HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP198800014 Staff Report 1988-05-04STAFF PERSON: RONALD S. KEELER
HEARINGS: PLANNING COMMISSION: APRIL 19, 1988
BOARD OF SUPERVISORS: MAY 4, 1988
SP-88-14 CENTRAL VIRGINIA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION
Petition: Central Virginia Educational Television (WCVE TV)
petitions the Board of Supervisors to issue a special use
permit for construction of a radio frequency transmission
tower and related facilities and appurtenances (10.2.2.6) on
7.827 acres zoned RA, Rural Areas. Property, described as
Tax Map 91, Parcel 18 (part of) is located on the east side
of Rte. 20S approximately 2 mile north of its intersection
with Avon Street Extended (Rte. 742) in the Scottsville
Magisterial District.
Staff met with representatives of CVET to discuss locational
issues and other matters related to broadcast facilities.
CVET was provided copies of past staff reports which
outlined areas of public concern. The applicant has
responded to all identified concerns as well as providing
comprehensive information for review.
Attachment A is the applicant's submittal entitled "SUMMARY
OF INFORMATION" which is presented in the form of a planning
staff report and analysis. Staff is in basic agreement with
opinions stated by the applicant and recommends that the
proposal satisfies criteria for issuance of a special use
permit as setforth in 31.2.4.1:
"Special use permits for uses as provided in this
ordinance may be issued upon a finding by the Board of
Supervisors that such use will not be of substantial
detriment to adjacent property, that the character of
the district will not be changed thereby and that such
use will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of
this ordinance, with the uses permitted by right in the
district, with additional regulations provided in
Section 5.0 of this Ordinance, and with the public
health, safety and general welfare."
The following summary comments are offered:
1. Location: CVET sought location of a broadcast antenna
on the existing WVIR tower to avoid additional tower
construction, however, the tower manufacturer advised
that the tower would be structurally overloaded by the
additional broadcast antenna. Then CVET successfully
pursued a new tower site location within 500 feet of
the existing WVIR tower and in proximity to the several
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towers on Carter's Mountain (Overall height above mean
sea level would be 50 feet less than the wVIR tower).
Location adjacent to existing towers and remote from
dwellings (+ 2,500 feet) is consistent with County
efforts.
2. Capability: In addition to the television antenna and
micro -wave relay receiver, the tower would be
engineered to accommodate nine 10' microwave dishes and
two FM antennae (with possible combinations to include
land -mobile and common carrier uses such as paging,
two-way radio and cellular telephone uses). This
"shared use" approach will provide capacity for third
party users, reducing future needs for additional tower
structures. This approach is consistent with County
efforts.
To further enhance shared usage of the tower, staff
would recommend that no separate special use permits be
required for future users, provided that certain conditions
are satisfied. Staff recommends approval of SP-88-14
CENTRAL VIRGINIA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION subject to the
following conditions:]
1. Tower height not to exceed 2�3 feet. Tower to be
located as described by applicant.
2. Administrative approval of site plan to include:
a. Staff approval oflequipment building$sit� and
if appropriate, screening measures;
b. Virginia Department of Transportation approval of
commercial entrance;
3. As to future tower users, staff may administratively
approve additional antennae installation under the
following circumstances:
a. Continued compliance with §5.1.12 of the Zoning
Ordinance including safety measures related to
cumulative RF radiation such as fencing of areas
where ANSI standards would be exceeded (see
attachment B);
b. If such installation is an element or segment of a
network or system which requires Board approval,
such installation shall not be authorized until
Board approval has been obtained for the entire
project.
