HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB200800153 Staff Report 2009-03-25ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT
Project #: Name
ARB- 2008 -153: Keswick Hunt Club (AT &T) Springdale Drive
Review Type
Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan
Parcel Identification
Tax Map 80, Parcel 6A
Location
Located on the Keswick Hunt Club property in the northeast corner of the
intersection of Hunt Club Road and Keswick Road, south of the Rt. 22
Entrance Corridor.
Zoned
Rural Areas (RA), Entrance Corridor (EC)
Owner
Keswick Hunt Club Inc.
Applicant
AT &T, Valerie Long, Williams Mullen (representative)
Magisterial District
Rivanna
Proposal
To construct a telecommunications facility consisting of an 89 foot -tall
wooden pole with associated antennas, ground equipment and fencing.
ARB Meeting Date
April 20, 2009
Staff Contact
Brent Nelson
SITE/PROJECT HISTORY
The ARB has not reviewed any previous proposals for this parcel.
1/20/09: SP 2009 -2, Keswick Hunt Club (AT &T CV333 -Tier II), application received for a Special
Use Permit. A Special Use Permit is required due to the proposal's location within the Southwest
Mountains Historic District. This proposal is tentatively scheduled for review by the Planning
Commission on May 19, 2009.
PROJECT DETAILS
The applicant proposes to establish a telecommunications facility consisting of the following items in an 18' x
30' (540 sf) lease area:
• Proposed wood monopole, 89' tall, height 9' -2" above the top of the reference tree (76' tall Pine).
• Two proposed equipment cabinets on a 10' x 18' 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 exterior to pole, along east side (opposite Route 22 EC).
• Three panel antennas painted SW #6090 Java Brown, each measuring 51.6" (h) x 12.1" (w), installed
with pipe mounts permitting down tilting not to exceed a maximum of 12" between face of pole and
face of antenna. Top elevation of each antenna below top elevation of monopole.
• Lightning rod on top of the monopole, 24" (h) x 1" (d).
Other pertinent information:
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• Access to site provided by an existing gravel driveway leading to a proposed 10' wide gravel drive, all
located inside of a 15' wide ingress /egress easement.
• Proposed 7' -8" tall, 18' x 30' wood fence and gate around the equipment yard.
CONTEXT
The proposed site is located on a parcel in the northeast corner of the intersection of State Route 744, Hunt
Club Road and State Route 731, Keswick Road. The lease area is situated approximately 300' east of the Hunt
Club Road right -of -way in a grove of trees. The surrounding area is rural in character with open agricultural
fields, mixed hardwood forest, large farm estates and single family homes on smaller parcels.
ANALYSIS based on:
Civil Drawings, all with the latest revision date of 1/15/09:
• Sheet T1 Title Sheet
• Sheet A -OA Area Plan
• Sheet A -0 Site Plan
• Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation
• Sheet A -2 Foundation Details & Equipment Specs
• Sheet A -3 Equipment Specs
• Sheet A -4 Equipment Specs and Tree Height Diagram
• Sheet A -5 Details
• Sheet A -6 Antenna Details
• Sheet A -7 Antenna Details
• Sheet A -8 Wood Fence Details
• Sheet A -9 Notes
• Sheet A -10 Notes
• Sheet A -11 Sight Distance Analysis
• Sheet ES -1 Erosion & Sediment Control Details
• Sheet E -1 Electrical Plan
• Sheet E -2 Electrical Details
• Sheet E -3 Electrical Details
• Sheet E -4 Electrical Details
• Sheet E -5 Electrical Details & Notes
• Sheet SP -1 Specifications
• Sheet SP -2 Specifications
• Sheet SP -3 Specifications
Additional Information Provided:
• Photograph: Highway 22 & Hunt Club Rd., View from the Northwest — Showing the Proposed Site
• Photograph: 3630 Louisa Rd., View from the West — Showing the Proposed Site
• Photograph: Country Club, View from the Southeast — Showing the Proposed Site
• Drawing: AT &T Mobility Existing Coverage
• Drawing: AT &T Mobility Site CV333A Coverage
Issue: Visibility
Comments: ARB staff attended a balloon test on March 3, 2009. In an effort to avoid tree branches directly
above the proposed tower location, the balloon was launched from a location approximately 17' southeast of
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the proposed monopole location. The balloon was raised to the same elevation as the proposed pole, 10' 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 the I -64 East/West Entrance Corridor. The balloon
was briefly visible, between breaks in the trees, along a section of Route 22 starting from a point approximately
1,000' east of, to a point approximately 1,000' west of, the intersection with Hunt Club Road. The balloon was
also visible, between breaks in the trees, from a section of Route 22 approximately 1,600' northeast of the site.
