NS ORD-2002-033 Telecommunications Tower Ordinance Amendments

Browse Search

Q,4 ;? -a-;5 * a. Telecommunications Tower Ordinance Amendments 2� ' d 'z-- The Board considered closing the public hearing and considered amendments to the CL, County's telecommunications tower ordinance. Craig Benedict said that there have been many discussions with staff, consultants, and the industry about how to update this ordinance. This is an overhaul to the existing ordinance. Some of the height requirements have been changed. The Board of County Commissioners will see applications for towers that are under 200 feet if the industry is not providing at least four users on the tower. Each year, there will be an annual telecommunication projection meeting to find out where the industry wants to put towers throughout the year. They are promoting co- location on existing electrical transmission lines. The technical standards for review are higher. The ordinance is requiring periodic inspections and engineering certification of new towers that are put in the County. There is a placeholder in the ordinance for a Master Telecommunication Plan. It is not part of the ordinance tonight. There is also a visual impact analysis. The fee schedule has been greatly revised. There is an escrow agreement where fees will go in escrow for a consultant hired by the County in reviewing the applications. There were some things added by the Planning Board (minimal light diffusion, fall zone, inspections). The Planning Board approved the amendments with a 5 -4 vote. The Planning Board was concerned about how the Master Telecommunication Plan would play into this. The administration recommendation is to approve the amendments with one change. On page five, recommendation number eight, the Planning Board asked that the industry just has to provide the standards in place at the time the tower was originally installed for something that is less than six years old. Administration's recommendation is that we stay with having the industry provide what the current regulations are as far as the structural integrity of the tower. The administration recommends approval of the amendments and of the fee schedule, which will be effective upon approval. Commissioner Gordon said that she has a lot of questions. She would like to hear the public speak and then put this on a consent agenda at a later time. She can get answers from the staff before the next meeting. Public Comment Gary Pennington from Verizon Wireless spoke and encouraged the Board to pass the amendments. He said that this ordinance has been debated at length. His only objection is the fee structure. The decision on this item was deferred to December 10, 2002. b. Eno Ridge Subdivision (Formerly James Woods) Preliminary Plan The Board considered a preliminary plan for the proposed Eno Ridge subdivision. This project is located in Cheeks Township on the west side of Frazier Road between West Lebanon Road and US 70. There are 32 lots with an average lot size of .975 acres. Craig Benedict said that this project was originally known as the James Woods subdivision. The applicant has worked with staff to amend the plan from its conventional design to add more open space (31 %). The original plan only had 10% open space. The open space will be maintained by the homeowners association. There is only one access point from Frazier Road at this time. The developer has agreed to put in a center left turn lane into the project. The project will be serviced by individual well and septic systems. Administration recommends approval of the subdivision as amended. Commissioner Gordon verified that all of the neighbors were notified. Commissioner Jacobs asked about number six on page four and the possibility of extending public water services from Orange /Alamance. He asked if there has been any change. Craig Benedict said that Orange /Alamance services some customers in this general area, but not a compact network of users. Orange /Alamance has not developed a master plan to determine the ultimate boundaries. This is outside of Orange County's transition area. There is a trend towards a lot of units in this area. If this pattern continues, then urban services may be necessary in this area. Geoff Gledhill said that the Orange /Alamance connection was part of the conventional plan and is not part of this resolution of approval. Commissioner Jacobs said that he was just asking about it because it had been discussed before.