HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-22-2006-6aORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 22, 2006
Action Agen a
Item No. - q
SUBJECT: Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) Request for Special Public
Hearing for Telecommunications Tower Application
DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Draft Resolution Directing Planning Staff to
Prepare Response to Piedmont Request
2. Piedmont EMC Letter of Request
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Craig Benedict, Planning Director
245-2592
Robert Davis, Planner III
245-2580
Gene Bell, Planner III
245-2589
PURPOSE: To consider a draft resolution providing direction to staff regarding a request by
Piedmont EMC for expedited review of a Planned Development Zoning Atlas Amendment
outside of the Quarterly Public Hearing schedule,
BACKGROUND: The Piedmont EMC property, located at 2500 NC Highway 86 South, was
rezoned to Planned Development -Office/Institutional (PD-OI-1) on .lanuary 4, 1983. This
decision granted approval for construction of the corporate offices and maintenance facilities,
On April 2, 1984, the Board of Adjustment approved a Class B Special Use Permit (SUP) for a
telecommunications tower and storage building as accessory uses.
Piedmont EMC has a request for a zoning atlas amendment/Class ASUP to add a second
principal use (telecommunications tower greater than 150 feet in height) to the PD district to
allow the construction of a new 350-foot tower (320 foot tower plus 30 foot antenna). The
existing 220-foot tower will be removed, No other changes are proposed. Under the County's
normal public hearing process, this item would be scheduled for the November 20, 2006
Quarterly Public Hearing,
Piedmont EMC has submitted a written request and its justification for an expedited public
hearing to the Planning and Inspections Director, A copy of the letter which outlines other
important public safety issues (NC Highway Patrol VIPER) and FAA timelines is attached.
Public hearings on planning issues outside of the adopted hearing schedule are not a frequent
occurrence and generally considered by the Board only in situations that are time-critical since
advertising, property owner notification, meeting logistics, and Planning Board attendance
requirements are the same as far scheduled hearings.
A draft resolution is attached which provides the Board with the opportunity to provide direction
to staff regarding moving forward with a possible expedited review of Piedmont's request, The
resolution as currently drafted directs staff to detail a process and timeline for a potential
expedited request, develop a pros and cons evaluation of the expedited request, and assess
other issues.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: None at this time.
RECOMMENDATIONS: The Manager recommends that the Board consider the attached draft
resolution directing Planning Staff to prepare a process and timeline and other materials related
to a potential expedited review far presentation to the Board at the September 12, 2006 BQCC
regular meeting.
DRAFT ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS 3
A RESOLUTION DIRECTING PLANNING STAFF TO PREPARE A RESPONSE TO
REQUEST BY PIEDMONT ELECTRIC MEMBERSHIP CORPORATION
WHEREAS, Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation located at 2500 NC Highway 86 South,
Hillsborough, North Carolina, has made application far construction of a new 350 foot
telecommunications tower to replace an existing 220 foot tower; and
WHEREAS, construction of said tower requires a rezoning and issuance of Class A Special Use
Permit by the Orange County Board of Commissioners; and
WHEREAS, issuance of Class A Special Use Permits must be preceded by aquasi-judicial
public hearing conducted by the Orange County Board of Commissioners and Orange County
Planning Board: and
WHEREAS, Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation has requested a special public hearing
and expedited review process, citing such issues as homeland security, Federal Aviation
Administration permit expiration, potential co-location of emergency services communications
equipment, and a desire to complete construction prior to the onset of winter weather; and
WHEREAS, public hearings on special use and zoning petitions are generally held on a
quarterly schedule due to the logistics of adjoining property owner notification, newspaper legal
advertisements, agenda preparation, Planning Board attendance, and allowing ample time for
public comment; and
WHEREAS, the next scheduled quarterly public hearing date is November 20, 2006; and
WHEREAS, the Orange County Board of Commissioners desires to give full consideration to
the Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation request;
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange Gounty Board of Commissioners
directs the Orange County Planning Staff to prepare a proposed process and timeline for a
passible expedited public hearing to occur at a regular Board meeting prior to November 20,
2006; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Planning Staff, in its review, also address the pros and
cons of the request, flight patterns of migratory birds, the number and distribution of similar
towers in the County, and such other issues as may be added by the Orange County Board of
Commissioners in its consideration of this resolution.
Upon motion of Commissioner ,seconded by Commissioner
the foregoing resolution was adapted this the 22"d day of August, 2006.
I, Donna Baker, Clerk to the Board of Commissioners for the County of Orange, North Carolina,
DO HEREBY CERTIFY that the foregoing is a true copy of so much of the proceedings of said
Board at a meeting held on August 22, 2006, as relates in any way to the adoption of the
foregoing and that said proceedings are recorded in the minutes of said Board.
WITNESS my hand and the seal of said County, this _ day of ,2006
Clerk to the Board of Commissioners
Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation `"
A Touchstone Hnergy® Cooperative ~~
Gcncral Office: P.O. Drawcr 1179 HillsboFOUgh, NC 27278 (919) 732-2123 Feu: (919) 644-1030
Branch Office: P-O.. Box 1327 5135 Oxford Road Roxboro, NC 275/3 (336} 599-0151 Fsx: (336) 597-9088
NC'Tolf Frcc: 1-800-222-3107 Wcb Address: wwwpemc.org
July 18, 2006
Mr. Craig Benedict
Orange County Planning Department
Hillsborough, NC 27278
On July 6, 2008, Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation (PEMC) submitted an
application to construct a new communications tower at our Headquarters located at
2500 Highway 86 South in Hillsborough, NC. This tower will allow Piedmont EMC to
improve our radio coverage across our service territory and better coordinate storm
restoration and routine communications to our operations personnel in the field. Also,
maintaining electric service has become a concern to the Department of Homeland
Security as part of critical infrastructure, and the ability to communicate with our crews in
the field is of critical importance at all times,.
Our existing tower was approved by Orange County as a Sl1P-B for our radio
communications and the new tower will be used for the same purpose, We have had
numerous meetings with the Qrange County Planning Department and were just recently
informed that the property had fo be rezoned. If in fact, we cannot proceed without a
rezoning hearing, time is of the essence and we would request an accelerated rezoning
process to try-fo maintain our cun'ent schedule. Our permit with the Federal Aviation
Administration expires on 10/05/2006; and, we had planned to have the tower completed
before we get into the winter months when we may be likely to experience an ice storm,
The tower is described in detail in the application package that was provided to you and
your staff on July 6, 2006 (if you have any specific questions about the site). The tower
is designed to allow co-locates and the number of co-locates depends-upon the type of
equipment and where on the tower the equipment is placed. Jack Ball, Director of
Emergency Management, has expressed an interest in locating equipment on this tower
to improve coverage if some issues with the present tower can't be resolved.. Piedmont
also has had inquiries to co-locate ort our other tower in Orange County at Hurdle Mills.
Piedmont, though, is in a position of not being able to allow anyone else on the Law's
Tower in Hurdle Mills until we construct the new tower at the Hillsborough office. We
have had a request from Michael T. Hodgson of the North Carolina Highway Patrol to
locate equipment to complete their 800 MHZ project, which will allow communication
among multiple agencies during emergencies such as hurricanes and ice storms..
Harold Oakley, ttte 911 Director in Person County, also wants to install equipment on the
Law's Tower.
Your attention in thismatter is appreciated
President CEO
Attachments
Serving Orange, Person, Caswell, Alamance, Dutham, and Grenville Counacs