04SN0302-Oct27.pdfOctOber 27, 2004 BS
STAFF'S
REQUEST AN~LYSIS
RECOMMENDATION
04SN0302
Omnipoint Communications CAP OperatiOns LLC
Matoaca Magisterial District
11010 Winterpock Road
REQUEST: - Conditional Use to permit a communications tower in an Agricultural (A) District.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
A communications tower and associatedimprovements are planned. Specifically,
the tower will be incorporated into the structure of an existing water tank structure
located on the property.
PLANNING COMMISSI°N RECOMMENDATION
REcoMMEND.APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE: CONDITIONS ON PAGES.2 AND 3.'
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval for the' following reasons:.
A.- The' proposal conforms to the .Public Facilities'Plan which suggests that
communications tower locations should generally be located to minimize-the
impact on existing or p~anned' areas of deVelopment and' that energy and
communications facilities:-~hould co-locate whenever feasible.
B. Incorporating the communicatiOns facilities into an existing water tank will
eliminate the need fOr an additional freestanding communications tower in the
area, thereby minimizing tower proliferation.
Providing a FIRST CHOICE Community Through Excellence in Public Service
Ce
Similar communications tower and water tank co-lOcations, have occurred
throughout the County with no known adverse impacts on nearby develOpmem,
D. The recommended conditions will further minimize the possibility~ of any adverse
impact on area development, the County Communications System or the County
(NOTE: CONDITIONS MAY BE IMPOSED OR THE PROPERTY'OWNER MAY PROFFER
CONDITIONS, THE CONDITIONS NOTED WITH "STAFF/CPCC" 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 PLANNINGCOMMISSION~) '- -
CONDITIONS ': ':: ' ' '
(STAFF/CPC) 1.
(STAFF/CPC) 2.
(STAFF/CPC) 3.
The communications tower use shall be permitted only if it. is
incorporated into the structure of a water tank. Antennas shall be'
mounted onthe safety rail of the water.tank; All cabling shall be
housed in conduit or otherwise shielded from view; (P)
The deVeloper shall be responsible, for cOrrecting.any frequency
problems which affect the Chesterfield County. COmmunications"
System caused by this use. Such' corrections~ shall be' made
immediately upon notification by the Chesterfield... CoUnty
Communications and Electronics staff. (GS)
The color and lighting system for the tower shall be as followS: :.' '
a. The communications equipment (antennas',. m°unting~
hardware, cabling, etc.) mountedon the outSide of the iWater
tank structure shall be the same or similar cOlor as the water
(STAFF/CPC) 4.
b.. The-tower shall not be lighted. (P)
Any building or mechanical equipment shall comply with. Sections
19495 and 19-570 (b) and.(c) of the Zoning Ordinance relative,fro
architectural, treatment of building exteriors and. screening of
mechanical equipment. (P) . ·
(NOTE: Section 19-570 (b) and (c) wOuld require 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.). :-
2 04Stq0302-OCT27-BOS
(STAFF/CPC)
(STAFF/CPC)
The tower shall not exceed a height of 160 feet. (P)
At such time that.the tower ceases to be used for commumcatious
purposes for a period exceeding twelve (12) consecutive months,
the owner/developer shall dismantle and remove 'the tower and all
associated'equipmem from.the property. (P)
GENERAL INFORMATION.
Location:
' West line of Winterpock Road; south of Beach Road and known as 11010 WinterpoCk
Road. Tax ID 720-655-5381 (Sheet 23). ..
~X,Stmg' -.on,rig:
Size:
EXisting Land Use:
~ Public Utility(Water Tank)
Adiacent Zoning and Land Use:
NOrth, South, East and West ,'A'and.A with Conditional" Use; Single family residential,
Public/Semi-public(Church:and RecreatiOn) or vacant
UTILITIES; ENVIRONMENTAL; PUBLIC FACILITIES
The requested'amendment will have no impact on these' facilities.
CO~ ~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.
A preliminary review of this proPosal, has indicated' that the facility will not interfere with the
County's communications system. Once the tower is in operation, if interference occurs, the
owner/developer should be required to correct any problems. (Condition 2)
3 04SN0302-OCT27-BOS
COUNTY AIRPORT
A preliminary review of this proposal indicates that, given the approximateiocatiOn and-
elevation of the proposed installation, it appears'there will be no adverse affect:On .the County
Airport.
