06SN0323
No--/ember 16,2006 C:PC
De.cember 13, 2006 BS
STAFF'S
REQUEST ANALYSIS
AND
RECOMMENDA TION
06SN0323
Ne\v Cingular Wireless pes, LLC
Dale Magisterial District
South line of Courthouse Road
REQUEST: Conditional Use to permit a communications tower in an Agricultural (A) District.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
A c0nu11unications tower and associated im.provements are planned.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMEND APPROVAL SUBJECT TO TIlE CONDITIONS ON P AGE 2~
AYES: MESSRS~ WILSON, GECKER~ BASS AND LITTON.
ABSENT: MR. GULLEY.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval for the following reasons:
A. The proposal conforms to the Public Facilities Plan which suggests that
communicatiol1S tower locations should generally be located to minimize the
impact on existing or future areas of development
B~ The proposal conforms to th.e Tower Siting Policy which suggests if a tower is to
be located in the vicinity of existing or planned areas of development the to\ver
should be located as remotely as possible from such areas~
(NOTE: CONDITIONS MAY BE IMPOSED OR THE PROPER1~Y OVv~ER(S) MAY
P.ROFFER CONDITIONS~ THE CONDITIONS NOTED WITH HSTAFF/CPcn WERE
Providing a 17IRST CI^1.0ICE community through excellence in public service
AGREED UPON BY BOTH STAFF AND THE COMM1SSION. CONDITIONS WITH ONLY
A ftSTAFF" ARE RECOM.MENDED SOLELY BY STAFF. CONDIT10NS WITH ONLY A
ncpcu ARE AD.DITIONAL CONDITIO.NS RECOMJ\1ENDED BY THE PLAN.NING
COMIv11SSl0N ~)
CONDIT10NS
(ST AFF/CPC)
(ST AFF/CPC)
(ST AFF/CPC)
(ST A.FF/CPC)
(ST AFF/CPC)
(ST AFF/CPC)
1.
There shall b.e no signs penn.itted to identify this use~ (P)
2.
The base of th.e tower shall be enclosed by a m.inimum six (6)
foot high fence, designed to preclude trespassing. The fence shall
be placed so as to provide sufficient room bet.ween the fence and
the property line to accommodate evergreen plantin.gs having an
initial height and spacing 10 provide screening of the base of the
tower and accessory ground.-"'mounted equipment or structures
from adjacent propenies.. I.n conjunction with sit.e plan
submission., or prior to release of a building permit, whichever
occurs first, a landscaping plan depicting this requirement shall
be submitted to th.e Planning Department for revie\\7 and
approval ~ (P)
3.
The color and lighting system for the tower shall be as foJIO\\lS:
a. The tower shall be gray or anoth.er neutral color, acceptable
to tb.e Planning Department
bT The tower shall not be ]ighted~
c~ The tower shall be a monopole structure~ (P)
4~
Any building or mechanical equipment shall comply with Sections
19..595 and 19-570 (b) and (c) of the Zoning Ordinance relatjve to
archite.ctural treatment of building exteri.ors and screening of
mechanical equipment (P)
(NOTE: Section 19-570 (b) and (c) \vould require the screening of
mechanical equipment located on the building or ground from
adjac.ent properties and pubhc rights ofway~ Screening yvou]d not
be required for the tower or to\\Icr-mounted equipment~)
5.
The to\ver sh.al) not exc.eed a height of 160 feet (P)
6~
At such time th.at the tower ceases to be used for communications
purposes for a period exceeding t\ve)ve (12) c.onsecutive months,
the o\vner/developer shall dismantle and remove the tovv'cr and all
associated equipment from th.e property& (P)
2
06SN0323-I)I.~(=13...13()S
GENERAL IN FOR.MA TION
Location:
South line of Courthouse Road~ east of Krause Road~ Tax IDs 775-665...Part of 1730 and
777-665-Part of 1229 (Shee1 25).
Existing Zoning:
A
Size:
0.5 acre
Existing Land Use:
Public/semi-public (Fairgrounds and elementary and middle schools)
Adjacent Zoning and Land U.se:
North, South, East and West - A; Public/semi~public; Schools and fairgrounds
UTILITIES
The proposed use will not necessitate a manned facility; therefore~ the use of the public \\..~ater and
wastewater system is not required..
ENV1RON.MENT AL
Drainag.e and Erosion:
If the construction of the cell to\\!er to include access disturbs more than 2,500 square feet~ a
land disturbance pennit ll1USt be obtained from the Department of Envlfon.nlcnlal
Engineering..
