HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP198600009 Staff Report 1986-05-06SP-86-09 Virginia Power -,Virginia Power petitions the F rd of Supervisors
to issue a special use rmit for location of a microwa� communications
facility (Sec. 24.2.2.6) on 17.2 acres zoned HC, Highwav Commercial.
Property, described as Tax Map 76, parcel 55, is located in the northwest
quadrant of the I-64/Fifth Street interchange in the Scottsville Magisterial
District.
Mr. Keeler gave the staff report. He concluded his report with the following
statement: "They've analyzed a number of alternatives.- Either you have
very high costs or you still have the need for towers either in the city,
the county or on Bear Den Mountain. So, in our (staff) opinion, the most
practical and reasonable approach, is to approve the application as they
have requested."
It was determined the tower would not be "guyed."
The Chairman invited applicant comment.
Mr. Richard Gottlieber, Manager of Telecommunications for Virginia Power,
addressed the Commission. He presented a drawing of the proposed tower.
He stated the tower would be a self-supporting concrete pole, 153 feet tall.
He stated the tower was designed for "hurricane loading" (110 mph winds).
Mr. Gottlieber was not familiar with the engineering details of the tower
but stated they could be provided.
Responding to Mr. Bowerman's concern about the safety factor of the tower,
Mr. Keeler stated the tower would come under a special provision of the BOCA \
Code which required that it be designed for 1�2 times the loading. He
suggested that condition l.d. could be amended to read: "Building official
approval with particular attention to windloading and other adverse
environmental conditions."
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May 6, 1986 Page 5
It was determined the tower would be highly visable from I-64, but should not
^' be visable from Rt. 20.
The Chairman invited public comment.
Mr. Bervard Hosticka addressed the Commission and expressed concern about
anti-aircraft lighting that might be required on the tower. Mr. Gottlieber
stated the tower will comply with FAA requirements, but that since it will
be under 200 feet tall, no FAA lighting will be required.
There being no further public comment, the matter was placed before the
Commission.
Mr. Michel recalled that there had been no mention of a tower at the time
of the original site plan for the site.
Mr. Keeler stated that originally Virginia Power had planned to locate on
Berkmar Drive and the tower had been discussed at that time and was shown
on the plan, but it wasn't discussed in the report.
Ms. Diehl indicated she found it disturbing that the Commission had not
been aware of this proposal and that the tower had been added after a
site plan had been approved. She felt the "visual quality of the area
would be significantly altered" and since there were other alternatives
she was not in favor of the proposal.
i Referring to the minutes of the meeting at which the site plan had been
approved, Mr. Cogan pointed out that there had been specific concern
about visual impact at that time and that concern could not now be
ignored. He stated he could not support the installation of this structure.
Mr. Michel stated he had to believe that the applicant was aware that
"this need was coming."
Mr. Gould indicated he agreed with Commissioners Diehl and Cogan.
Mr. Diehl moved that SP-86-09 for Virginia Power be recommended to the Board
of Supervisors for denial.
Mr. Gould seconded the motion.
Discussion:
Responding to Mr. Bowerman's question as to why the other alternatives were
not as reliable, Mr. Gottlieber stated, "From a reliability standpoint, we
feel that it is critical that we maintain our own private communications
network to this site. It will be the center of our division operations
and will be the hub of all of our service restoration. From a reliability
standpoint, I think 99.8% vs. 85% in some facilities --we cannot operate
under arise conditions. It is important that we get the microwave facilities
and I would urge you to approve our application on that basis."