Orange County NC Website
Ordinance as Approved by BOCC 21 <br />All Applications shall contain a demonstration that the tower is <br />sited so as to have the least visually intrusive effect reasonably <br />possible and thereby have the least adverse visual effect on the <br />environment and its character, on existing vegetation, and on the <br />residences in the area of the telecommunications tower. <br />Both the telecommunications tower and any and all accessory or <br />associated telecommunication equipment and related facilities <br />- shall maximize the use of building materials, colors and textures <br />designed to blend with the structure to which it may be affixed <br />and/or to harmonize with the natural surroundings, this shall <br />include the utilization of stealth technology as may required by the <br />County. <br />At a telecommunications tower site, an access road, turn around <br />space and parking shall be provided to assure adequate <br />emergency and service access. Maximum use of existing roads, <br />whether public or private, shall be made to the extent practicable. <br />Road construction shall, at all times, minimize ground disturbance <br />and the. cutting of vegetation. Road grades shall closely follow. <br />natural contours to assure minimal visual disturbance and reduce <br />soil erosion. <br />8.8.17a.2 Standards of Evaluation <br />The following specific standards, as well as those found in Section 6.18.4 <br />of the Zoning Ordinance, shall be used in deciding upon an application for <br />approval <br />a) Telecommunications equipment shall be located at a preferred <br />site in accordance with the following priorities, with priority one (1) <br />being the most preferred, and priority five (5) being the least <br />preferred: <br />1. On existing towers or other structures; <br />2. On utility poles; <br />3. On industrially- or commercially-zoned properties; <br />4. On a stealth facility; <br />5. At another location not identified above as priority 1, 2, 3 or <br />4. <br />b) If an Applicant proposes to place telecommunications equipment. <br />at a location that is not a preferred priority 1 site, then the <br />Applicant must provide a detailed explanation as to why a higher <br />priority site is not proposed. The explanation shall be in the form <br />of a written report. demonstrating the Applicant's review of the <br />above locations in order of priority and the reason(s) for the site <br />selection. The explanation shall, at a minimum, include the <br />information required by Subsection 8.8.17a.1 a.e). <br />