PUB.LIe F ACIL1TlES
Fire Service:
The Airport Fire Station~ Company NUlnber } 5.. currently provides fire protection and
emergency m.edical service (EJv1S). This request \vill have a minimal impact on tire and
EMS~
3
()6SN 0323-.1) 1< (...~~"1 ,)-. J3(..)S
T.ran sport at i on:
The proposed development (conunu.nicatio.n to\ver) on the property will have a minimal
impact on the existing transportation net\vork~
C01J~TY COMMUNICA T10NS
The Zoning Ordinance requires that any structure over eighty (80) feet in height be reviewed by
the County~s Public Safety Review Tealn for potentia] detrilnental impacts the structure could
have on the County's Radio Communications Systenl m.icrO\\laVe paths~ This determination
must be mad:e prior to construction of the communications tower.
COU.NTY A1RPORT
A preliminary review of this proposal indicates that~ given th.e approximate location and ele.vation
of the proposed installation, it appears there will be no adverse affect on the County Airport.
LAN.D U.SE
COlnprehensive Plan:
Lies within the boundaries of the Central Area Plan \vhich suggests the property 15
appropriate for office use~
Area Development Trends:
Adjacent properties are zoned Agricultural (A) and are occupied by Chesterfield County
Fairgrounds, Bird. High, Sa]ClTI Church Mid.dle and Salem Church Elementary Schools. It
is anticipated that public. uses \\!ill continue in the area~
Development Standards:
The request property lies \\7ithin an Emerging Gro\vth Area. The purpose of the
EJnerging Growth District standards is 10 promote high quality~ well-designed projects~
However, because the property is zoned Agricultural (A).. development is not required to
nleet the development standards for Elnerging Gro\vth Areasc A condition should be
imposed to require compliance \vlth Elnerging Gro\vlh i\rea requirements relative to the
architectural treatment of the propose-d equipnlent building. <.Condition 4)
The Conditional Use process provides a Ineans of addressing \vays to mlnjnllze the
possibility of any adverse impact of a to\ver on existing and planned areas of
development The Tower Siting Policy suggests~ \vhere to\vers are to be located in the
vicinity of existing or planned areas of developnlent. the to\ver should be located as
rem.otely as possible from these areas and on property \\/hich is densely wooded \vith
mature vegetation. The .Policv also suggests measures should be taken to insure the
preservation of a mature stand of trees around the toyver.
4
06SN0323-1)E~C] 3-.I3()S
The proposed communications to\ver and access \\7j]] be located on fairgrounds and
schools property, a.djacent 10 a stream~ The closest residence is approximately 750 feet
away~ Along the south side of the proposed tower site is a Resource. Protectjon Area
(RP A), which cannot be disturbed. Mature vegetation is located \vithin this R.P A as \vell
as adj.ac.ent to the tower site on all sides~ This vegetatjon~ as well as topograph1cal
differences in the area, will mitigate th.e visual impact of the tower fron1 area residential
development
The height of the tower is not to exceed 160 feet (Condition 5)~ Ac.cess to the to\ver sit.e
will be via an e.xisting fairgrounds access to Courthou.se Road~ Consistent \\-,ith past
actions on similar fa.cilities~ should this request be approved~ the base of the tower should
be secured with a fen.ce to discourage trespassing (Condition 2). Due to the proximity
area development, the communications tower should be bTfay or another neutral color so
as 10 minimize the visual impact of such developm.ent (Condition 3)
Consistent with past actions on similar facilities and to ensure that the tower does not
become a maintenance problem or an eyesore, the to\ver sh.ouJd be removed at such time
that it ceases to be used for communications purposes. (Condition 6)
CONCLUSION
Th.e proposal conforms to the Public Facilities Plan, which suggests that communications to\vers
sh.ould be located to minimize the impact on existing or future areas of deve]oplnen1. In
addition, the proposal conforms to the Tower Siting Policy V\?hich suggests, where to\vers are to
be located in the vicinity of existing or planned areas of deyeJopnlent, the tOVt/er should be
located as remotely as possible froln such areas and on property \\/hich is densely \vooded \\rith
mature vegetation~ The Policy also suggests m.easures should be taken to ensure the presen.fation
of a mature stand of trees around the lo\ver.
The proposed communications tov/er and access will be located on County fairgrounds and
schools property, near a Resource Protection Area (RP A). Mature vegetation is located adjacent
to th.e to,^!er site and within this RP A. This vegetation,. as \\rell as topographical differences in
the area, will mitigate the visual iJn.pact of th.e tower from area residential development The
recommended conditions will furt.her lTI-lnimize the possibility of any adverse impact on area
deveJopmenL
Given these considerations, approval of this request is recomme.ndedc
5
06SN0323- I)I~~(.:".1 3~ B()S
CASE HISTORY
Planning Commission Meeting (11/16/06):
The applicant accepted the. rec.olnmen.dation~ There was no opposition .present
On motion ofMr~ Litton, seconded by Mr~ Bass, the Commission recommended approval
subject to the conditions on page 2~
AYES: Messrs~ Wilson, Gecker~ Bass and Litton.
ABSENT: Mr~ Gul1ey~
1~he Board of Supervisors, on Wednesday, December 13, 2006~ beginning at 7:00 p~m., will take
under consideration this req.uest
6
06SN0323- D E(~ 13- Ij()S
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