HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200800176 Staff Report Preliminary Site Plan 2009-01-23ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB- 2008 -176: Piedmont College (Alltel)
Review Type
Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 77, Parcel 25
Location
1800 Monticello Ave: Located in the northwest corner of the intersection
of Interstate 64 and Scottsville Road (Route 20S).
Zoned
Rural Areas (RA), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner
University of Virginia Foundation
Applicant
Alltel Communications, Kimberly Selz
Magisterial District
Scottsville
Proposal
To construct a Tier II telecommunications facility consisting of a 90 foot -
tall monopole with associated flush mounted antennas, ground equipment
and fencing.
ARB Meeting Date
February 2, 2009
Staff Contact
Brent Nelson
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
The proposed telecommunications facility is to be located on Parcel 25 of Tax Map 77. That parcel is
bisected by Interstate 64 and Route 20S, with the proposed facility located on the section of the parcel
north of 1 -64. The ARB has not reviewed any previous proposals for that section of the parcel. The
larger section of the parcel, located south of 1 -64, was the location of the Blue Ridge Hospital.
12/11/08: SDP 2008 -180, Piedmont College — Alltel, application received for a Final Site Development
Plan. This proposal is tentatively scheduled for review by the Planning Commission on February 17,
2009.
PROJECT DETAILS
The applicant proposes to establish a telecommunications facility consisting of the following items in a 40' x
40' (1600 sf) lease area:
• Proposed steel monopole, painted SW Java Brown #6090, 90' tall, height 7' above the top of the
reference tree (16" caliper Pecan Tree).
• Two proposed equipment cabinets, each on a separate concrete pad located in the lease area. Each
cabinet is 4' -11" (w) x 4' -2" (d) x 5' -10" (h).
• One AC breaker & panel board.
• Coaxial cables, internal to pole.
• Three panel antennas painted SW Java Brown #6090, each measuring 47.4" (h) x 11.2" (w) x 5" (d),
installed with pipe mounts permitting down tilting not to exceed a maximum of 12" between the face
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of the pole and the face of the antenna. Top elevation of each antenna is below top elevation of
monopole.
Other pertinent information:
• Access to site provided by an existing paved driveway that leads into a proposed 20' wide
ingress /egress easement.
• Proposed 8' tall, 36' x 36' chain link fence and gate around the equipment yard.
• 16" Pecan reference tree is 83' tall.
CONTEXT
The proposed site is located on a parcel in the northwest corner of the I- 64/Route 20S interchange. The lease
area is situated at the edge of the lawn surrounding an existing residential structure, at an elevation
approximately 45' above the adjoining section of Route 20S. The surrounding area is both urban and rural in
character with open agricultural fields, mixed hardwood forest, single and attached family homes, and
developments that include Piedmont Virginia Community College.
ANALYSIS based on:
Civil Drawings, all with the latest revision date of 11/19/08:
• Sheet T1 Title Sheet
• Sheet N1 General Notes
• Sheet N2 Alltel General Notes
• Sheet C 1 Location Map
• Sheet C2 Site Plan
• Sheet C3 Site Layout
• Sheet C4 Tower Elevation
• Sheet C5 Compound Detail
• Sheet C6 Equipment Plan
• Sheet C7 Cabinet Elevation
• Sheet C8 Framing Plan
• Sheet C9 Service Rack Details
• Sheet C10 Ice Bridge Details
• Sheet C 11 Grading Plan
• Sheet C12 Fence Details
• Sheet E1 Electrical Notes
• Sheet E2 One -line Elevation
• Sheet E3 Power/Telco Plan
• Sheet E4 Grounding Plan
• Sheet E5 Grounding Schematic
• Sheets E6 — E10 Grounding Details
• Sheet L -1 Location Map (showing revised balloon launch location), latest revision date 1/9/09
Additional Information Provided:
• Proposal Description: Tier H Personal Wireless Service Facility, Alltel Communications, "Piedmont
College " -UVA Foundation Property, received 12/11/08
• Owner's Letter of Authority, received 12/11/08
• Lighting Cutsheet: Hubbell, DFS Series, Decorative Flood
• Letter from John M. Jeffers, ISA Certified Arborist, date 11/14/08
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Issue: Visibility
Comments: ARB staff attended a balloon test on January 9, 2009. In an effort to avoid tree branches directly
above the proposed tower location, the balloon was launched from a location approximately 30' southeast of
the proposed monopole location. The balloon was raised to the same elevation as the proposed pole, 7' above
the reference tree. Staff considers the location of the balloon launch a sufficient approximation of the pole
location. The balloon was not visible from any point along 1 -64 west of the interchange with Route 205. The
balloon was visible and sky -lit from the westbound lane of I -64 at the approach to the Route 20S/Monticello
Avenue exit, just east of the interchange with Route 205. The balloon was visible and sky -lit from the section
of Route 20S between the entrance to Piedmont Community College and the I -64 interchange. At the proposed
elevation, 7' above the reference tree, the proposed monopole is not expected to have an adverse impact on
either the I -64 or Route 20S Entrance Corridors due to its limited visibility. It is anticipated that the limited
visibility of the monopole will be noticeably reduced while the trees are in full foliage. The ground equipment
is not expected to be visible from either Corridor.
