ORD-2004-019 - Zoning Ordinance Amendment Wireless Element of the Master Telecommunication Plan

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136 2 from or otherwise modify the MTP shall be filed with the Zoning Officer prior to December 15th of each year. The purpose of the MTP is to identify properties within the County where wireless telecommunications providers are encouraged to research prior to submittal of an application to site a new wireless telecommunications facility. The MTP will help identify existing locations suitable for co- location including locations that may also serve the public safety telecommunications network. Recent amendments to Section 6.18 of the Orange County Zoning Ordinance provides a "place holder" for the adoption of an MTP should the Board of County Commissioners desire to adopt the plan. If the County declines to adopt the MTP, the present zoning ordinance standards for telecommunication towers can still function, but without the availability of the MTP to serve as a reference tool to identify potential locations for co- located wireless telecommunication facilities including locations that may serve or may be required to serve the public safety telecommunication network. The MTP also identifies culturally and environmentally sensitive areas, including habitats and corridors that may support migratory or native species of birds and other wildlife. The MTP contains specific information concerning the mitigation of potential dangers to migratory birds. Starting in March of 2002, the MTP was the subject of several departmental meetings to determine if there were any properties suitable as tower sites. Initial efforts focused on compiling base map information within Orange County. GIS map overlays were subsequently prepared to identify many features. Using one and two -mile buffers around the existing tower sites and one -mile buffers around private utility transmission lines, possible antenna co- location sites were plotted. The displayed buffer areas also helped identify areas in the County where communications facilities may not exist. Properties listed above, which are located within the wireless communication service gaps, were noted to be acceptable sites for future tower sites. Staff invited potential wireless telecommunication tower stakeholders to discuss possible issues for the MTP and to gauge interest in such a plan. Four such meetings were held from August 2002 to April 2003. A listing of stakeholders involved with the MTP process is provided. In May 2003, the former Director of Emergency Management, met with the local Fire Chiefs at which time the MTP was discussed and all expressed interest in getting involved with the MTP. The attached timeline charts key public hearings, stakeholder meetings, separate departmental meetings, and county correspondence regarding the MTP process since March 2002. The MTP contains the following items: 1. Xtimeline of related departmental staff efforts to involve other departments and the public in the MTP planning process. 2. Inventories of existing telecommunication towers within and immediately surrounding Orange County. 3. MTP Goals, policy, and action statements. 4. Cell Tower Sites in Orange County. 5. A map illustrating environmental and cultural constraints. 6. A map illustrating available sites. 7. The Emergency Management service map.