Orange County NC Website
DRAFT DRAFT DR.AFT <br />1 WHAT THIS AMENDMENT DOES: <br />2 • Towers over 75 feet but under 200 feet in height processed as Class B Special Use <br />3 Permit <br />4 • Towers 200 feet and higher would be processed as a Class A Special Use Permit. <br />5 • Towers can be approved administratively, under specific standards and in specific <br />6 situations, up to 200 feet in height - current Ordinance limits it to 150 feet <br />7 • Changes in allowable heights (i.e. Class A and B Special Use Permits) were <br />8 recommended to coincide with lighting requirements enforced by the Federal Aviation <br />9 Administration (FAA) and foster additional tower development opportunities in an effort <br />10 to address communication needs in the County. <br />11 • Changes to allowable heights under administrative approvals based on recommended <br />12 changes to Class B Special Use permit height thresholds <br />13 • Moves existing language around by grouping similar standards in central sections. <br />14 - Example: Standards for the Annual Telecommunication Meeting were in 4 <br />15 different sections. They are all now in a central section. <br />16 • Eliminates redundancy by deleting regulations that are repeated in multiple sections. <br />17 - Example: Permit review standards were listed in 3 difference sections. They are <br />18 now listed in 1 central section. <br />19 <br />20 WHAT THIS DOES NOT DO: <br />21 • Alter/modify submittal requirements <br />22 • Alter/modify pre-application standards (i.e. balloon test, notification of surrounding <br />23 property owners, etc.) <br />24 • Alter/modify inspection requirements for towers both during and after construction <br />25 • Eliminate/modify required fees, including consulting escrow fee <br />26 <br />27 RECOMMENDATION: <br />28 1. Receive the request, <br />29 2. Conduct the Public Hearing and accept public, BOCC, and Planning Board comments. <br />30 3. Refer the matter to the Planning Board with a request that a recommendation be <br />31 returned to the County Board of Commissioners in time forthe May 1, 2012 BOCC <br />32 regular meeting. <br />33 4. Adjourn the public hearing until May, 2012 in order to receive and accept the Planning <br />34 Board's recommendation and any submitted written comments. <br />35 <br />36 Clarifying questions were answered by staff. <br />37 Commissioner Jacobs said that the tower height related to bird fatalities. He suggested that it <br />38 would be nice to track that in the document somehow. Commissioner Jacobs made reference to <br />39 page 5 and avoiding areas with protected natural and cultural resources. He asked about the <br />40 environmental assessment. <br />41 Michael Harvey made reference to pages 25-27 where there are provisions about <br />42 environmental assessments. <br />43 Commissioner Jacobs said that the County requires that developments identify significant <br />44 natural areas and have a plan to protect them or avoid them. He would like this reflected. <br />62 <br />