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2 <br /> providing for more than one user. The applicant for a <br /> recently-approved tower site indicated that co-locating <br /> with an existing tower was not technically possible <br /> within the framework of the existing grid system which <br /> provides for coverage. Effective co-location of <br /> facilities would need to be approached from a regional <br /> rather than local standpoint. <br /> Article 8.8. 17 of the Zoning Ordinance, which contains <br /> Special Use Permit requirements for communications <br /> towers, is attached. <br /> Existing Towers in Orange County <br /> There are 10 existing cellular towers in Orange <br /> County's planning jurisdiction. Three of the towers, <br /> one in Cheeks Township and two in Little River <br /> Township, were constructed prior to the addition of <br /> zoning regulations. Since 1989, the seven remaining <br /> towers received Special Use Permit approval. In <br /> addition, a Special Use permit for an equipment <br /> building at the base of the WZZU radio tower was <br /> approved. <br /> The attached map shows the location of the existing <br /> cellular towers in Orange County. These towers are <br /> owned by one of three companies (two of which are <br /> mergers) . Sprint/Centel and Cellular One/GTE have each <br /> indicated to Planning Staff that they expect to submit <br /> Special Use Permit applications for two additional <br /> towers within the next year. <br /> In the process of preparing the recent ordinance <br /> amendment to encourage multiple users on towers, the <br /> Planning Staff requested information on the radius of <br /> coverage so that the potential number and location of <br /> future towers could be assessed. The information <br /> which Staff was able to obtain from the companies with <br /> towers in Orange County was of limited value. Signal <br /> strength depends on factors such as topography, and <br /> therefore there is no standard radius for coverage. <br /> The height of the tower or antenna also determines its <br /> range. <br /> Concerns of Other Jurisdictions <br /> The increasing number of telecommunications towers <br /> which results from advances in technology during the <br /> past several years is of concern to other jurisdictions <br /> as well. A Task Force established by the City of <br /> Raleigh recently presented draft recommendations for <br /> regulatory changes to address issues such as tower <br /> height and distances between towers. The Triangle J <br /> Council of Governments is following the progress of the <br />