99SN0206April 14, 1999 BS
REQUEST ANALYSIS
AND
RECOMMENDATION
99SN0206
Triton PCS, Inc.
(Larry Horton)
Clover Hill Magisterial District
East line of Courthouse Road
REQUEST: Conditional Use Planned Development to permit a communications tower plus
height exception in a Residential (R-7) District.
PROPOSED LAND USE:
A 127 foot communications tower and associated improvements are planned within
a Virginia Power electrical transmission line easement within Rockwood Park.
Specifically, the tower will be incorporated into the structure of an existing
electrical transmission tower located on the property. Access to the tower would
be provided to Courthouse Road via a driveway serving park facilities. The
applicant is requesting a height exception to allow the communications tower co-
location on this existing Virginia Power structure.
PLANNING COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION
RECOMMEND APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS ON PAGES 2 AND 3.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommend approval for the following reasons:
Ao
The Public Facilities Plan suggests that communications tower locations should
generally 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 tower would be incorporated into an existing, permitted
Virginia Power electrical transmission structure. The addition of the
communications facilities into the existing transmission structure does not generate
a visual impact on area development that is significantly greater than the visual
impact of the existing Virginia Power electrical transmission tower and conforms
to the co-location criteria of the Plan.
Incorporating the communications facilities into an existing Virginia Power
electrical transmission structure will eliminate the need for an additional
freestanding communications tower in the area, thereby minimizing tower
proliferation.
Similar communications tower/Virginia Power structure co-locations have occurred
throughout the County, with no known adverse impacts on nearby development.
Do
The recommended conditions will minimize the possibility of any adverse impact
on area development, the Chesterfield County Public Safety Tmnked System or the
County Airport.
(NOTE: CONDITIONS MAY BE IMPOSED OR THE PROPERTY OWNER MAY PROFFER
CONDITIONS. THE CONDITIONS NOTED WITH "STAFF/CPC" 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 PLANNING COMMISSION.)
CONDITIONS
(STAFF/CPC) 1.
The plan entitled Vt~PCO 282/43 RI-1-076F, prepared by Tectonic
Engineering Consultants P.C., last revised December 22, 1998,
shall be considered the Master Plan. (P)
(STAFF/CPC)
2. There shall be no signs permitted to identify this use. (P)
(STAFF/CPC)
Prior to site plan or building permit approval, whichever occurs
first, the owner/developer shall submit documentation as to whether
FAA approval is required for the erection of the tower. If FAA
approval is required, prior to release of a building permit, a copy
of FAA approval shall be submitted to the Planning Department.
(P)
(STAFF/CPC)
The tower and equipment shall be designed and installed so as not
to interfere with the Chesterfield County Public Safety Trunked
System. Prior to site plan or building permit approval, whichever
occurs first, the owner/developer shall submit information as
deemed necessary by the Chesterfield County Communications and
Electronics staff to determine if an engineering study should be
performed to analyze the possibility of radio frequency interference
with the County system, based upon tower location and height, and
upon the frequencies and effective radiated power generated by
tower-mounted equipment. Prior to release of a building permit the
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99SN0206/WP/APR14P
(STAFF/CPC)
(STAFF/CPC)
(STAFF/CPC)
(STAFF/CPC)
(STAFF/CPC)
(STAFF/CPC)
o
10.
study, if required, shall be submitted to, and approved by, the
Chesterfield County Communications and Electronics staff. (GS)
The developer shall be responsible for correcting any frequency
problems which affect the Chesterfield County Public Safety
Trunked 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:
ao
The tower shall be gray or another neutral color, acceptable
to the Planning Department.
b. The tower shall not be lighted. (P)
All driveways and parking areas shall be graveled or paved and
maintained to minimize dust problems and provide ease of ingress
and egress. (P)
Any building or mechanical equipment shall comply with Sections
19-570 Co) and (c) and 19-595 of the Zoning Ordinance relative to
architectural treatment of building exteriors and screening of
mechanical equipment. (P)
(NOTE: This condition would require the screening of mechanical
equipment located on, or associated with, any building from
adjacent properties and public rights of way. Screening would not
be required for the tower or tower-mounted equipment or ground-
mounted equipment cabinets.)
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)
In conjunction with the approval of this request, a seventy-seven
(77) foot exception to the fifty (50) foot height limitation for
communications towers in Residential (R-7) Districts shall be
granted. (P)
3 99SN0206/WP/APR14P
GENERAL INFORMATION
Location:
East line of Courthouse Road, north of Hull Street Road.
