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17SN0726 CASE NUMBER: 17SN0726 APPLICANT: Chesterfield Department of Emergency Communications CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA BERMUDA 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) 56.7 Acres 2651 Weir Place REQUEST Conditional use planned development to permit a communications tower plus exceptions to ordinance requirements in a Residential (R-9) District. Specifically, an exception to the maximum permitted tower height and setbacks is requested. 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 410- Communications Radio System and permit colocation of private communication services is planned on county- 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 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. 217SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-ADD CASE HISTORY Applicant Submittals 11/15/2016 Application submitted 4/5/2017 Applicant submitted document relative to coverage design 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. 317SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-ADD CASE NUMBER: 17SN0726 APPLICANT: Chesterfield Department of Emergency Communications CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA BERMUDA 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) 56.7 Acres 2651 Weir Place REQUEST Conditional use planned development to permit a communications tower plus exceptions to ordinance requirements in a Residential (R-9) District. Specifically, an exception to the maximum permitted tower height and setbacks is requested. 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 410-afety Emergency Communications Radio System and permit colocation of private communication services is planned on county- RECOMMENDATION NDATION COMMISSION AFTER 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- facilities 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. 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 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. 217SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 317SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT Map 2: Comprehensive Plan (The Chester Plan) Classification: PUBLIC (Conservation/Recreation use) AND RESIDENTIAL The Public designation is given to publicly owned properties including schools, parks, and other public facilities. The Plan suggests if redevelopment occurs the property would be appropriate for residential use of 2.5 dwellings per acre or less. Map 3: Surrounding Land Uses & Development West Hundred Rd Commercial uses Jefferson Davis Hwy Residential use Gay Farms, Craddock Point Complex and Chester Subdivisions 417SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT PLANNING Staff Contact: Darla Orr (804-717-6533) orrd@chesterfield.gov Zoning History Case Number BOS Action Request Substantial Accord Determination for a public park Accepted including soccer fields Approved conditions require 100 foot setbacks and 97PD0317 Determination buffers and a prohibition on use of outside public (07/1997) address systems to minimize impacts of the use on area residential use Proposal A 410-foot communications tower is proposed Soccer Complex, being one (1) of six (6) new towers to complete an e Public Safety Emergency Communications Radio System. The existing system is being enhanced as part of a regional project to meet 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 to 199-feet. An exception is requested to permit the 410-foot tower. The number of tower facilities needed to provide the radio coverage proposed 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 517SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 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 The following provides an overview of the proposal and conditions recommended to mitigate the impact of the tower: General Overview Requirements Details Tower is Complex) as identified on the Site Location Plan. Location Tower would be setback from the trail around the SWM/BMP basin /ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ ЊͲ tƌğƓ ğƓķ tƚƌźĭǤ Self-supporting lattice tower; Gray or another neutral color; Tower to be designed to handle 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 410 feet Tower Height /ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Њ Removal required within 12 months once use ceases Cessation of Use /ƚƓķźƷźƚƓ Б ğƓķ tƚƌźĭǤ 617SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 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 410 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. 717SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 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 Dutch Gap Fire Station, Company Number 14 EMS Facility The Dutch Gap Fire Station, Company Number 14 ENVIRONMENTAL Drainage, Erosion and Water Quality Staff Contact: Rebeccah Ward (804-748-1028) wardr@chesterfield.gov Geography stormwater basin, which discharges to an unnamed tributary to Ashton Creek. The entire property is located within the Ashton Creek Watershed. Environmental Features The proposed tower site is located adjacent to the existing on-site SWM/BMP basin. The tower, fencing, and other associated improvements shall be a minimum of eight feet outside of the exercise/nature trail around the top of the basin. (Condition 1) 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. 817SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 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 tǒĬƌźĭ CğĭźƌźƷźĻƭ tƌğƓ identifies the need for no new parkland nearest this location. 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 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. Existing Parkland The proposed tower will be located within the Lowes Sports Complex. The park is currently operated by Chesterfield United Soccer through a lease with the county. The tower and access to the tower have been coordinated with Parks and Recreation to ensure 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. 917SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT CASE HISTORY Applicant Submittals 11/15/2016 Application submitted 4/5/2017 Applicant submitted document relative to coverage design Planning Commission 2/21/2017 Action DEFERRED TO APRIL 18, 2017 ON THEIR OWN MOTION WITH THE 4/18/2017 MEETING ON APRIL 18, 2017 The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will consider this request. 1017SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT ATTACHMENT 1 CONDITIONS 1.The tower shall not exceed a height of 410 feet and shall be located generally as depicted on the Site Location Plan prepared by Pyramid Network Services, LLC., last revised 11-02-16. In addition, the tower, fencing, and other ground equipment/ improvements shall be a minimum of eight (8) feet outside of the exercise/nature trail around the top of the existing on-site SWM/BMP basin. (P and EE) 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.The property shall be subject to a egetation Retention of 100 feet along the northern, southern, and western property boundaries. 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.) 1117SN0726-2017APR26-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 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) 1217SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT ATTACHMENT 2 SITE LOCATION PLAN, SITE PLAN AND TOWER ELEVATION 1317SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 1417SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 1517SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT ATTACHMENT 3 PHOTO SIMULATIONS 1617SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 1717SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT 1817SN0726-2017APR26-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. Chesterfield County, in conjunction with its Capital Region Partners 1, 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 2 network 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. 1917SN0726-2017APR26-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 not been solicited from Motorola. 4 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). 2017SN0726-2017APR26-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 2117SN0726-2017APR26-BOS-RPT