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ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: August 22, 2006 <br />Action Agen a <br />Item No. - q <br />SUBJECT: Piedmont Electric Membership Corporation (EMC) Request for Special Public <br />Hearing for Telecommunications Tower Application <br />DEPARTMENT: Planning and Inspections PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />1. Draft Resolution Directing Planning Staff to <br />Prepare Response to Piedmont Request <br />2. Piedmont EMC Letter of Request <br />INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Craig Benedict, Planning Director <br />245-2592 <br />Robert Davis, Planner III <br />245-2580 <br />Gene Bell, Planner III <br />245-2589 <br />PURPOSE: To consider a draft resolution providing direction to staff regarding a request by <br />Piedmont EMC for expedited review of a Planned Development Zoning Atlas Amendment <br />outside of the Quarterly Public Hearing schedule, <br />BACKGROUND: The Piedmont EMC property, located at 2500 NC Highway 86 South, was <br />rezoned to Planned Development -Office/Institutional (PD-OI-1) on .lanuary 4, 1983. This <br />decision granted approval for construction of the corporate offices and maintenance facilities, <br />On April 2, 1984, the Board of Adjustment approved a Class B Special Use Permit (SUP) for a <br />telecommunications tower and storage building as accessory uses. <br />Piedmont EMC has a request for a zoning atlas amendment/Class ASUP to add a second <br />principal use (telecommunications tower greater than 150 feet in height) to the PD district to <br />allow the construction of a new 350-foot tower (320 foot tower plus 30 foot antenna). The <br />existing 220-foot tower will be removed, No other changes are proposed. Under the County's <br />normal public hearing process, this item would be scheduled for the November 20, 2006 <br />Quarterly Public Hearing, <br />Piedmont EMC has submitted a written request and its justification for an expedited public <br />hearing to the Planning and Inspections Director, A copy of the letter which outlines other <br />important public safety issues (NC Highway Patrol VIPER) and FAA timelines is attached. <br />Public hearings on planning issues outside of the adopted hearing schedule are not a frequent <br />occurrence and generally considered by the Board only in situations that are time-critical since <br />advertising, property owner notification, meeting logistics, and Planning Board attendance <br />requirements are the same as far scheduled hearings. <br />A draft resolution is attached which provides the Board with the opportunity to provide direction <br />to staff regarding moving forward with a possible expedited review of Piedmont's request, The <br />