Agenda - 05-27-2003-c4a - Laserfiche WebLink

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~~~ 2 Accordingly, Orange County has adopted changes to its Zoning Ordinance provisions relating to telecommunication towers to stay up-to-date with the law, technology and consultant technical expertise opportunities. As an overreaching plan to address many telecommunication issues and programs, an MTP is often used to organize and create a game plan for implementation. An MTP can have various elements related to the different application of telecommunication facilities. From towers, to underground, to technological advancement of computer/internet services, the MTP can offer a mechanism to promote a policy to plan for the future. The MTP (wireless tower element) is the element that is being proposed with this agenda item. The MTP (wireless tower element) was the subject of department meetings over the last year and is intended to address the continued protection of the public health, safety and welfare. Through communication facilities that create public safety communication opportunities on public property and elsewhere whereby fair and reasonable compensation would be forthcoming. On August 12, 2002, Staff held a meeting with potential participants in the Master Telecommunication Plan ("Plan") program to gauge interest in the Plan. Six persons attended the meeting. Farmers participating in the Voluntary Agricultural District program were particularly interested in additional revenue sources to help offset rising farming expenses and to promote sustainability. According to those farmers present, the additional income from land leases to telecommunication providers could be the difference in continuing to farm versus having to sell off parts of the farm to pay for rising costs and operating expenses. On November 14, 2002, Staff held a meeting with property owners that own property that may be suitable for inclusion in the MTP. Only three persons of the sixteen that were notified attended the meeting. Statements regarding additional revenue to farmers were reiterated from the August 12, 2002, meeting. On January 9, 2003, Staff held another meeting with potential participants in the MTP. Three of the fifteen property owners that were mailed notices attended the meeting. The meeting was held in order to brief potential participants on the newly adopted Ordinance provisions relating to telecommunications towers, the informational item regarding the MTP that was presented to the BOCC at the November 25, 2002, Joint Public Hearing, and the upcoming Annual Telecommunications Projection Meeting (ATPM) scheduled for January 24, 2003. Other issues of concern dealt with the formulation of a notification process that would ensure that future property owners buying property adjacent to an approved site under the MTP would be made aware of the pre-approved site. Suggestions were as follows: 1. Recordation in the Register of Deed's Office of a document with adjoining property owner's property that would turn up in property title research when property changes ownership. 2. Mailed notification to area realtors. 3. Posting of a sign on the subject property notifying persons that the property has been approved for location of a telecommunications tower under an MTP. This is similar to the signs posted for properties included in the Voluntary Agricultural District program. G:\Current Planning DivlTking\Abstract.MTP.May 27, 2003 PH