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Benedict said that the applicant provides a mailing list of residents within a certain radius. The staff <br /> sends letters to the applicant. The ordinance does not say that if the balloon can be seen, the tower is <br /> turned down. The balloon test gives a perspective about where the tower will be. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked about the 150-foot cut off with the Board of Adjustment and stated <br /> that the public is concerned about how to present their concerns to the Board of Adjustment. Craig <br /> Benedict said that the majority of the towers over the past couple of years have been between 150 and <br /> 200 feet. The 150 feet is a number that would seem to capture the majority of the applications and allow <br /> them to be heard by the Planning Board and Board of County Commissioners. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked if the Board decided to change from 150 feet to something lower <br /> would there have to a public hearing? County Attorney Geoffrey Gledhill said that it would have to be 75- <br /> 100 feet as the lower limit. He said that as long as the special use permit process is above 75 feet, we <br /> are within the range of the present ordinance. <br /> Commissioner Gordon asked about the visual intrusiveness of a tower and the criteria the <br /> Board of County Commissioners may use to decide whether something is intrusive. She would hope that <br /> the Planning Board would think about this. She wants to encourage co-location and something that is <br /> not visually intrusive. <br /> Geoffrey Gledhill said that there is no difference between a class A and a class B special use <br /> permit as far as the standards. The only difference is with the process and the audience. <br /> Commissioner Brown said that to her the standards would be not to be able to see any of these <br /> facilities. She would like them to be constructed in a way that is not visible because they are eyesores. <br /> Craig Benedict said that there are federal government requirements regarding cell tower communication. <br /> Commissioner Brown asked why the towers could not be covered. Craig said that in the future the <br /> towers might be as tall as the utility poles. The height of the towers is coming down, as there are more <br /> users. <br /> Questions from Planning Board <br /> Barry Katz asked about the companies that build these sites and if there is any concern about <br /> these companies, which are now going bankrupt. Craig Benedict said that there have been changes in <br /> the industry and we are trying to counteract the change by having a strong co-location ordinance to keep <br /> the tower builders in the process and bring other users in. <br /> Barry Katz asked Craig Benedict if he knew about how many would apply for these <br /> telecommunications towers in January. Craig Benedict stated that normally there are only 3-4 <br /> applications per year. He does not see a major rush of more or less applications in the coming year. <br /> Barry Katz asked about item 'c' in number four. He said that there is no cover about these <br /> buildings and asked if this is something to consider. Craig Benedict will look at landscaping standards of <br /> these poles and structures. <br /> Barry Katz made reference to the Master Telecommunications Plan and asked if publicly owned <br /> land would also have to pay an application fee. Craig Benedict said that they would try to keep the <br /> process as equitable as possible. <br /> Barry Katz asked if a resident sees the balloon during a test would the application be denied <br /> and Craig Benedict said no. The balloon test is more of a perspective of where the tower will lie. Barry <br /> Katz asked if the balloon tests could be done when the leaves are off the trees. Craig Benedict said that <br /> maybe they would look at this possibility in January. <br /> Barry Katz made reference to page 9 and appearance issues. He said that the final decision <br /> rests on the Planning Director or his designee. He asked if someone else could see this through. Craig <br /> Benedict said that there are parts of the ordinance that are more subjective than objective. At this time, <br /> there is no architectural review commission about how antennas can be incorporated into buildings. <br /> Renee Price asked about balloon tests and the time of day it is done and the color of the <br /> balloon and if they could add guidelines to address this issue. Craig Benedict said that the ordinance <br /> specifies a red balloon but does not address time of day. Renee Price asked about the notification <br /> process because she is concerned about electromagnetic fields and co-locating towers near schools and <br /> she wants this to be considered. Craig Benedict said that they could provide information about this issue <br />