(Sheet 14).
Existing Zoning:
R-7
Size:
Tax ID 749-688-Part of 9576
5.0 acres
Existing Land Use:
Public/semi-public (Rockwood Park)
Adjacent Zoning & Land Uses:
North, South and East - R-7; Public/semi-public (Rockwood Park)
West - A; Vacant
UTILITIES
The proposed tower and associated equipment will not require the use of the public water and
wastewater systems.
ENVIRONMENTAL
Drainage and Erosion:
There are no existing or anticipated on- or off-site drainage or erosion problems with the
improvements to accommodate the tower. A land disturbance permit is not required if less
than 2,500 square feet of land area is disturbed by the construction of the tower and
associated improvements.
PUBLIC FACILITIES
Fire Service and Transportation:
This use will have no impact on these facilities.
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99SN0206/WP/APR14P
COUNTY 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 erection of the proposed communications tower.
A preliminary review of this tower proposal has indicated that the facility will not interfere with
the County's communication system; however, as a further precaution, if this request is approved,
a condition should be imposed to ensure that the tower is designed and constructed so as not to
interfere with the Chesterfield County Public Safety Trunked System (Condition 4). Once the
tower is in operation, if interference occurs, the owner/developer should be required to correct
any problems. (Condition 5)
COUNTY AIRPORT
A preliminary review of this tower proposal has indicated that the facility will not interfere with
the operation of the County Airport; however, as a further precaution, if this request is approved,
any necessary FAA approvals for this facility should be obtained prior to the release of a building
permit. (Condition 3)
LAND USE
Comprehensive Plan:
The request property lies within the boundaries of the Route 360 Corridor Land Use Plan
which suggests the property is appropriate for mixed use corridor use.
The Public Facilities Plan, an element of the Comprehensive Plan, suggests that energy
and communications uses should be located to minimize impacts on existing and future
areas of development and that such uses should co-locate whenever feasible.
Area Development Trends:
The request property is occupied by Virginia Power electrical transmission structures
within a Virginia Power electrical transmission easement. Surrounding properties are
zoned agriculturally and residentially and have been developed for public/semi-public use
(Rockwood Park) or remain vacant.
5 99SN0206/WP/APR14P
As noted herein, the request property is occupied by Virginia Power electrical
transmission structures. The proposed communications tower site is located within one
(1) of these transmission structures. Access for the tower site would be provided via a
driveway to Courthouse Road.
To minimize the visibility of the tower from adjoining property and within the park, the
tower should be gray or another neutral color and the tower should not be lighted.
(Condition 6)
Architectural Treatment:
The request property lies within an Emerging Growth Area. A condition should be
imposed to require compliance with Emerging Growth requirements relative to
architectural treatment of buildings and screening of mechanical equipment (Condition 8).
However, imposition of Condition 8 would not require screening of the tower or tower-
mounted equipment.
In addition, consistent with past actions on similar facilities, the tower should be removed
at such time that it ceases to be used for communications purposes to ensure that the tower
does not become a maintenance problem or an eyesore. (Condition 9)
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 is proposed to be incorporated
into an existing, permitted Virginia Power electrical transmission structure and conforms to the
co-location criteria of the Plan. The addition of the communications facilities into the structure
of the existing transmission tower does not generate a visual impact on area development that is
significantly greater than the visual impact of the existing Virginia Power electrical transmission
tower and will eliminate the need for an additional freestanding communications tower in the area,
thereby minimizing tower proliferation. In addition, the recommended conditions will further
minimize the possibility of any adverse impact on area development, as well as on the Chesterfield
County Public Safety Trunked System or the County Airport.
Given these considerations, approval of this request is recommended.
99SN0206/WP/APR 14P
CASE HISTORY
Planning Commission Meeting (2/16/99):
The applicam accepted the recommendation. There was no opposition presem.
On motion of Mr. Gulley, seconded by Mr. Shewmake, the Commission recommended
approval of this request subject to the conditions on pages 2 and 3.
AYES: Unanimous.
Further, for the reasons stated herein, the Commission found this request substantially in
accord with the Comprehensive Plan. The Code of Virginia, as amended, grants the
Board the authority to "overrule the action of the Commission by a vote of the majority
of the membership thereof".
The Board of Supervisors, on Wednesday, April 14, 1999, beginning at 7:00 p.m., will take
under consideration this request.
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ROCKWOOD
PARK.
FLOOD
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