17SN0740
CASE NUMBER: 17SN0740
APPLICANT: Chesterfield Department of Emergency Communications
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
DALE DISTRICT
ADDENDUM
Board of Supervisors Hearing:
APRIL 26, 2017
Board of Supervisors Time Remaining:
365 DAYS
HEATHER RUBINSTEIN (214-284-9370)
RICH TROSHAK (804-706-2595)
Planning Department Case Manager:
DARLA ORR (804-717-6533)
211.9 Acres 6700 Cogbill Road
REQUEST
Conditional use planned development to permit a communications tower plus exceptions to
ordinance requirements in an Agricultural (A) District. Specifically, exceptions are requested to
tower height and setbacks.
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.
SUMMARY
A 310-
Communications Radio System and permit colocation of private communication services is planned
within Cogbill Park.
ADDENDUM
on the proposed diameter of dish antenna.
Commission Recommendation: Following their public hearing on April 18, 2017, the Commission
voted unanimously to recommend approval of this request subject to the eight (8) conditions in
Dish Antenna: As noted
exceed 6-feet in diameter. In this case, dish antennas with a maximum diameter of 8-feet would be
permitted. Staff finds the visual impact of a 2-foot difference in diameter would be negligible given
the location and height of the proposed tower.
Staff continues to recommend approval of this request subject to the conditions provided in the
staff report for the reasons outlined on the following page.
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
RECOMMENDATION
APPROVAL
COMMISSION
APPROVAL
Improved transmission of public safety communications benefits the health and
safety of citizens and public safety personnel
The Comprehensive Plan encourages co-
with existing facility sites
STAFF
While completely minimizing the visual impact of the tower is not feasible,
existing buffers and protected environmental areas will reduce visibility from
residential areas
Proposed height is needed to enhance public safety communications and would
provide space for co-location of private communications services; thereby,
reducing the need for new towers in the area.
SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED ISSUES
Department Issue
A recommended route of the .źƉĻ ğƓķ Ʃğźƌƭ /ŷğƦƷĻƩ of The
Comprehensive Plan runs through the property; however, the proposed
PARKS AND development area for the tower is a small portion of the parcel. The
RECREATION applicant has not offered to address the impacts on pedestrian/bicycle
facilities along the Plan route.
217SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-ADD
CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
11/15/2016 Application submitted
4/5/2017 Applicant submitted document relative to coverage design
Community Meeting
2/1/2017 Discussion:
Review of proposed emergency communications system enhancements and
benefits was discussed
Room will be available on tower for 4 private communications service
providers; may reduce need for other towers in area; structural integrity of
tower to handle additional carriers
Proposed location of park improvements on-site nearest Cogbill Road
Design and lighting
Planning Commission
2/21/2017 Action DEFERRED TO APRIL 18, 2017 ON THEIR OWN MOTION WITH THE
4/18/2017 Citizen Comments:
No citizens spoke to this request.
Commission Discussion:
Mr. Sloan and Dr. Wallin thanked the applicant for providing additional
information regarding coverage design.
Recommendation - APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT
Motion: Wallin Second: Freye
AYES: Sloan, Jackson, Freye, Jones and Wallin
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will consider
this request.
317SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-ADD
CASE NUMBER: 17SN0740
APPLICANT: Chesterfield Department of Emergency Communications
CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA
DALE DISTRICT
AND RECOMMENDATION
Board of Supervisors Hearing:
APRIL 26, 2017
Board of Supervisors Time Remaining:
365 DAYS
HEATHER RUBINSTEIN (214-284-9370)
RICH TROSHAK (804-706-2595)
Planning Department Case Manager:
DARLA ORR (804-717-6533)
211.9 Acres 6700 Cogbill Road
REQUEST
Conditional use planned development to permit a communications tower plus exceptions to
ordinance requirements in an Agricultural (A) District. Specifically, exceptions are requested to
tower height and setbacks.
Notes:
A.Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions.
B.Conditions, site layout, tower elevation and Coverage Design Response are located in Attachments 1- 4
C.Under the Federal Telecommunications Act, localities cannot regulate cell towers on the basis of possible
health or environmental effects of radio frequency emissions.
SUMMARY
A 310-
Communications Radio System and permit colocation of private communication services is planned
within Cogbill Park.
RECOMMENDATION
COMMISSION
THEIR MEETING ON APRIL 18, 2017
APPROVAL
Improved transmission of public safety communications benefits the health and
safety of citizens and public safety personnel
The Comprehensive Plan encourages co-
with existing facility sites
STAFF While completely minimizing the visual impact of the tower is not feasible, as
conditioned the visibility will be reduced.
