Orange County NC Website
2 n <br /> ��ss <br /> 6 <br /> 2 <br /> The Board of Adjustment reviewed the draft ordinance on August 12 , 2002 . That Board ' s <br /> primary concern was the restriction of the telecommunication application processing to two <br /> meetings per year . The Board felt that applications should be filed and processed on an as <br /> needed basis so that the workflow was even rather than point loaded at specific meetings . <br /> Some Board members questioned the need for annual inspections after a tower is approved <br /> and constructed . <br /> PROPOSED AMENDMENTS . <br /> New Provisions : <br /> A) Height and User Amendments <br /> 1 . Lowers height of Special Use Permit , Class B ( less than 4 users ) , from 200 feet to 150 <br /> feet maximum . <br /> 2 . Maintains height of Special Use Permit , Class B (4 - user minimum ) , of less than 200 feet <br /> if the tower is designed and reserved for up to four users . Provides incentives and <br /> promotes co - location on existing and proposed towers . <br /> 3 . Require towers greater than 150 feet height (with less than 4 users ) to be processed as <br /> a Special Use Permit , Class A , which is processed through the Planning Board & Board <br /> of County Commissioners , <br /> B ) An Annual Telecommunications Projection Meeting (ATPM ) required prior to <br /> December 31 between telecommunication providers and Planning Staff <br /> 1 . Determines the telecommunication industry ' s needs in Orange County for the coming <br /> year . <br /> 2 . Will allow Staff and consultant to review industry needs and proposals to determine if <br /> co- location opportunities exist on existing facilities or on proposed new towers . <br /> 3 . No applications will be accepted during the following year unless the tower was <br /> identified and discussed in the ATPM . [ Exception : Unforeseen Events/ Circumstances ] <br /> 4 . Ordinance proposes bi - annual processing of telecommunication tower applications <br /> a . Board of Adjustment to hear cases as submitted in accordance with ATPM review <br /> 1 . The ordinance has been revised to allow filing of applications at any time <br /> provided the site was submitted and discussed at the ATPM . <br /> b . Board of County Commissioners to hear cases at either the May or November <br /> Quarterly Public Hearings depending on submittal date of the application . <br /> 1 . The same requirements for review as exist for the Board of Adjustment . <br /> C ) Ordinance promotes co -location of antenna ( s ) on existing buildings , transmission <br /> towers , utility poles , and similar structures through lower fees and Staff approval <br /> 1 . Engineer' s sealed drawings required prior to staff issuance of any permit for antenna ( s ) . <br /> 2 . Maximum height of antenna ( s ) above structure height set at twenty ( 20 ) feet . <br /> 3 . Encourages stealth facilities ; justification required if stealth antenna ( s ) is not proposed . <br /> 4 . Limits any accessory buildings/structures pertaining to either tower( s ) or antenna ( s ) to <br /> 600 square feet per user with a maximum height of 12 feet . <br /> D ) Ordinance has higher technical standards for tower review at both the Special Use <br /> Permit and the Building Permit application stages <br /> 1 . As a result of higher technical standards the County will need to contract with a <br /> telecommunication consultant for technical expertise regarding telecommunication <br /> towers . ( Board comments noted this need previously . ) <br />