiff cent: sM.z:e: and
s:Xua. ure: to:. :eiipport:
the propos:eet`. u:se .. :p:l: s. c r.e
add :t QnaI.. ,t.Se Which?:. Vould: not: interfere:: with th.e
app :
8.8.17.2 standards of Evaluation
The following specific standards shall be used in
deciding upon an application for approval:
a) Adequate provision has been made, by means of
fencing or otherwise, for the security of the
site.
050.1
b) A minimum lot size shall be adequate for the
proposed use.
C) Adequate provision has been made for the
protection of adjacent property from the dangers
of collapse, fire, flooding or other menaces to
public health and safety.
al... Ad. irate; pr
ovi"!sIl—ab .'. as: . .' eeni made: to obtain spa
ce
on .
tow in
an- AWILst. )4.4: C.0 14. A44 -or the
V.Iql'ni ty .-
.-A. cq= ..... ower" is proposed a... statement
. c
"the. Permit
..........
in ta.
dica 'p th
s lease -space:: *, w Cc
hoer a pm t - or ,area: a. a on eclxlly
.reasonab:16 :basis:. -provided.: te: .�dditiona:1. use_ would
d
not Intetf ore. vith: the:. App1.i'q*ant:*1,s:* use.-
ro...is:itfm ta* b een. mA :6. for-. the
coo....... .
commun-itati.ons:- tower, to.:. -support,. the:: proposed:: 'U' s-e....acic it octal:. use: r i.ich. would not. interfere:
A:: on e-,
Vd.xth:: the:. 1d*can.;,t
s, -use...
ORDINANCE REVIEW SUBCOMMITTEE:
PLANNING BOARD REVIEW:
BOCC REVIEW:
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CELLULAR TOWER SITES IN
10 ` \�� — J ORANGE COUNTY
*— - CELLULAR ONE TOWERS:
'o #'S 2, 5, 6, 11, 12, 14
CENTEL TOWERS:
�•• — #'S 1, 3, 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 1
ORANGE COUNTY ROAD MAP • �-
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