Recommendations: None.
Issue: Tree Drip Line/Tree Protection - Preservation
Comments: The drawings included in this submission do not show the drip line of the existing 16" caliper
Pecan reference tree. As a result, it is not possible to assess the complete impact of this proposal upon that tree.
Sheet C -11 Grading Plan indicates that some proposed grading (filling) will occur at the west end of the lease
area in the vicinity of this tree. The limits of grading and clearing and the method and location of tree
protection for this proposal were not indicated in this submission. The arborist's report, included with this
submission, indicates that the proposal can be constructed without harming the reference tree; suggested
measures to protect the tree are mentioned in the letter. A tree conservation plan, with measures limiting
impacts on existing trees to remain, will need to be submitted and approved before the Certificate of
Appropriateness can be issued. The protection measures suggested in the arborist's report should be included
on that drawing.
Recommendations: Revise Sheet C -11 Grading Plan to show the drip line of the 16" Pecan reference tree.
Revise the drawing to show the limits of grading and clearing and the location and method of tree protection
proposed. For maximum protection, tree protection must be located at the drip line of the tree. Include a tree
conservation plan with measures, including those outlined in the arborist's report, limiting impacts on all trees
to remain, including the 16" Pecan reference tree.
Issue: Electric/Telephone Service/Proposed Location
Comments: The location of the proposed electric and telephone underground conduit, to service this facility,
was not included in this submission. Sheet E -3 Power/Telco Plan and One -Line Diagram contains the note:
The exact routing of the power and telco conduits are to be verified with the local utility companies prior to
any trenching. Sheet C -2 Site Plan and C -3 Site Layout need to be revised to show the location of the utility
trench, demonstrating that the location is free of any conflicts with the canopy /root system of existing trees,
including the reference tree, that are to remain.
Recommendations: Revise Sheet C -2 Site Plan and Sheet C -3 Site Layout to show the location of the
electric /telephone utility trench, demonstrating that the location is free of any conflicts with the canopy /root
system of existing trees, including the reference tree, that are to remain.
Issue: Missing/Incorrect Information
Comments:
0 The elevations at the top and base of the proposed monopole were not included on the drawings in this
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submission.
• Sheet C -4 Tower Elevation indicates that the proposed lightning rod atop the monopole will be 2' in
height; however, the applicant's description of this proposal in Tier II Personal Wireless Service
Facility, Alltel Communications, "Piedmont College " -UVA Foundation Property states that the rod
will be 4' in height.
• The Albemarle County Personal Wireless Policy states: No antenna shall project from the structure
beyond the minimum required by the mounting equipment, and in no case shall any point on the face
of an antenna project more than twelve (12) inches from the existing structure. Sheet C -4 Tower
Elevation contains the detail Antenna Mount Orientation that correctly shows the distance from the
face of the antenna to the face of the monopole as 12 ". However, Note 5 on this drawing incorrectly
states: Back of antennas shall not be set off face of tower more than 12 " as shown in antenna mount
orientation. This note should be revised to state: Face of antennas shall not be set off face of tower
more than 12" as shown in the antenna mount orientation.
Recommendations:
• Revise Sheet C -4 Tower Elevation to include the elevations at the top and base of the proposed
monopole.
• Revise the application drawings and the written description of the proposal (Tier II Personal Wireless
Service Facility, Alltel Communications, "Piedmont College " -UVA Foundation Property), as needed,
to reflect a single height for the lighting rod.
• Revise Note 5 on Sheet C -4 Tower Elevation to state: Face of antennas shall not be set off face of
tower more than 12" as shown in the antenna mount orientation.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. Anticipated visibility of the monopole from the Corridors.
2. Impacts, by grading and site design, on the reference tree.
Staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness, pending staff administrative approval of the
following conditions:
1. Revise Sheet C -11 Grading Plan to show the drip line of the 16" Pecan reference tree. Revise the drawing
to show the limits of grading and clearing and the location and method of tree protection proposed. For
maximum protection, tree protection must be located at the drip line of the tree. Include a tree conservation
plan with measures, including those outlined in the arborist's report, limiting impacts on all trees to
remain, including the 16" Pecan reference tree.
2. Revise Sheet C -2 Site Plan and Sheet C -3 Site Layout to show the location of the electric /telephone utility
trench, demonstrating that the location is free of any conflicts with the canopy /root system of existing trees,
including the reference tree, that are to remain.
3. Revise Sheet C -4 Tower Elevation to include the elevations at the top and base of the proposed monopole.
4. Revise the application drawings and the written description of the proposal (Tier II Personal Wireless
Service Facility, Alltel Communications, "Piedmont College " -UVA Foundation Property), as needed, to
reflect a single height for the lighting rod.
5. Revise Note 5 on Sheet C -4 Tower Elevation to state: Face of antennas shall not be set off face of tower
more than 12 " as shown in the antenna mount orientation.
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