Agenda - 09-18-2001 - 9b - Laserfiche WebLink

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3 15 1 the floodplain and wants to have any type of agricultural production or forestry, they are exempted p2b y the majority of state laws. 3 With no further public comment, Chair Allison closed the public hearing. 4 A motion was made by Commissioner Gordon, seconded by Commissioner Jacobs to 5 refer the proposed zoning text amendments to the Planning Board for a recommendation to be 6 returned to the Board of County Commissioners no sooner than October 3, 2000. 7 VOTE: UNANIMOUS 8 9 2. ORANGE COUNTY TELECQMMUNiCATiONS TOWER APPROVAL 10 REQUiREMENTS AND PROCE S 11 Craig Benedict made a correction to the agenda abstract that this item was a public 12 hearing. The abstract indicated that it was not a public hearing. 13 Craig Benedict made this presentation. He said that it had been four years since the 14 inception of the telecommunication rules in Orange County. A lot of improvements have been 15 made since that time. He explained in detail the following issues and suggestions. A section of 16 definitions could be added that describes the different types of antennse.arrays that can be on the 17 towers. He explained the possibility of putting towers on existing structures such as hotels, etc. is One of the suggestions is for the County to put together a master plan where the County has more i4 involvement in the placement of telecommunications towers. Another suggestion is allowing 20 telecommunication facilities to be in electrical transmission lines. Another suggestion is the 21 development of utility corridors across the County. There are minimum standards that can be 22 augmented within the County's code to promote more co-location and multi-use. At this time,the 23 standards for telecommunications towers is that anything 200 feet and above Is a Class A Special 24 Use and it goes to both the Planning Board and County Commissioners, If it is 189 feet, it is a 25 Class B and just goes to the'Board of Adjustment. The staff provided the County Commissioners 26 with a report over the last year, and all of the towers were Class B with a height of 195 feet and 27 above. He said that the County Commissioners could change the height at which the tower would 28 requires Class A Special Use Permit. He said that there were other counties and towns that were 29 putting together master telecommunication plans. The reaction to these plans has been favorable 30 so far. He said that the Commissioners did not have to make any decisions tonight. 31 Commissioner Gordon made reference to page 7, Telecommunications Facilities, and 32 asked Craig Benedict why the facilities would be permitted as an accessory use in parks and 33 recreation greater than 1.25 acres and in community facilities. Also, at the top of page 9, Section 34 C, it says"it shall not be permitted within 200 feet of any residential district or residential portion of 35 a PUD unless a property is designated as part of the special utility overlay district. She asked If 36 that could sometimes negate the placement in parks, recreation areas, and community facilities. 37 Craig Benedict said that, in regards to the parks and community facilities,they were zoning 38 designations that may or may not be on the zoning map at this time. He said that there was 39 enough latitude in the regulations so that there were no conflicting provisions. 40 Commissioner Gordon said that community facility needed to be defined. Craig 41 Benedict said that in his previous experience,towers were located in parks where there were I 42 lights. He said that towers could be incorporated in parks and could sometimes reduce the cost of 43 sports lighting poles. 44 Commissioner Jacobs suggested having a differential fee structure,which would 45 encourage people to do the things that the County prefers, such as co-location. Also, regarding 46 the issue of the height of the poles, he would like for the County Commissioners to review all of the 47 applications. He said that if the requests for towers were going to the Board of Adjustment,then 48 the County Attorney should be present at the meetings. Craig Benedict will do some research with 49 the present ordinance and look at the rationale for the height number,which causes the application 50 to go to the Board of Adjustment instead of to the County Commissioners. Commissioner Jacobs 51 made reference to the$4,000 application fee and asked if the County's legal representation was 52 included in that Craig Benedict will take a look at the fee structure, County staff time, attorney 53 time, etc. 54 Commissioner Halkiotis made reference to co-location and said