HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200800084 Review Comments Preliminary Site Plan 2008-07-15ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB- 2008 -84: Mill Creek (AT &T)
Review Type
Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 91, Parcel 1
Location
1737 Avon Street Extended: Located on the east side of Avon Street
Extended, approximately 860 feet south of the intersection with Mill Creek
Drive.
Zoned
R1 Residential (R1), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner
Albemarle County Service Authority
Applicant
Byron Scyzgial
Magisterial District
Scottsville
Proposal
To modify an existing monopole and to add additional ground equipment,
utilities, and related cables.
ARB Meeting Date
July 21, 2008
Staff Contact
Brent Nelson
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
Current Development had not received a Site Development Plan for this proposal at the time this
report was written.
May 15, 2000: ARB —P (BP)- 2000 -05, CV309 — Avon Extended Monopole, Final Review of a Site
Development Plan to add 6 panel antennas at the 70' elevation of an existing 80' monopole.
Administrative approval with the following conditions granted:
1. The proposed antennae should be located such that the distance from the face of the pole to
the outside face of the antennae is no greater than 1/2 the diameter of the pole at the point of
attachment, not exceeding 12 ".
2. All equipment mounted to the pole shall be painted or otherwise treated to match the pole in
color.
3. Work with staff on the color and landscape screening of the equipment shelter.
Note: Subsequent to the meeting, staff determined that base equipment would not be
visible from the EC, and that a cabinet color in a brown shade to match the existing
cabinet would be appropriate.
January 21, 1997: ARB- F(SDP)- 96 -03, Sprint Cellular, Avon Street Extended Monopole, Final
Review of a Site Development Plan for a personal wireless facility. Certificate of Appropriateness
granted with conditions that the tower be painted flat gray and that no lighting be installed without
ARB approval. This approval included the platform with the 12 antennas that is currently located on
top of the monopole.
ARB 7/21/2008 Mill Creek (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 1
• December 11, 1996: SP96 -04, Sprint Cellular. The Board of Supervisors approved the request with
the following conditions.
1. Tower height shall not exceed 100 feet (80 foot monopole with 20 foot antennae/lightning
rod).
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,
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. A
modification of Section 4.10.3.1 has been granted to allow location of the tower closer to the
property line than the height of the tower.
6. The tower shall be disassembled and removed from the site within 90 days of the
discontinuance of the use of the tower for cellular communications purposes.
Marchl8, 1996: ARB -F (SDP)- 96 -03, Sprint Cellular, Avon Street Extended Monopole, Preliminary
Review of a Site Development Plan and Advisory Review of a Special Use Permit for a Personal
Wireless Service Facility. The ARB indicated they could not support the request unless the height of
the tower was lowered to conform to the existing tree line. Comments concerning the Site
Development Plan were provided for the benefit of the applicant's next submission.
PROJECT DETAILS
The applicant proposes to modify an existing monopole located in a fenced (60' x 68') telecommunications
facility located at 1737 Avon Street Extended. The proposal includes a 10' x 16' lease area (for ground
equipment) within the existing compound.
• Existing tower structure:
0 80' tall with 20' tall lightning rod; total height 100'.
o Twelve panel antennas on a platform located at the 80' elevation.
0 6 panel antennas mounted on the monopole, three at the 70' elevation and 3 below that
elevation, all extending no more than 12" from the monopole.
• Proposed tower /equipment yard modification:
o Existing 20' tall lightning rod to be removed.
0 14' tall monopole extension with 2' tall lightning rod added to the existing 80' structure; total
height 96'.
0 3 flush mounted antennas to be located just below the top of the monopole extension, each
measuring 51.9" (h) x 12.7" (w) x 2.8" (d).
o Proposed monopole extension, including lightning rod and antennas, to be painted SW #6090
Java Brown.
• Two proposed equipment cabinets on a proposed 10' x 16' concrete pad located in the lease
area. Each cabinet is 4' -3" (w) x 3' (d) x 5' -3" (h).
• One AC Breaker & Panel Board
CONTEXTNISIBILITY
The existing monopole is located on the southeast side of Avon Street Extended, approximately 860' south of
the intersection with Mill Creek Drive. The monopole is sited approximately 440' south of the Avon Street
Extended right -of -way, behind (east of) an existing RWSA water tank. The Avon Street Extended Entrance
ARB 7/21/2008 Mill Creek (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 2
Corridor consists of a mixture of commercial, industrial, and residential uses. Cale Elementary School is
located approximately 400' south of this site. The existing monopole and antennas are clearly visible from
multiple areas along the EC, north and south of the site. The ground equipment is not visible from the EC.
ANALYSIS based on Civil Drawings (all with a latest revision date 4/21/08):
• Sheet CV375A -T -1 "Title Sheet"
• Sheet CV375A -A -0 "Site Plan"
• Sheet CV375A -A -1 "Compound Plan and Elevation"
• Sheet CV375A -A -2 "Equipment Layout"
• Sheet CV375A -A -3 "Foundation Details & Equipment Specs."
• Sheet CV375A -A -4 "Equipment Specs."
• Sheet CV375A -A -5 "Antenna Details"
• Sheet CV375A -A -6 "Antenna Details"
• Sheet CV375A -A -7 "Antenna Details"
• Sheet CV375A -A -8 "Notes"
• Sheet CV375A -E -1 "Electrical Plan"
• Sheet CV375A -E -2 "Electrical Details"
• Sheet CV375A -E -3 "Electrical Details"
• Sheet CV375A -E -4 "Electrical Notes"
• Sheet CV375A -SP -1 "Specifications"
• Sheet CV375A -SP -2 "Specifications"
Issue: Visibility /Sky -lit Appearance
Comments: The existing 80' tall monopole, with a platform on top containing 12 antennas, is highly visible
from multiple points along the Avon Street Extended Entrance Corridor. When visible, the facility is sky -lit.