The proposed height is needed to enhance public safety communications and
would provide space for co-location of private communications services;
thereby, reducing the need for new towers in the area.
Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service
SUMMARY OF IDENTIFIED ISSUES
Department Issue
A recommended route of the .źƉĻ ğƓķ Ʃğźƌƭ /ŷğƦƷĻƩ of The
Comprehensive Plan runs through the subject the property; however,
PARKS AND the proposed development area for the tower is a small portion of the
RECREATION parcel. The applicant has not offered to address the impacts on
pedestrian/bicycle facilities along the Plan route.
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Map 2: Comprehensive Plan
Classification: CONSERVATION/RECREATION
This designation is given to publicly and privately owned properties including schools, parklands, and other
public and private lands for promoting its function, natural characer or historical significance.
Map 3: Surrounding Land Uses & Development
Single family residential -
Folkstone Drive
Single family residential use
Land O Pines and Five
Forks Village
Cogbill Rd
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PLANNING
Staff Contact: Darla Orr (804-717-6533) orrd@chesterfield.gov
Proposal
A 310-foot communications tower is proposed on a portion of the school site being one (1) of six
(6) new towers to complete an e
Communications Radio System. The existing system is being enhanced as part of a regional project
to meet the long-term public safety needs. The proposed tower is designed to provide enhanced
interoperability, redundancy, and improved frequency coverage.
The Zoning Ordinance establishes the maximum height for communications towers in the area of
the subject property at 199-feet. An exception is requested to permit the 310-foot tower. The
number of tower facilities needed to provide improved radio coverage and to increase the ability
for the signal to penetrate larger structures such as schools, larger commercial, office and
industrial facilities, and government buildings.
Public Facilities Plan
The tǒĬƌźĭ CğĭźƌźƷźĻƭ tƌğƓ, an element of The Comprehensive Plan, suggests public facilities
should be co-located whenever possible with existing public facility sites.
The tƌğƓ 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 tƌğƓ encourages co-location on existing telecommunications towers, or architectural
incorporation into existing building features. Where co-location or architectural incorporation
is not feasible, the tƌğƓ suggests that in highly visible areas, towers should be located and
designed to conceal such facilities to the greatest degree feasible to 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 appearance or, 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
Require certification 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 fencing to 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 recommended to mitigate the
impact of the tower:
General Overview
Requirements Details
Tower is proposed on county-owned property as identified on
the Site Location Plan
Location
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ ЊͲ tƌğƓ ğƓķ tƚƌźĭǤ
Self-supporting lattice tower; Gray or another neutral
color;
Tower to be designed to accommodate 4 additional
Tower Design & communications service providers
Integrity/Opportunities for
Future Users
the tower
Microwave or satellite dish antennas maximum of 8 feet
in diameter, neutral color, and with no logos
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓƭ ЎͲ Џ ğƓķ А Ʀƌǒƭ tƚƌźĭǤ
Soft blinking red light at night with upward reflection, medium
Lighting
white strobe light during the day, with upward reflection
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ў
No signage permitted
Signage
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Ћ ğƓķ tƚƌźĭǤ
6-foot tall security fence
Landscaping around fenced compound
Security, Screening and
Meet ordinance requirements in O, C, I Districts
Equipment
100-foot vegetation retention area
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓƭ ЌͲ Ѝ ğƓķ Ў Ʀƌǒƭ tƚƌźĭǤ
Maximum of 310 feet
Tower Height
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Њ
Removal required within 12 months once use ceases
Cessation of Use
/ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Б ğƓķ tƚƌźĭǤ
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As conditioned, the proposed communications tower complies with The Comprehensive Plan
and is consistent with the Telecommunications Tower Siting Policy criteria as outlined below:
Is co-located with a county park facility
Includes recommended tower design elements: neutral color; no signs or logos
permitted; and limit on size of dish antennas
Is a self-supporting lattice tower, similar to a monopole because guy wires are not
required (a monopole cannot be used due to the proposed height)
Designed to offer co-location opportunities for additional communications service
providers thereby reducing the need for additional towers in the area
Will provide an to certify structural integrity of the tower
Provides for security and screening of the base of the tower, including vegetation
retention
Addressed cessation
Given the requested height of 310 feet, the tower will be highly visible and required to be lit;
however, the proposed tower has been located and designed to reduce the visual impact to the
greatest degree feasible without compromising the planned emergency radio system expansion
which benefits the health and safety of citizens and public safety personnel.