LAND USE
Comprehensive Plan:
The request property lies within the boundaries of the. Southern and WeStern Ari,a..P an
which suggests the property is appropriate, for rural conservatiOn use. , '; · i. ·-:-
The Public Facilities Plan, an-element of the ComprehenSive Plan, suggests that energg~
and communications USes should be co-lOcated, whenever feasible, to minimize impacts .
on existing and future areas of development .... . :. · .. ·
Area Development Trends: ". . '
Adjacent .properties are zoned Agricultural (A) and are occupied'iby:'Single-'family
residential uses, a church USe and recreational facilities or remain vacant.. Itis anticipated
that development in this area.would be'deferred until . such time .as provision is madefor '
adequate .public facilities to serve such development, as suggested by:the-Southernand .
WeStern Area Plan.
Dwellings within 2,000 feet of the tower are shown on the Attachment. It is. imp°rtant :~0'" ' .
note that residential structures on this map were placed..aCCording to aerial photograp~
taken in 2002 and theret'ore may not fully represent all-the structures in :the area.
Development Standards: ' - ·
The request property lies within an Emerging Growth Area.. The pUrPOse of the-Emer~g
Growth District standards is to promote high quality, well'designed, projects. ~ However,
because the request property is zoned Agricultural .(A),:,devel°Pment is not required~:lo''
meet the developmenti standards'for .Emerging Growth-Areas; A condition shOuldbe
impOsed to require comPlianCe with Emerging Growth-Area 'requirements-relatiVe':t° the
architectural treatment of the proposed equipment building; (ConditiOn 5) ' ii_. ~''
As noted herein, the* request property is occupied by a county-water:.tank::': The
communications equipment mounted on the outside of the water_ tank' stmcture should be :. '
the same or similar color as the existing water tank to minimize:visual clutter (Condition
3). Access to the toweir site will be viaan existing access'to ~Winterpock Road. Antennas,'
cabling, conduit and Other equipment associated with the tower use, if mounted :On
vertical .elements of the water tank and having the same 'col°r as. the ~tank, shouldnot
create a visual impact si~ificantly, greater than the.visual-impaCt of the Water tank mass
04SN0302-OCT27-BOS
(Conditions 3.a. and 1). Condition 1 will not require screening unless, after installation,
the Commission determines that screening is necessary.
Consistent with past actions on similar facilities and to ensure that the tower does. not
become a.maintenance problem or an eyesore, the tower should be removed at such time
that it ceases to be used for communications purposes. (Condition 6) "
· · ' - ' CONCLUSIONS
The Public-Facilities Plan suggests that CommuniCations towers Should be located to minimize
the impact on existing or planned areas of development 'and that energy and communications
facilities should co-locate whenever feasible. The communications 'tower will be incorporated
into an.'existing water tank. The addition of the communications facilities into the structure Of.
the water tank does not generate-a visual impact that is. si~maificantly greater than the '.visual
imPact of the existing structure. This co-locatiOn 'will eliminate the need for an additiohal
freestanding communications tower in the area, .thereby .minimizing toWer proliferation.-.{n
· addition; the.reCommended Conditions will further minimize the possibility of any adverse impact-'-
on area development, as well as on the County CommuniCations :System or the County Airport,.~; .:
Given these Considerations, approval of this request is-reCommended. ' '~
' · CASE HISTORY
The appliCant accepted the recommendation.. There-was:no oPPosition present. '
On motion of Mr. Bassi seconded by Mrl Litton;' the Commission recommended approval
of this request subject to the conditions on pages 2 and 3:
AYES: Unanimous.'
The Board :of Supervisors, on Wednesday, October 27, 2004, beginning at 7:00 p.m., will take
under consideration this request:
5 04SN0302-OCT27-BOS
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NOTE: PR|C]~ TO A'II'ACHINO iIi~i'JDINAS .~qD MOUN'I]NO q~'O~ONS.
~XJS'nNO ~ ANO TOI~R FOUNOA'I~O~ -MUST BE: ANALYZI~ BY A-
SUPPO~TINO PROP~ LOADS. ..,
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