15SN0611
CASE NUMBER: 15SN0611
APPLICANT: SBA
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
STAFF’S ANALYSIS Magisterial District: DALE
AND
RECOMMENDATION
Board of Supervisors (BOS)
Public Hearing Date:
May 27, 2015
BOS Time Remaining:
365 DAYS
Applicant’s Agent:
TRACY THEMAK
(703-778-1988)
Planning Department Case Manager:
DARLA ORR (804-717-6533)
APPLICANT’S REQUEST
Conditional Use to permit a communications tower in a Light Industrial (I-1) District.
An 81-foot communications tower and associated improvements are planned.
(NOTES: A. Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions.
B. Under the Federal Telecommunications Act, localities cannot regulate cell towers on the basis of
possible health or environmental effects of radio frequency emissions.
C. Proffered conditions, plans and elevations are located in Attachments 1 - 3. )
RECOMMENDATION
PLANNING RECOMMEND APPROVAL
COMMISSION
(4/21/2015)
RECOMMEND APPROVAL
STAFF Complies with Public Facilities Plan
Consistent with Telecommunications Tower Siting Policy
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED ISSUES
Department Issue
PLANNING -
FIRE -
CDOT -
VDOT -
UTILITIES -
ENVIRONMENTAL
-
ENGINEERING
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Map 2: The Comprehensive Plan
Classification: INDUSTRIAL
The designation suggests the property is appropriate for moderate to intense manufacturing uses that are
generally dependent upon the processing of raw materials, and those uses normally having associated outside
storage areas.
Map 3: Surrounding Land Uses & Development
Route 288
Light and moderate industrial
use or vacant – Chesterfield
Airport Industrial Park
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PLANNING
Staff Contact: Robert Clay(804-796-7122) clayr@chesterfield.gov
PROPOSAL
An 81-foot communications tower is proposedon property in the County’s Airport Industrial
Park and within the height obstruction limits of the Airport. The request property, while
designated for Industrial land use, is in a highly visible area due to its proximity to Route 288.
PUBLIC FACILITIES PLAN
The Public Facilities Plan, an element of the Comprehensive Plan, suggests telecommunications
facilities should be designed and located to provide broad access to communication services
and minimize the numbers of towers and their impact on the surrounding area.
The Plan encourages:
co-location on existing telecommunications towers, or
architectural incorporation into existing building features
Where co-location or architectural incorporation is not feasible, the Plansuggests that in highly
visible areas such as the subject property, towers should be located and designed to conceal
such facilities to the greatest degree feasibleto minimize their visual impact.
The visual presence should be minimized by:
Maintaining natural features (such as topography or mature forested areas)
Obscuring or blocking views with other existing structures
Using stealth designs to disguise and camouflage the appearanceor, when this is not
feasible, using a monopole design
TOWER SITING POLICY
The Policy establishes guidelines for design, setbacks and security. The Policy elements:
Discourage sectored arrays in residential areas
Limit size of satellite and microwave dish antennas
Requirecertification of structural integrity
Require setbacks from existing off-site dwellings, and public rights-of-way (not
withstanding Ordinance setback requirements)
Prohibit signs, except as required by state or federal guidelines
Require security fencingto preclude trespassing
Provide for screening of tower base and ground mounted equipment
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The following provides an overview of the proposal and conditions offered by the applicant to
mitigate the impact of the tower:
General Overview
Requirements Details
Tower is located within industrial area approximately
300 feet from edge of right of way for northbound lanes
Location
of Route 288
Plan and Policy
Addresses tower design:
Grayor another neutral color;
Tower Design& Opportunities for
Monopole
Future Users
No satellite and microwave dish antennas
Sectored array will allow additional carriers
Proffered Condition 3 and Policy
The Airport requested an FAA approved red obstruction
Lighting
light with upward reflection due to proximity to Airport
Proffered Condition 3
No signage permitted
Signage
Proffered Condition 1 and Policy
Board on board security fence
Landscaping around fenced compound
Security and Screening
Ordinance requirements in O, C, I Districts
Proffered Conditions 2 & 4 and Policy
Engineer’s report required to certify structural integrity
Structural Integrity
of the tower
Proffered Condition 5 and Policy
Maximum of 81 feet
Tower Height
Proffered Condition 6
Removal required within 12 months once use ceases
Cessation of Use
Proffered Condition 7 and Policy
As proffered, the proposed communications tower complies with the Comprehensive Planand
is consistent with the Telecommunications Tower Siting Policy criteria. The tower has been
located and designed to conceal the facility to the greatest degree feasible and to minimize the
visual impact.
