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STAFF' S
REQUEST ANALYSIS
AND
RECOMMENDATION
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October 22, 2008 BS
Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless
Dale Magisterial District
Southwest quadrant of the interchange of Chippenham Parkway and Belmont Road
RE VEST: Conditional Use to permit a communications tower in a Residential (R-7) District.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
A 155 foot communications tower is planned. (Condition)
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMEND APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITION ON PAGE 2 AND
ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROFFERED CONDITIONS ON PAGE 2.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend denial for the following reasons:
A. The proposal fails to conform to the Public Facilities Plan which suggests that
communications towers should generally be located away from high visibility
areas such as maj or traffic corridors and residential areas.
B. The proposal fails to ensure that mature trees will be preserved, as suggested by
the Tower Siting Policy, to lessen the visibility of the towers where such
structures are proposed in highly visible areas.
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
(NOTE: CONDITIONS MAYBE IMPOSED OR THE PROPERTY OWNER MAY PROFFER
CONDITIONS. THE CONDITIONS NOTED WITH "STAFF/CPC" WERE AGREED UPON
BY BOTH STAFF AND THE COMMISSION. CONDITIONS WITH ONLY A "STAFF" ARE
RECOMMENDED SOLELY BY STAFF. CONDITIONS WITH ONLY A "CPC" ARE
ADDITIONAL CONDITIONS RECOMMENDED BY THE PLANNING COMMISSION.)
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(CPC) The maximum height of the tower shall be 155 feet. (P)
PROFFERED CONDITIONS
The owner and applicant in this rezoning request, pursuant to § 15.2-2298 of the Code of
Virginia (1950 as amended) and the Zoning Ordinance of Chesterfield County, Virginia (the
"County") for itself and its successors and assigns, hereby proffer that the development of the
unimproved real property (the "Property") under consideration in this rezoning request shall be
developed in accordance with the following conditions if, and only if, the request submitted
herewith is granted with only those conditions agreed to by the owner and applicant. In the event
this request is denied or approved with conditions not agreed to by the owner and applicant, the
proffers shall immediately be null and void and of no further force or effect.
(CPC) 1. There shall be no signs permitted to identify the use, other than as maybe
required by the FCC. (P)
(CPC) 2. The base of the tower shall be enclosed by a minimum six (6) foot high fence,
designed to preclude trespassing. Existing mature tree growth shall be
preserved to the extent possible to provide screening of the base of the tower
and accessory ground equipment from adjacent properties. A detailed plan
depicting this requirement shall be submitted to the Planning Department for
approval in conjunction with final site plan review. (P)
(CPC) 3. The tower shall be a monopole structure. (P)
(CPC) 4. The tower shall be colored gray or another neutral color, acceptable to the
Planning Department. (P)
(CPC) 5. The tower shall not be lighted. (P)
(CPC) 6. Any building or mechanical equipment shall comply with Sections 19-595 and
19-570 (b) and (c) of the Zoning Ordinance relative to architectural treatment
of building exteriors and screening of mechanical equipment. (P)
(CPC) 7. At such time that the tower ceases to be used for communications purposes for
a period exceeding twelve (12) consecutive months, the owner/developer of the
tower shall dismantle and remove the tower and all associated equipment from
the Property. (P)
2 08SN0231-OCT22-BOS-RPT
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location:
Within the southwest quadrant of the interchange of Chippenham Parkway and Belmont
Road. Tax Map 772-686. (VDOT RIGHT OF WAY)
Existing Zoning:
R-7
Size:
1.9 acres
Existing Land Use:
Vacant/Wooded
Adjacent Zoning and Land Use:
North - A & R-7; Single family and multi-family residential or vacant
South & West - R-7; Single family residential or vacant
East - R-15; Single family residential or vacant
UTILITIES; PUBLIC FACILITIES; TRANSPORTATION; ENVIRONMENTAL
ENGINEERING AND COUNTY AIRPORT
This request will have no impact on these facilities.
COUNTY COMMUNICATIONS
The Zoning Ordinance requires that any structure over eighty (80) feet in height be reviewed by
the County's Public Safety Review Team for potential detrimental impacts the structure could
have on the County's Radio Communications System microwave paths. This determination
must be made prior to construction of the communications tower.
T,ANn TIFF.
Comprehensive Plan:
The Public Facilities Plan suggests that communications towers should generally be located
away high visbility areas such as major traffic corridors, rivers, parks and areas of existing
or planned residential development.
3 08SN0231-OCT22-BOS-RPT
Area Development Trends:
Surrounding properties are zoned for, and occupied by, single family and multi-family
residential use or is vacant. It is anticipated that residential use will continue in the area at
densities suggested by the Plan.
Development Standards:
Conditions have been offered which are typical to conditions imposed or accepted for other
tower structures in the County, except that there is no guarantee with this case that mature
vegetation surrounding the tower will be preserved. Typically, in highly visible areas or for
locations in the vicinity of residential use, a one hundred (100) foot buffer is maintained
around the tower and related structures. In this instance, Proffered Condition 2, addresses
preservation of mature vegetation to screen the base of the tower, but does not address tree
preservation that is more substantial so as to minimize the visual impact of the tower itself.
The conditions offered with this case would prohibit lighting and signage, unless signage is
expressly required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and would require
security fencing, the tower to be a monopole structure, screening of the base of the tower
and ground mounted equipment and removal of the tower after it ceases to be used
(Proffered Conditions 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7). In addition, proffered conditions establish that the
tower will be gray or another neutral color and require screening of any building or
mechanical equipment and a specific architectural treatment for building exteriors.
(Proffered Conditions 4 and 7)
CONCLUSIONS
The proposal fails to conform to the Public Facilities Plan which suggests that communications
towers should be located away from areas of existing or planned residential development and
other highly visible areas such as major traffic corridors. The proposed tower will be visible
from Chippenham Parkway and Belmont Road. Further, the site is located in an area designated
for residential development. The Siting Policy suggests that when towers are to be located in
such areas, they should be architecturally incorporated in the design of a structure on process
design features that mask the utilitarian nature of the tower.
while conditions have been offered which are similar to those that have been approved for other
tower structures, the proposal fails to ensure that mature trees on the proposed site will be
preserved as suggested by the Tower Siting Policy to lessen the visibility of the towers where
such structures are proposed in highly visible areas.
Given these considerations, denial of this request is recommended.
4 08SN0231-OCT22-BOS-RPT
CASE HISTORY
Planning Commission Meeting (6/17/08):
The applicant did not accept staff s recommendation but did accept the Planning
Commission's recommendation. There was no opposition present.
In response to a question from Dr. Brown, the applicant agreed to a condition which
would limit the height of the tower.
On motion of Dr. Brown, seconded by Mr. Waller, the Commission recommended
approval of the case subject to the condition on page 2 and acceptance of the proffered
conditions on page 2.
AYES: Messrs. Gulley, Bass, Brown, Hassen and Waller.
Board of Supervisors (7/30/08):
Mr. Holland expressed his desire to defer the request to allow time to explore alternative
S1teS.
On their own motion, the Board deferred this case to their October 22, 2008 public
Baring.
Staff (7/31/08):
The applicant was advised in writing that any new or revised information should be
submitted no later than August 11, 2008, for consideration at the Board's October 22,
2008 public hearing.
Staff (9/29/08):
Staff and the applicant continue to discuss the potential for alternative sites.
The Board of Supervisors, on Wednesday, October 22, 2008, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will take
under consideration this request.
5 08SN0231-OCT22-BOS-RPT
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