CASE NUMBER: 15SN0611 APPLICANT: SBA

Transcription

1 STAFF S ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION CASE NUMBER: 15SN0611 APPLICANT: SBA CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA Magisterial District: DALE Board of Supervisors (BOS) Public Hearing Date: May 27, 2015 BOS Time Remaining: 365 DAYS Applicant s Agent: TRACY THEMAK ( ) Planning Department Case Manager: DARLA ORR ( ) APPLICANT S REQUEST Conditional Use to permit a communications tower in a Light Industrial (I-1) District. An 81-foot communications tower and associated improvements are planned. (NOTES: A. Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions. B. Under the Federal Telecommunications Act, localities cannot regulate cell towers on the basis of possible health or environmental effects of radio frequency emissions. C. Proffered conditions, plans and elevations are located in Attachments 1-3. ) RECOMMENDATION PLANNING COMMISSION (4/21/2015) STAFF RECOMMEND APPROVAL RECOMMEND APPROVAL Complies with Public Facilities Plan Consistent with Telecommunications Tower Siting Policy Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service

2 Department SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED ISSUES Issue PLANNING - FIRE - CDOT - VDOT - UTILITIES - ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

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4 Map 2: The Comprehensive Plan Classification: INDUSTRIAL The designation suggests the property is appropriate for moderate to intense manufacturing uses that are generally dependent upon the processing of raw materials, and those uses normally having associated outside storage areas. Map 3: Surrounding Land Uses & Development Route 288 Light and moderate industrial use or vacant Chesterfield Airport Industrial Park 4 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

5 PLANNING Staff Contact: Robert Clay ( ) PROPOSAL An 81-foot communications tower is proposed on property in the County s Airport Industrial Park and within the height obstruction limits of the Airport. The request property, while designated for Industrial land use, is in a highly visible area due to its proximity to Route 288. PUBLIC FACILITIES PLAN The Public Facilities Plan, an element of the Comprehensive Plan, suggests telecommunications facilities should be designed and located to provide broad access to communication services and minimize the numbers of towers and their impact on the surrounding area. The Plan encourages: co-location on existing telecommunications towers, or architectural incorporation into existing building features Where co-location or architectural incorporation is not feasible, the Plan suggests that in highly visible areas such as the subject property, towers should be located and designed to conceal such facilities to the greatest degree feasible to minimize their visual impact. The visual presence should be minimized by: Maintaining natural features (such as topography or mature forested areas) Obscuring or blocking views with other existing structures Using stealth designs to disguise and camouflage the appearance or, when this is not feasible, using a monopole design TOWER SITING POLICY The Policy establishes guidelines for design, setbacks and security. The Policy elements: Discourage sectored arrays in residential areas Limit size of satellite and microwave dish antennas Require certification of structural integrity Require setbacks from existing off-site dwellings, and public rights-of-way (not withstanding Ordinance setback requirements) Prohibit signs, except as required by state or federal guidelines Require security fencing to preclude trespassing Provide for screening of tower base and ground mounted equipment 5 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

6 The following provides an overview of the proposal and conditions offered by the applicant to mitigate the impact of the tower: Requirements Location Tower Design & Opportunities for Future Users Lighting Signage Security and Screening Structural Integrity Tower Height Cessation of Use General Overview Details Tower is located within industrial area approximately 300 feet from edge of right of way for northbound lanes of Route 288 Plan and Policy Addresses tower design: Gray or another neutral color; Monopole No satellite and microwave dish antennas Sectored array will allow additional carriers Proffered Condition 3 and Policy The Airport requested an FAA approved red obstruction light with upward reflection due to proximity to Airport Proffered Condition 3 No signage permitted Proffered Condition 1 and Policy Board on board security fence Landscaping around fenced compound Ordinance requirements in O, C, I Districts Proffered Conditions 2 & 4 and Policy Engineer s report required to certify structural integrity of the tower Proffered Condition 5 and Policy Maximum of 81 feet Proffered Condition 6 Removal required within 12 months once use ceases Proffered Condition 7 and Policy As proffered, the proposed communications tower complies with the Comprehensive Plan and is consistent with the Telecommunications Tower Siting Policy criteria. The tower has been located and designed to conceal the facility to the greatest degree feasible and to minimize the visual impact. 6 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