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FIRE SERVICE
Staff Contact: Anthony Batten (804-717-6167) battena@chesterfield.gov
This request will have minimal impact on Fire and EMS.
Nearby Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Facilities
Fire Station The Dale Fire Station, Company Number 11
EMS Facility The Dale Fire Station, Company Number 11
ENVIRONMENTAL
Drainage, Erosion and Water Quality
Staff Contact: Rebeccah Ward (804-748-1028) wardr@chesterfield.gov
Geography
The site area for the proposed tower is generally flat and sheet flows across downstream
properties to a natural channel, which drains through an existing pond and into an unnamed
tributary to Falling Creek. The proposed tower site area is located within the Falling Creek
Watershed.
Stormwater Management
The development is subject to the Part IIB technical criteria of the Virginia Stormwater
Management Program Regulations for water quality and water quantity.
PARKS AND RECREATION
Staff Contact: Stuart Connock (804-751-4484) ConnockS@chesterfield.gov
Mission
The County supports a high-quality park system to provide residents and visitors with equitable
access to active and passive recreation opportunities. The 2012 level of service is 5.9 acres of
regional, community and neighborhood parkland per 1,000 persons whereas the target level of
service is 9 acres per 1,000 persons.
Public Facilities Plan
The .źƉĻǞğǤƭ ğƓķ Ʃğźƌƭ /ŷğƦƷĻƩ ƚŅ ƷŷĻ /ƚƒƦƩĻŷĻƓƭźǝĻ tƌğƓ recommends provision of
pedestrian/bicycle facilities along all routes shown on the Plan and connections from these routes
and existing pedestrian/bicycle facilities to adjacent developments. In this case, a recommended
route of the tƌğƓ runs through the subject property; however, the proposed development area for
the tower is a small portion of the parcel. The applicant has not offered to address the impacts on
pedestrian/bicycle facilities along the Plan route.
817SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
Existing Parkland
The proposed tower will be located within Cogbill Park. The tower and access to the tower have
been coordinated with Parks and Recreation for no adverse effects to current park operations or
proposed future development on the property.
COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Jim Banks (804-748-1037) banksj@chesterfield.gov
VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
Staff Contact: Brian Lokker (804-674-2384) brian.lokker@vdot.virginia.gov
UTILITIES
Staff Contact: Jamie Bland (804-751-4439) blandj@chesterfield.gov
This request will have a minimal impact on these facilities.
917SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
CASE HISTORY
Applicant Submittals
11/15/2016 Application submitted
4/5/2017 Applicant submitted document relative to coverage design
Community Meeting
2/1/2017 Discussion:
Review of proposed emergency communications system enhancements and
benefits was discussed
Room will be available on tower for 4 private communications service
providers; may reduce need for other towers in area; structural integrity of
tower to handle additional carriers
Proposed location of park improvements on-site nearest Cogbill Road
Design and lighting
Planning Commission
2/21/2017 Action DEFERRED TO APRIL 18, 2017 MEETING ON THEIR OWN MOTION WITH
4/18/2017 IF THE COMMISSION ACTS ON THIS CASE AT THEIR MEETING ON 4/18/2017, IT
WILL BE HEARD BY THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS ON 4/26/2017
The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will consider
this request.
1017SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
ATTACHMENT 1
CONDITIONS
1.The tower shall not exceed a height of 310 feet and shall be located generally as
depicted on the Site Location Plan prepared by Pyramid Network Services, LLC., last
revised 11-02-16. (P)
2.There shall be no signs permitted to identify this use except those required by FCC
or other regulatory body. (P)
3.The base of the tower shall be enclosed by a minimum six (6) foot high fence,
designed to preclude trespassing. The fence shall be placed so as to provide
sufficient room between the fence and the property line to accommodate evergreen
plantings having an initial height and spacing to provide screening of the base of the
tower and accessory ground-mounted equipment or structures from adjacent
properties and park facilities. (P)
4.A egetation Retention of 100 feet around the perimeter of the tower site
shall be maintained. No trees within the vegetation retention area may be removed
unless such trees are dead, diseased or dying. (P)
5.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.Unless otherwise required by the FAA, tower lighting during daylight hours shall
be limited to medium intensity strobe lights with upward reflection and lighting
during night-time hours shall be limited to soft blinking red lights with upward
reflection.
c.The tower shall be a self-supporting lattice structure.
d.Any satellite dish and microwave dish antennas attached to the tower shall not
exceed eight (8) feet in diameter and shall be of a neutral color with no logos. (P)
6.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)
(NOTE: The Zoning Ordinance requires the screening of mechanical equipment
located on the building or ground from adjacent properties and public rights of way.