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SUMMARY OF INFORMATION FEBRUARY 26, 1988,
SP-88-14 CENTRAL VIRGINIA EDUCATIONAL TELEVISION, APPLICANT AND
ROUTE 20 LAND TRUST, OWNER
Request: Television, Radio, Telephone and Micro -Wave Reception
and Transmission Tower (10.2.2.6)
Acreage: 7.827 Acres
Zoning: RA
Location:
Property, described as Tax Map 91, parcels 18 and 19a (part), is
located off of Route 20, approximately 3 miles south of
Charlottesville and is located on Carter's Mountain. Plat showing
exact location of tower is attached. Plat showing entire tax map
parcel with relative location of tower site is also attached.
Character of the Area:
The 7.827 acre site will be accessed either over the existing fire
tower road through property owned by Crown Orchard Company or by
an unpaved mountain road through property owned by Route 20 Land
Trust. The property is heavily wooded and steeply sloped with
elevations ranging from about 1475 feet to 1374 feet. There are
no dwelling units located in the area. Other lands in the area
consist of apple orchard, agricultural, forested tracts and several
existing broadcast towers in the apple orchard area.
APPLICANT'S PROPOSAL:
Central Virginia Educational Television (CVET) is petitioning the
Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors for approval to
construct a tower approximately 300 feet high for television, radio,
telephone and micro -wave reception and transmission with related
antennae, and an equipment and transmitter building. The tower
would be located at an elevation of 1419 feet. The tower will
be located at the following USGS coordinates: North Latitute:
37' 58' 30", West Longitude: 780 29' 00". Tower construction would
involve: construction of a service road across property owned
by Route 20 Land Trust to the tower location if permission is not
received for use of the existing fire tower road; installation
of a concrete foundation and guy wires for structural support;
and trespass fencing around the base of the tower. A micro -wave
relay receiver will be installed on the tower to receive signal
from Richmond for rebroadcast. The tower will be engineered to
accommodate nine 10' solid microwave dishes, two FM antennae and
one television antenna. A transmitter building (approximately
30 feet by 40 feet) will be located on the site and will be similar
in appearance to existing buildings near other towers on Carter's
Mountain.
Most of the 7.827 acre parcel for the tower and transmitter building
will be cleared, and trees will be cleared around the guy wires
so that a tree will not fall over the guy wires.
The tower will be available for use by third parties for airwave
reception and transmission purposes and will involve the installation
of reception and broadcast antennae and dishes. The transmitter
building and tower will be large enough to accommodate reasonably
foreseeable uses by third parties, including those third parties
who have already expressed an interest in locating reception and
transmission facilities on the site. The applicant proposes to
install this shared tower/site facility to avoid proliferation
of structures in a random fashion.
SUMMARY OF RELEVANT FACTORS:
1. The tower will not be of substantial detriment to adjoining
properties (property value; proximity to dwellings): There
are no dwellings located in the area, therefore proximity
to dwellings is not a factor. Due to the close proximity
to the existing antenna farm, property values would not be
affected. The property in question is extremely steep and
wooded and would not be appropriate for future residential
or commercial development.
2. The tower would not change the character of the district
(esthetics and visibility; industrial appearance): The CVET
tower would be located within the existing cluster of towers
on Carter's Mountain and would not create any different visual
appearance from any point in Albemarle County from which the
tower may be seen. The antennae and micro -wave dishes to
be located on the tower will be of the same character as those
presently located on Carter's Mountain and thus the overall
visual effect will not be changed. Attached is a copy of
a topographical map section showing existing towers and the
proposed new tower. Photographs of the Carter's Mountain
area will be submitted, indicating the location of the proposed
CVET tower. The CVET tower will be a seven foot faced guyed
tower and a catalog cut sheet or engineering drawing depicting
the tower will be submitted. The CVET tower will be very
similar in structure to those currently existing on Carter's
Mountain.
The tower would not change the character of the district,
but would merely be adding one tower to an existing field
of towers and the new tower will be no more visible than any
of the existing towers.
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The tower will be painted and lit with a red top beacon light
in accordance with the current Federal Communications Commission
and Federal Aviation Administration requirements. The character
of the area will not be affected by the paint or light due
to the existing tower facilities.
