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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ORANGE COUNTY PLANNING BOARD. <br />PUBLIC HEARING AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: February 25, 2008 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No.~Z.-~ <br />SUBJECT: Telecommunication Wireless Facility Zoning Ordinance Amendments <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (YIN) Yes <br />ATTACHMENT: INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />A Resolution and Ordinance to Revise the Craig Benedict, Planning Director, 245 2592 <br />Orange County Telecommunication Glenn Bowles, Planner II, 245 2577 <br />Facilities Regulations <br />PURPOSE: To receive public comments concerning proposed amendments to four <br />sections/articles of the Orange County Zoning Ordinance concerning the review, approval, and <br />development of telecommunication wireless facilities. <br />BACKGROUND: Staff has determined that changes made to Chapter 153A of the NC General <br />Statutes during the 2007 legislative session have created a discrepancy between the County's <br />current Zoning Ordinance and State statutes regarding the regulation and approval of <br />telecommunication wireless facilities. <br />State regulations, specifically NCGS 153A-349.52, were modified as follows: <br />Allow for the approval of new towers without an evaluation of an applicant's business <br />decisions concerning designed service, customer demand for its service, or the quality of <br />its service to, or from, a particular area or site. In other words, "spec." towers, if they <br />meet all other standards, cannot be denied. [However, no building permit for the tower <br />has to be issued without an identified service provider.] <br />2. Require that Special Use Permits be valid for at least two (2) years. <br />3. Establish a streamlined process to be applied to all collocation processes. <br />4. Not include requirements relating to radio frequency emissions of wireless facilities as a <br />public safety issue for county review. <br />5. Require that consulting fees and other county charges associated with a <br />telecommunication wireless facility be based on the costs of services provided and such <br />costs shall no exceed what is usual and customary with this issue and shall be fixed in <br />advance. <br />6. Revise several of the basic definitions used for telecommunication wireless facilities. <br />