7 PUBLIC FACILITIES FIRE SERVICE Staff Contact: Greg Smith ( ) When the property is developed, the number of hydrants, quantity of water needed for fire protection, and access requirements will be evaluated during the plans review process. Nearby Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Facilities Fire Station The Airport Fire Station, Company Number 15 EMS Facility The Airport Fire Station, Company Number 15 COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Staff Contact: Jim Banks ( ) Staff Contact: Steve Adams ( ) The Comprehensive Plan, which includes the Thoroughfare Plan, identifies county-wide transportation needs that are expected to mitigate traffic impacts of future growth. The anticipated traffic impact of the proposal has been evaluated and it is anticipated to be minimal. VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Staff Contact: Brian Lokker ( ) VDOT Land Use Regulations Traffic Impact Analysis (24VAC30-155) - Access Management (24VAC30-73) - Subdivision Street Acceptance (24VAC30-91/92) - Land Use Permit (24VAC30-151) - Summary No comment 7 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

8 WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS Staff Contact: Jamie Bland ( ) The proposal s impacts on the County s utility system are detailed in the chart below: Water and Wastewater Systems Currently Size of Existing Line Connection Required by County Code? Serviced? Water No 8 No Wastewater No 8 No The proposed request will not impact the public water and wastewater systems. ENVIRONMENTAL Drainage, Erosion and Water Quality Staff Contact: Doug Pritchard ( ) pritchardd@chesterfield.gov Environmental Engineering has no comment on this request. 8 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

9 CASE HISTORY Applicant Submittals 11/26/2014 Application submitted 3/24/2014 Revised proffers were submitted 2/19/2015 Applicant notified citizens of balloon fly scheduled for 2/27/2015. Planning Commission 2/17/2015 The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for February 17, 2015 was rescheduled to February 19, 2015 due to inclement weather. 2/19/2015 Commission Discussion Dr. Brown stated a deferral to the April 21, 2015 meeting would permit the applicant time to reach out to area property owners and finalize their proposal. Action DEFERRED TO APRIL 21, /21/2015 Citizen Comments: No one spoke to this request Recommendation APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROFFERED CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT 1 Motion: Brown Seconded: Waller AYES: Gulley, Waller, Brown, Patton and Wallin The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will consider this request. 9 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

10 PROFFERED CONDITIONS ATTACHMENT 1 Note: (STAFF/CPC) Recommended by the Planning Commission and Staff (STAFF/CPC) 1. There shall be no signs permitted to identify this use. (P) (STAFF/CPC) 2. The base of the tower shall be enclosed by a wood board-on-board fence designed to preclude trespassing and to screen the base of the tower and ground-mounted equipment from adjacent properties (the Fence ). The Fence shall have a height equal to or greater than the height of the tallest ground-based equipment or shelter (excluding the tower) installed within the fenced compound. The fence shall be placed so as to provide sufficient room between the fence and the lease boundary to accommodate evergreen plantings having an initial height and spacing designed to soften the visual impact of the fence from adjacent properties and public rights of way. A detailed plan depicting this requirement shall be submitted to the Planning Department for approval in conjunction with plans review. (P) (STAFF/CPC) 3. The color, design and lighting system for the tower shall be as follows: a. The tower shall be gray or another neutral color, acceptable to the Planning Department. b. The tower shall only be lighted at night by a red FAA approved obstruction light with upward reflection. The exact design shall be approved by the Chesterfield Airport during plans review. c. The tower shall be a monopole structure. d. No satellite dish and microwave dish antennas shall be attached to the telecommunications tower. (A & P) (STAFF/CPC) 4. Any building or mechanical equipment shall comply with the Zoning Ordinance relative to architectural treatment of building exteriors and screening of mechanical equipment in O, C and I Districts. (P) (STAFF/CPC) 5. Prior to use of this telecommunications tower, the owner of the tower shall obtain approval of the structural integrity by a registered professional engineer licensed in Virginia and a copy of the report filed with the Planning Department. (P) (STAFF/CPC) 6. The tower shall not exceed an overall height of eighty-one feet (81 ) including the one foot (1 ) tall lightning rod. (P) 10 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

11 (STAFF/CPC) 7. At such time that the tower ceases to be used for communications purposes for a period exceeding twelve (12) consecutive months, the owner/developer shall dismantle and remove the tower and all associated equipment from the property. (P) 11 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

12 ELEVATION ATTACHMENT SN MAY27-BOS-RPT

13 ATTACHMENT 3 PLAN 13 15SN MAY27-BOS-RPT