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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01 10 1995 PC Minutes1-10-95 JANUARY 10, 1995 The Albemarle County Planning Commission held a public hearing on Tuesday, January 10, 1995, Room 7, County Office Building, Charlottesville, Virginia. Those members present were: Ms. Babs Huckle; Mr. Tom Blue, Chair; Mr. Bill Nitchmann; Mr. Bruce Dotson; Mr. Tom Jenkins; and Ms. Monica Vaughan. Other officials present were: Mr Wayne Cilimberg, Director of Planning and Community Development; Mr. Bill Fritz, Senior Planner; and Mr. Larry Davis, County Attorney. Absent: Commissioner Imhoff. The meeting was called to order at 7:00 p.m. and a quorum was established. The minutes of December 20, 1994 were unanimously approved as amended. CONSENT AGENDA Addition to Moorman's River Agricultural/Forestal District - The proposed addition consists of three parcels containing 172,000 acres located on the west side of State Route 821 (Blufton Mill Road) near Millington. Addition to Blue Run At ricultural/Forestal District - The proposed addition consists of one parcel containing 21.670 acres located on the west side of State Route 777 (Vineyard Road) near Barboursville. Addition to Keswick Ag_ricultural/Forestal District - The proposed addition consists of one parcel containing 6.3 acres located on the northwest side of State Route 22 (Louisa Road) near Keswick. Addition to Buck Mountain A ljcultural/Forestal District - The proposed addition consists of one parcel containing 26.890 acres located on the east side of State Route 601 (Free Union Road) near Buck Mountain. The Commission was to receive the applications for the above listed agricultural -forestal districts. MOTION: Mr. Jenkins moved, seconded by Mr. Nitchmann, that the Consent Agenda be approved. The motion passed unanimously. SP-94-35 _ uarr - Direct Monument Company - Proposal to establish a home occupation Class B for monument sales on 7.75 acres zoned RA, Rural Areas [10.2.2(31)]. Property, described as Tax Map 32, parcel 41, is located on the south side of Route 649, approximately 1,200 feet west of Route 29 in the Rivanna Magisterial District. This area is recommended for Office Service in the Community of Hollymead. 11V 1-10-95 Mr. Fritz reported that the applicant was requesting deferral to January 31 st to allow time to resolve access issues. Mr. Dotson asked staff to provide information as to whether or not this activity would be allowed, by right or by special permit, if this land were to be rezoned to one of the districts consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. MOTION: Mr. Nitchmann moved that SP-94-35 be deferred to January 31, 1995. Mr. Jenkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Mr. Davis briefly addressed the question of roll call votes vs. voice votes. He did not feel roll call votes were necessary on procedural matters such as minutes and a deferral such as the one just voted upon. However, on recommendations which go on to the Board of Supervisors, or on formal actions, he felt roll call votes were advisable. SP-94-37Centel Cellular Company of Charlottesville - Proposal to construct a communication tower/antenna and support buildigns on 234.16 acres zoned RA, Rural Areas [10.2.2(6)]. Property, described as Tax Map 91, Parcel 28, is located on the south side of Route 53 on Carter's Mountain. This site is not located in a designated growth area (Rural Area 4). Mr. Fritz presented the staff report. Staff recommended approval, subject to conditions, and also recommended approval of a modification of Section 4.10.3.1 "to allow the height of the tower to be greater than the distance to the property line." The applicant was represented by Mr. Dick Gibson. He described the proposal to locate a 180-foot, self-support tower in the existing tower farm on Carter's Mountain as being "straightforward and non -controversial." The purpose of the tower is continued improvement of cellular service to local cellular users. The new facility will be state-of-the-art with capacity sufficient for Sprint's current and future growth and the applicant will also engineer capacity to accommodate the County emergency system if there should be a need for additional County facilities. This will be one of the shortest towers on Carter's Mountain. Ms.Huckle asked if this tower was in addition to one recently approved off of I-64. Mr. Gibson responded affirmatively. Ms. Huckle asked when satellite service will be available. Mr. Gibson replied: "Not in the foreseeable future for consumers." He explained that satellites are limited in their capacity and very expensive. Mr. Dotson asked how long it is anticipated this tower will meet Sprint's cellular needs. The applicant's Systems Engineer responded to this question: "Probably 3 to 5 years (though) it is hard to say." The engineer described changes that will be occurring in future years. Mr. Dotson asked if these changes would result in a change in the way this tower is used, or will additional towers be needed? Mr. Gibson responded: "As far as this tower is concerned, it 1-10-95 will continue to be used but there may be different equipment on it. There are other towers contemplated for the County that we will be talking to you about in the future." Mr. Gibson confirmed that staff is aware of the applicant's future plans. Ms. Huckle asked if this tower, along with the one recently approved, would eliminate all the "dead spots" in the County. The engineer responded negatively and explained why all the dead spots cannot be eliminated. Mr. Dotson commented that this tower fits the parameters of County policy and appears to be acceptable. However, he expressed concerns about the cumulative effect of towers. He suggested a future work session on this issue, including a review of the applicant's future plans so that the Commission can be better educated. Mr. Cilimberg reported that staff is already working on a report which will be given to the Commission at a later time. There being no public comment, the matter was placed before the Commission. MOTION: Mr. Nitchmann moved that SP-94-37 for Centel Cellular Company of Charlottesville be recommended to the Board of Supervisors for approval subject to the following conditions: 1. Tower height shall not exceed 200 feet. 2. Compliance with Section 5.1.12 of the Zoning Ordinance. 3. There shall be no lighting of the tower unless required by a federal agency. All tower lighting shall be shielded so as to minimize visibility from the ground. 4. Staff approval of additional antennae installation. No administrative approval shall constitute or imply support for or approval of, the location of additional towers, antennae, etc., even if they may be part of the same network or system as any antennae administratively approved under this section. 5. The tower must be designed and adequate separation provided to property lines such that in the event of structural failure, the tower and components will remain within the lease area. 6. Tower shall be located within lease area shown on Attachment C. Mr. Jenkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. MOTION: Mr. Nitchmann moved that a modification of Section 4.10.3.1 be granted for Centel Cellular Company (to allow a reduced setback), subject to approval of SP-94-37 by the Board of Supervisors. Mr. Jenkins seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. 1:Z-? 1-10-95 4 MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Jenkins thanked Ms. Huckle for her service as Chairwoman during 1994. ----------------- Mr. Jenkins reported that he had asked staff to report to him on the total acreage in the drainage basin on the Walton property in Crozet (reviewed by the Commission January 3, 1995). Total acreage in the drainage basin is 69 acres, 29 of which are in the pond. ------------------ Mr. Ntichmann asked staff to define more clearly in the staff report the actions which are requested of the Commission. ------------------ Mr. Dotson asked if Comprehensive Plan maps and Zoning maps can be made a part of staff reports. ------------------- Ms. Huckle felt it would be helpful to have more information about the undeveloped land in the growth area which is already served by water and sewer. ------------------- Referring to a letter she had received, Ms. Huckle asked staff to provide the Commission with some information on Long House. Mr. Cilimberg reported that staff is already looking into this issue. (The content of the letter referred to by Ms. Huckle was not clear.) ----------------------------------------- There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m.