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8 <br /> PROPOSED ORDINANCE AMENDMENT <br /> ORDINANCE: ZONING ORDINANCE <br /> REFERENCE: Article 4 . 1 - Establishment of Use Regulations (uses <br /> permitted by right) <br /> ORIGIN OF AMENDMENT: X_ Staff Planning Board <br /> BOCC Public <br /> Other: County Attorney <br /> STAFF PRIORITY RECOMMENDATION: High x Middle Low <br /> PUBLIC HEARING DATE: November 30, 1994 <br /> PURPOSE OF AMENDMENT: To reduce restrictions related to the placement of <br /> telephone system equipment. <br /> IMPACTS/ISSUES: The Zoning Ordinance lists uses allowed by right in all <br /> districts. A number of those uses are related to the <br /> distribution of utility services. Some also require <br /> compliance with certain design standards such as those <br /> pertaining to screening and lot size. <br /> Planning Staff has been contacted by Mebtel concerning <br /> requirements for certain telephone equipment. The <br /> equipment in question is cabinetized, or containerized, <br /> telephone or fiber optic equipment placed on a concrete <br /> pad to provide local distribution of service. Currently, <br /> such equipment would be categorized as a "subscriber loop <br /> hut" in Article 4. 1 of the Zoning Ordinance, which would <br /> require that the standards of Article 6. 16. 12 be met, <br /> including a provision that the equipment be located within <br /> a 5,000 square-foot easement. <br /> Due to advances in technology, the equipment can be <br /> contained in a smaller area. The equipment addressed by <br /> this amendment is contained within a 3 1/2-foot wide by 7- <br /> foot long cabinet. According to current regulations, the <br /> cabinet would need to be placed on a parcel or easement at <br /> least 5,000 square feet in area (typically 100' by 50 ' ) . <br /> This is considerably more than the area needed to <br /> accommodate the equipment, even with providing vehicular <br /> access for maintenance and repair. The land area <br /> requirements adds considerably to the cost, which is <br /> passed on the subscribers. <br /> The proposed amendment would allow cabinetized equipment <br /> by right with no additional restrictions. It would also <br /> allow the setback of such equipment to be reduced to 20 <br /> feet in the AR, R1, and RB districts if the equipment is <br /> screened from view by landscape material. <br />