In each case, the balloon was sky -lit when it was visible. As a result of the distance from which the balloon was
seen and/or the brief window of its visibility between breaks in the trees, there was not a material difference in
the balloon's visibility as its height was lowered from 10' to 7' above the reference tree. In all cases, the
balloon's visual impact on the corridor was considered minimal. The equipment yard is not expected to be
visible from either Corridor.
Recommendations: None.
Issue: Removal of Existing Trees
Comments: Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation shows 3 existing Pine trees, #206, #207 & #208, each 76'
tall, as being removed if required for construction and otherwise retained if possible. These evergreen trees,
located between the Entrance Corridor and the proposed monopole, adjoin the northwest corner of the
equipment yard and are the same height as the proposed reference tree. Due to their height, location and
evergreen qualities, these trees were likely part of the existing canopy that helped in mitigating the balloon's
visual impact on the Corridor. For that reason, their retention should be considered essential to this proposal.
The applicant is also proposing that the existing 45' tall Red Maple tree and 40' tall Mulberry tree, #213 &
#214 respectively, located approximately 5' south of the equipment yard, will be removed if required for
construction and otherwise retained if possible. These 2 trees, due to their lower height and location, would
have had less, if any, impact on views of the balloon from the EC. While staff would prefer to see all 5 trees
preserved, preservation of the 3 Pine trees is more important; consequently, shifting the location of the
equipment yard southward, with the possibility of losing the Maple and Mulberry as a result, would be a more
appropriate alternative.
Recommendations: Revise all applicable drawings by shifting the location of the equipment yard southward in
an effort to reduce the impact on the drip line and corresponding root system of Pine trees #206, #207 & #208.
Revise all applicable notes in this submission to indicate that these 3 trees are to be retained and protected.
Issue: Pole, Antennas, and Coaxial Cables/Proposed Color
Comments: Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation contains a note indicating that the coaxial cables and
antennas, attached to the pole, shall be painted Sherwin Williams #6090 Java Brown. Elevation 2 /A -1, on the
same sheet, indicates that the proposed monopole would be a wood pole rather than a steel pole. The applicant
has indicated that the property owner requested the wood pole believing its appearance would blend in better
with the surroundings. The color of a wood pole, when first installed, can vary from a very light tan to a
medium brown color. To ensure that the pole color would blend with the surrounding trees as well as the
cables and antennas attached to the pole, the drawing should be revised to call out a specific brown stain for the
pole that is similar to the SW #6090 Java Brown color.
Recommendations: Revise all applicable drawings to indicate the use of a wood stain on the monopole to blend
with the surrounding trees, with a color that is similar to the SW #6090 Java Brown proposed for the coaxial
cables and antennas attached to the pole. Provide a sample of the stain and include on the drawings a reference
to the manufacturer and product ID.
Issue: Tree Drip Line/Tree Protection - Preservation
Comments: Existing tree locations, as shown on Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation, are denoted with the
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use of standard tree symbols, and temporary tree protection is shown around the perimeter of the symbol. The
location of existing canopy drip lines was not included with this submission. Because the extent of a tree's root
system corresponds with the location of the drip line, the full impact of the proposed improvements on the
existing trees cannot be fully assessed.
Recommendations: Revise Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation to show the existing drip lines of all trees
whose canopies are either adjacent to or overlapping all proposed improvements.