Screening would not be required for the tower or tower-mounted equipment.)
1117SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
7.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. The tower
shall be certified as structurall
and equipment for four (4) additional communication service providers. (P)
8.At such time that the telecommunications tower ceases to be used for
communications purposes for a period exceeding twelve (12) consecutive months,
the property owner(s) and/or lessee(s) shall dismantle and remove the tower and all
associated equipment from the property. (P)
1217SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
ATTACHMENT 2
SITE LOCATION PLAN, SITE PLAN AND TOWER ELEVATION
1317SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
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ATTACHMENT 3
PHOTO SIMULATIONS
1617SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
1717SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
1817SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
ATTACHMENT 4
PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM COVERAGE DESIGN AUGMENTATION INQUIRY
Chesterfield County Planning Commission / Board of Supervisors
Public Safety Radio System Coverage Design Augmentation Inquiry
I.Background.
1
Chesterfield County, in conjunction with its Capital Region Partners, contracted with
Motorola Solutions in June 2016 for a regional public safety radio communications
system. The Chesterfield County subsystem includes a 15-site 800 MHz simulcast
network 2 to provide radio coverage, new Emergency Communications Center dispatch
consoles, as well as the redundant system core electronics that control the operation of
the regional radio system. Detailed design activities for the new regional radio system
have been ongoing in Chesterfield County and the Capital Region since July 2016. A
subset of the overall detailed design process involves working closely with the County
Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to optimally locate and define the use of
every tower site in the new simulcast network. As part of the tower siting process, the
Chesterfield project team has conducted numerous community meetings and
informational work sessions with stakeholders to gather information and refine the use
of each proposed tower site.
II.Planning Commission (PC) / Board of Supervisors (BOS) Request.
As a result of the PC/BOS oversight process during the detailed design process, the
Chesterfield County Planning Commission has expressed an interest in developing a
candidate strategy for augmenting 20dB Radio System coverage in a targeted corridor
primarily in the Matoaca District (see triangular area in Figure 1 depicted between the
existing Grange Hall-Union Branch-NATS tower sites).
III.Candidate Coverage Design Augmentation.
Per the contractual 15-site System Design, the target area in question is predicted to
reliably provide 12-14dB coverage levels; but in response to the PC/BOS request for a
strategy to improve 20dB Radio System coverage in the target area, the Chesterfield
project team worked with Motorola Solutions to identify an additional tower location on
Beach Road (see Figure 2) that would reasonably address the concerns raised by the
PC/BOS to date.
Motorola provided a conceptual design coverage model (see Figure 3) using a 300-ft
self-supported tower located at Latitude 37.350925° N / Longitude 77.653069° W. The
candidate Beach Road tower site location is currently an undeveloped Chesterfield
County Parks and Recreation parcel.
1917SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
The Chesterfield project team estimates the total cost of ownership (including design,
construction, installation, and maintenance) for this additional site on Beach Road to
range between $3.75M-$4.0M in current dollars based on the Motorola Solutions
contract pricing 3. The Chesterfield project team is recommending that the PC/BOS
reserve judgment on whether to pursue an additional simulcast site until after the
contractual coverage acceptance test to gauge how much additional coverage is actually
needed based on the performance of the implemented system. Upon completion of
system we will bring the actual test results back to the PC & BOS for further
consideration. Subsequently should the County desire to pursue integration of an
additional simulcast site following the execution of the contractual coverage acceptance
test (currently planned between May-October 2019), the County should expect a 24-30
month timetable 4 to fully complete the initiative.
Capital Region Partners include Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Henrico County, City of Richmond, Hanover County, and the Capital
1
Region Airport Commission (CRAC).
One of the 15 sites in the Chesterfield County simulcast network is located on Roslyn Road in Colonial Heights, VA.
2
Chesterfield County and Henrico County provide redundant Zone Core electronics for the new Capital Region Radio System.
3
icited from Motorola.
4
Final pricing will be subject t
While a contractual schedule has not been solicited from Motorola, the Beach Road site provides a conceptual solution to address the
5
PC/BOS inquiry. Based on the current project schedule, the additional site would come online after the Regional System is operational
(anticipated May 2020).
2017SN0740-2017APR26-BOS-RPT
Figure 1. Contractual 15-
20dB Coverage Augmentation
th
Figure 2. Candidate 16 Simulcast Site on Beach Road to Address Request for Targeted 20dB
Coverage Augmentation
Figure 3. Conceptual 16-Site Simulcast Network Design Addressing Request for Targeted
20dB Coverage Augmentation
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