The existing 20' tall lightning rod, extending from the top of the monopole, is scarcely visible from the EC due
to its small diameter. Photo simulations provided by the applicant (see attachment) demonstrate that the
proposed 14' extension of the monopole with antennas would be highly visible, extending above the existing
adjacent trees. These photos demonstrate that there is a material difference in the visibility of the existing
monopole at 80' and the modified /extended monopole at 94' due to the diameter of the monopole extension.
Visibility of the modified/extended monopole is expected to have a negative impact on the EC. Revising the
application to show all proposed antennas as flush mount designs on the existing monopole could eliminate the
negative impacts on the EC; however, staff realizes that the technological requirements may not allow this.
Should this application be approved, as currently proposed, the issues /comments that follow in this report
should be addressed.
Recommendations: Revise the proposal by removing the proposed 14' extension of the existing monopole.
Issue: Monopole Extension and Related Equipment/Colors
Comments: The applicant's memo accompanying this submission indicated that the tower extension and
equipment was to be painted SW #6090 Java Brown. The proposed color was not noted in the civil drawings
provided with this submission. The existing monopole and equipment is a medium gray color. The existing
gray color is an appropriate color for mitigating the appearance of a facility that is sky -lit. Painting the
monopole improvements Java Brown would make them stand out more and would not meet the 1997 ARB
conditions of approval. Following the May 15, 2000 review of the existing facility, it was determined by staff
that despite its lack of visibility, it would be appropriate for the ground equipment to be painted a brown shade
ARB 7/21/2008 Mill Creek (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 3
in order to make it blend with the surroundings.
Recommendations: Revise the civil drawings to indicate that the proposed monopole extension and all attached
equipment shall be painted or otherwise treated to match the existing structure in color. Revise the drawings to
indicate that all proposed ground equipment is to be painted a brown color to match the color of the existing
ground cabinets.
Issue: Monopole /Coaxial Cables/Top Diameter /Antenna Offset Distance
Comments: The County's Personal Wireless Policy requires that the top diameter of a Tier 2 monopole, such as
this one, not exceed 18 ". The policy also requires that offset distance from the face of the antenna to the face of
the monopole not exceed 12" at any point. The top diameter of the monopole extension was not indicated in
this submission. The policy also requires that the monopole be constructed so that the vertical cables, wiring
and similar attachments be contained within the monopole's structure. Currently, such wiring is attached to the
outside of the monopole. Whereas locating vertical cable and wires within the monopole structure is more
appropriate, the impact, on the EC, of wires attached to the outside of the proposed monopole extension are
expected to be negligible.
Recommendations: Revise the civil drawings to indicate the top diameter of the monopole extension. The
County's Personal Wireless Policy requires that the top diameter not exceed 18 ". Revise Sheet CV375A -A -5
Antenna Details by revising existing note Antennas will not stand off pole more than 12 " to read The offset
distance from the face of the antenna to the face of the monopole shall not exceed 12 " at any point.
Issue: Lighting
Comments: This submission did not indicate whether or not additional exterior lighting is proposed. If it is not
proposed, a note should be added to Sheet CV375A -A -1 Compound Plan and Elevation indicating that no
additional exterior lighting is proposed. If additional exterior lighting is proposed, that sheet should be revised
to show the location and include a note stating The proposed light fixture will be shielded in accordance with
Albemarle County requirements and operated by motion sensor. All proposed lighting is for temporary
maintenance and security use only.
Recommendations: If no additional exterior lighting is proposed, add a note to Sheet CV375A -A -1 Compound
Plan and Elevation indicating that no additional exterior lighting is proposed. If additional exterior lighting is
proposed, revise Sheet CV375A -A -1 Compound Plan and Elevation to show the location, with the following
note added to the drawing The proposed light fixture will be shielded in accordance with Albemarle County
requirements and operated by motion sensor. All proposed lighting is for temporary maintenance and security
use only.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as a primary point of discussion:
1. Anticipated visibility of the proposed monopole extension from the EC.
2. Anticipated impact of the monopole extension.
Staff does not recommend approval of the proposed extension of the existing monopole. If the proposed
monopole extension is approved, the following comments would need to be addressed.
1. Revise the civil drawings to indicate that the proposed monopole extension and all attached equipment
shall be painted or otherwise treated to match the existing structure in color. Revise the drawings to
indicate that all proposed ground equipment is to be painted a brown color to match the color of the
existing ground cabinets.
ARB 7/21/2008 Mill Creek (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 4
2. Revise the civil drawings to indicate the top diameter of the monopole extension. The County's Personal
Wireless Policy requires that the top diameter not exceed 18 ".
3. If no additional exterior lighting is proposed, add a note to Sheet CV375A -A -1 Compound Plan and
Elevation indicating that no additional exterior lighting is proposed. If additional exterior lighting is
proposed, revise Sheet CV375A -A -1 Compound Plan and Elevation to show the location, with the
following note added to the drawing The proposed light fixture will be shielded in accordance with
Albemarle County requirements and operated by motion sensor. All proposed lighting is for temporary
maintenance and security use only.
ARB 7/21/2008 Mill Creek (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 5
ARB 7/21/2008 Mill Creek (AT &T), Attachment A - Page 6