Issue: Underground Conduit/ Proposed Grading/Impacts on Existing Trees to Remain
Comments: Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation shows the location of a proposed underground 18"
diameter plastic conduit that would contain the transmission lines connecting the monopole with the ground
equipment. A staff visit to the site made it apparent that the location of the 30' length of underground conduit
would impact the root system of 6 existing pine trees, #216, #217, #218, #231, #232, & #233, designated to
remain, with canopy heights ranging from 68' to 79'. While staff does not believe that it is possible to
sufficiently mitigate the fatal impact of the conduit on the root systems in it's current location, verification
would still be needed from a certified arborist that all proposed grading, and the grading and /or digging
required to install the concrete pad, monopole, and underground power and telephone lines, would not be
detrimental to the health of the other trees that are to remain. 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.
Recommendations: Revise all applicable drawings to show the underground conduit, containing the
transmission lines to the monopole, relocated outside of the drip line and corresponding root system of all
existing trees designated to remain. Provide verification from a certified arborist that all proposed grading, and
the grading and/or digging required to install the concrete pad, monopole, and underground conduit would not
be detrimental to the health of the trees that are to remain. Provide a tree conservation plan, with measures
limiting impacts on existing trees designated to remain.
Issue: Incorrect/Conflicting Information
Comments:
• Note 1, under Project Narrative on Sheet A -10 Notes, indicates the dimensions of the proposed
equipment concrete pad will be 11' -6" wide and 20' long. The note also indicates the top elevation of
the proposed monopole will be 10' above the reference tree. This conflicts with Sheet A -1 Compound
Plan & Elevation which correctly indicates the proposed equipment pad would be 10' wide and 18'
long. It also conflicts with Detail 2/A -4 Tree Height Diagram on Sheet A -4 Equipment Specs & Tree
Heights which correctly shows the top elevation of the monopole 9' -2" above the reference tree.
• Note 16, under Notes on Sheet A -10 Notes states: Vertical cables, wiring and similar attachments
must be contained within the monopole's structure. This conflicts with Detail 2 /A -1 Elevation on
Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation, which correctly states: ProposedAT&T coax cables mounted
at east side of wood pole (away from street) —paint to match wood pole.
Recommendations: Revise Note 1, under Project Narrative on Sheet A -10 Notes, to correctly indicate that the
dimensions on the concrete pad will be 10' wide and 18' long and the top elevation of the proposed monopole
will be 9' -2" above the top of the reference tree. Revise Sheet A -10 by removing note 16 under Notes.
SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion:
1. The anticipated visibility of the monopole from the Entrance Corridor.
2. The impact of possible tree removal.
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3. The impact, by grading and site design, on existing trees designated to remain.
Staff recommends approval of a Certificate of Appropriateness, pending staff administrative approval of the
following conditions:
1. Revise all applicable drawings by shifting the location of the equipment yard southward in an effort to
reduce the impact on the drip line and corresponding root system of Pine trees #206, #207 & #208. Revise
all applicable notes in this submission to indicate that these 3 trees are to be retained and protected.
2. Revise all applicable drawings to indicate the use of a wood stain on the monopole to blend with the
surrounding trees, with a color that is similar to the SW #6090 Java Brown proposed for the coaxial cables
and antennas attached to the pole. Provide a sample of the stain and include on the drawings a reference to
the manufacturer and product ID.
3. Revise Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation to show the existing drip lines of all trees whose canopies
are either adjacent to or overlapping all proposed improvements.
4. Revise all applicable drawings to show the underground conduit, containing the transmission lines to the
monopole, relocated outside of the drip line and corresponding root system of all existing trees designated
to remain. Provide verification from a certified arborist that all proposed grading, and the grading and /or
digging required to install the concrete pad, monopole, and underground conduit would not be detrimental
to the health of the trees that are to remain. Provide a tree conservation plan, with measures limiting
impacts on existing trees designated to remain.
5. Revise Note 1, under Project Narrative on Sheet A -10 Notes, to correctly indicate that the dimensions on
the concrete pad will be 10' wide and 18' long and the top elevation of the proposed monopole will be 9'-
2" above the top of the reference tree. Revise Sheet A -10 by removing note 16 under Notes.
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