The height of the tower will be the same relative height as
the existing towers on Carter's Mountain and thus the skyline
intrusion effect of the existing tower facilities will not
be changed by the addition of one new tower.
3. The
be in harmon
e and intent
or the Zoning Ordinance including provisions of 5.0
supplementary regulations: As stated previously, the tower
will be located in proximity to existing towers and will
therefore not be located in a random location.
The applicant has already received Federal Aviation
Administration and Federal Communications Commission approval
for an additional tower on Carter's Mountain and documented
verification of this approval will be submitted. The tower
will not be located in proximity to the
Charlottesville -Albemarle Airport.
The tower will not be located closer to any property line
than the height of the tower.
The tower will not endanger the health and safety of workers
and/or residents in the community and will not impair or prove
detrimental to neighboring properties or the development of
same for the reasons previously stated.
The guy wires will all conform to the setback requirements
and no variances will be required. The standard for the guy
wire will be no further than 225 feet from the base of the
tower. The nearest property line will be no closer than 300
feet from the base of the tower.
4. The tower would be in harmony with uses perm
(compatibility to reside
There are no residential
As stated previously, the
uses.
rtial uses; commerci
uses within proximity
tower is in harmony
.tted by right
I intrusion):
of the tower.
with adjoining
5. The tower would be consistent with the public health safety
and welfare (non -ionizing electromagnetic radiation; signal
interference, safety of tower): Several aspects of this
petition are addressed under this criteria.
a) Access: It is anticipated that access will be over
the existing fire tower road which has been recently
upgraded. Access is not particularly important except
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during the initial construction of the tower in order
to transport the tower, crane and construction equipment.
Once the tower is constructed, access will be required
on an infrequent basis. This is an unmanned facility
and the only time access will be required is for periodic
maintenance on a sporadic basis. There is no legal
requirement that the facility be inspected on any regular
basis. It is expected, based on experience with other
facilities, that access will be required, on the average,
once every other week.
If the existing fire road is used, there will be no
mixing of residential and commercial uses since most
of the traffic would be for servicing other broadcast
facilities.
b) Safety of the tower. The tower will be engineered and
constructed to appropriate wind and ice loads and the
engineering information from the tower construction
company will be submitted. Tower collapse is a very
infrequent occurrence. The applicant has provided fall
space around the tower equal to the height of the tower
so that if a collapse occurs, it would not affect
adjoining property. Copies of the plans and calculations
will be submitted to the Building Official as part of
the building permit process and all legal requirements
will be satisfied.
c) Signal Interference. The proposed tower will not
interfere with any existing broadcasts. Please see
attached copy of Cohen and Dippell, P.C. Engineering
Reports dated July and September, 1986.
d) Radio Frequency (RF) Radiation: This matter has also
been addressed in the attached Cohen and Dippell Reports.
All EPA guidelines will be complied with.
6. Benefits to the Public: The applicant desires to construct
the tower to broadcast educational television programs, public
programs (PBS), and events of local interest and to lease
space on the tower to third parties for broadcasting television,
radio, telephone, micro -wave and other airwaves. The tower
is planned in order to improve the reception of educational
and public television, particularly for residents of Albemarle
County who do not have access to a cable television system.
The tower is also designed to make educational and public
television available to more schools by replacing antiquated
equipment. The tower will be designed to provide for the
long-term broadcast tower needs for Albemarle County, with
the thought in mind of reducing the need for new towers in
the future. The applicant has already discussed with several
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third parties the use of the tower by those third .parties
for other broadcast needs. In the absence of the availability
of the proposed tower, these applicants would probably need
to construct their own broadcast facilities.
The public file relating to this application is maintained
at the Jefferson Madison Regional Library Board and contains
information pertaining to the proposed tower. The public
file is available for examination by anyone. The public file
is temporarily located at the office of M. E. Gibson, Jr.,
105-109 E. High Street, Charlottesville, Virginia.
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