Minutes 05-01-2012 - Laserfiche WebLink

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A motion was made by Commissioner Foushee, seconded by Commissioner Hemminger to approve the legal advertisement for items to be presented at the joint Board of county Commissioners/Planning Board Quarterly Public Hearing scheduled for May 29, 2012. VOTE: Ayes, 6; No, 1 (Commissioner Gordon) 6. Public Hearinqs a. Review of Proposed UDO Text Amendment(s) — Telecommunications The Board considered the Planning Board recommendation, closed the public hearing, and considered making a decision on a Planning Director-initiated Unified Development Ordinance text amendment relating to the permitting of telecommunication facilities. Michael Harvey said that this is a continuation of a public hearing. The proposed amendments include: 1. Increasing the height of a tower that can be reviewed by the Board of Adjustment of less than 200'. 2. Increasing clarity and removing redundancies in UDO text. The Planning Board recommended unanimously that this item be approved. There was a request from a citizen that the notification for balloon tests be increased from 1,000 to 2,000 feet. The staff believes that 1,000 feet is sufficient, but will ask the County Commissioners for feedback. Michael Harvey said that there are also signs posted on the property to notify about the balloon test. PUBLIC COMMENT: Jeremy Browner said that he is in support of this text amendment. He would like to bring high-speed internet to rural Orange County. He said that he saw some potential conflicts for the future. He made reference to 5.10.6, Administrative Approval of Certain Telecommunication Facilities, and said that this is not up for discussion tonight so it will not be changed. This was on page 15. He said that this says that if someone wanted to put an antenna on County property, the County would require that Emergency Services would have to have access to the antenna. He said that this would take away a much needed source of revenue from a new company that could come in on the antenna. He also made reference to page 26, `d', and read, "all towers shall be engineered to allow for co-locations. No co-locator shall be refused access for co-location by charging exorbitant lease fees. Public safety provider co-locations shall take priority over other co-locators." He said that he was told by people in the tower industry that to locate equipment for high-speed internet is substantially less expensive than to build one for a co-location. This is also a deterrent to high-speed internet in the County. He also pointed out item `k' on the same page, which requires that all towers be placed in heavily wooded areas. This seems to deter the usage of topography for the best use. He supports this amendment. Commissioner Yuhasz asked Mr. Browner to email his concerns to the Board of County Commissioners and copy the Clerk on his emails. Commissioner Gordon made reference to pages 15-16 and Administrative Approval of Certain Telecommunication Facilities. She is concerned about#3 and changing the height