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PUBLIC FACILITIES
FIRE SERVICE
Staff Contact: Greg Smith (804-706-2012) smithgd@chesterfield.gov
When the property is developed, the number of hydrants, quantity of water needed for fire
protection, and access requirements will be evaluated during the plans review process.
Nearby Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Facilities
Fire Station The Airport Fire Station, Company Number 15
EMS Facility The Airport Fire Station, Company Number 15
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Jim Banks (804-748-1037) banksj@chesterfield.gov
Staff Contact: Steve Adams (804-751-4461) adamss@chesterfield.gov
The Comprehensive Plan, which includes the Thoroughfare Plan, identifies county-wide
transportation needs that are expected to mitigate traffic impacts of future growth. The
anticipated traffic impact of the proposal has been evaluated and it is anticipated to be
minimal.
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Brian Lokker (804-674-2384) brian.lokker@vdot.virginia.gov
VDOT Land Use Regulations
-
Traffic Impact Analysis (24VAC30-155)
-
Access Management (24VAC30-73)
-
Subdivision Street Acceptance (24VAC30-91/92)
-
Land Use Permit (24VAC30-151)
No comment
Summary
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WATER AND WASTEWATER SYSTEMS
Staff Contact: Jamie Bland (804-751-4439) blandj@chesterfield.gov
The proposal’s impacts on the County’s utility system are detailed in the chart below:
Water and Wastewater Systems
Currently Size of Existing LineConnection Required by County Code?
Serviced?
Water No 8”No
Wastewater No 8”No
The proposed request will not impact the public water and wastewater systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Drainage, Erosion and Water Quality
Staff Contact: Doug Pritchard (804-748-1028) pritchardd@chesterfield.gov
Environmental Engineering has no comment on this request.
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CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
11/26/2014 Application submitted
3/24/2014 Revised proffers were submitted
2/19/2015 Applicant notified citizens of balloon fly scheduled for 2/27/2015.
Planning Commission
2/17/2015 The Planning Commission meeting scheduled for February 17, 2015 was
rescheduled to February 19, 2015 due to inclement weather.
2/19/2015
Commission Discussion
Dr. Brown stated a deferral to the April 21,2015 meeting would permit the
applicant time to reach out to area property owners and finalize their proposal.
Action – DEFERRED TO APRIL 21, 2015
4/21/2015 Citizen Comments:
No one spoke to this request
Recommendation –APPROVAL AND ACCEPTANCE OF THE PROFFERED
CONDITIONSIN ATTACHMENT 1
Motion: Brown Seconded: Waller
AYES: Gulley, Waller, Brown, Patton and Wallin
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, May 27, 2015, beginning at 6:30 p.m., will consider
this request.
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ATTACHMENT 1
PROFFERED CONDITIONS
Note:
(STAFF/CPC) – Recommended by the Planning Commission and Staff
(STAFF/CPC)1. There shall be no signs permitted to identify this use. (P)
(STAFF/CPC)2.The base of the tower shall be enclosed by a wood board-on-board fence
designed to preclude trespassing and to screen the base of the tower and
ground-mounted equipment from adjacent properties (the “Fence”). The
Fence shall have a height equal to or greater than the height of the tallest
ground-based equipment or shelter (excluding the tower) installed within
the fenced compound. The fence shall be placed so as to provide
sufficient room between the fence and the lease boundary to
accommodate evergreen plantings having an initial height and spacing
designed to soften the visual impact of the fence from adjacent
properties and public rights of way. A detailed plan depicting this
requirement shall be submitted to the Planning Department for approval
in conjunction with plans review. (P)
(STAFF/CPC) 3. The color, design and lighting system for the tower shall be as follows:
a.The tower shall be gray or another neutral color, acceptable to
the Planning Department.
b.The tower shall only be lighted at night by a red FAA approved
obstruction light with upward reflection. The exact design shall
be approved by the Chesterfield Airport during plans review.
c.The tower shall be a monopole structure.
d.No satellite dish and microwave dish antennas shall be attached
to the telecommunications tower. (A & P)
(STAFF/CPC)4. Any building or mechanical equipment shall comply with the Zoning
Ordinance relative to architectural treatment of building exteriors and
screening of mechanical equipment in O, C and I Districts. (P)
(STAFF/CPC) 5. Prior to use of this telecommunications tower, the owner of the tower
shall obtain approval of the structural integrity by a registered
professional engineer licensed in Virginia and a copy of the report filed
with the Planning Department. (P)
(STAFF/CPC) 6. The tower shall not exceed an overall height of eighty-one feet (81’)
including the one foot (1’) tall lightning rod. (P)
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(STAFF/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 shall dismantle and remove the tower and all
associated equipment from the property. (P)
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ATTACHMENT 2
ELEVATION
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ATTACHMENT 3
PLAN
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