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Home My WebLink AboutARB201000002 Review Comments Preliminary Site Plan 2010-03-04ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #: Name ARB: 2010 -02: Singleton (AT &T) Review Type Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan Parcel Identification Tax Map 58A1, Parcel 40F1 Location 2856 Morgantown Road (SR 738), approximately 600' from the intersection of Morgantown Road and Ivy Road (SR 250) Zoned Village Residential (VR), Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner Ann P. Singleton/New Cingular Wireless PCS Applicant AT &T/Williams Mullen, Katherine Carmichael Magisterial District Samuel Miller Proposal To construct a treetop personal wireless service facility with a height of 10' above the reference tree. ARB Meeting Date March 15, 2010 Staff Contact Brent Nelson SITE/PROJECT HISTORY The ARB has not reviewed any previous proposals for this parcel. 1/12/10: SDP 2010 -3, Singleton Property, AT &T, application received for a Preliminary Site Development Plan. A date for the Planning Commission review has not been established at this time. PROJECT DETAILS The applicant proposes to establish a telecommunications facility consisting of the following items in a 20' x 30' (600 sf) lease area: • Proposed steel monopole, painted SW #6090 Java Brown, 69' tall, height 10' above the top of the Reference Tree (11" caliper Ash). • One proposed equipment cabinet and one future generator on an 11.5' x 20' concrete pad located in the lease area. Each cabinet is 4' -23" (w) x 3' (d) x 5' -3" (h). • One panel board and utility rack light. • Coaxial cables. • 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. Other pertinent information: Access to site provided by an existing paved ingress /egress /utility easement. 11" caliper Ash Reference Tree is 57' tall (652.0' driveway located within a proposed 20' wide AMSL). ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 1 CONTEXT The proposed site is located on a parcel adjoining the north side of Morgantown Road (State Route 738), approximately 600' southwest of the intersection with U.S. Route 250W. The lease area is heavily wooded and situated approximately 65' above and 300' south of the Route 250W right -of -way. This section of the Route 250W EC includes a mix of small commercial businesses making up the Village of Ivy, open agricultural fields and patches of mixed hardwood /evergreen forest amongst farms and single family homes. ANALYSIS based on: Civil Drawings. all with the latest revision date of 1/6/10: • Sheet T -1 Title Sheet • Sheet C -1 Survey • Sheet A -0 Site Plan • Sheet A -1 Compound Plan and Elevation • Sheet A -2 Foundation Details • Sheet A -3 Equipment Specs • Sheet A -4 Equipment Specs • Sheet A -5 Tree Heights Diagram • Sheet A -6 Details • Sheet A -7 Notes • Sheet A -8 Notes • Sheet ES -1 Erosion & Sediment Control Details Additional Information Provided: • 4 photographs of a balloon test conducted prior to this submission including: 0 1 photo taken from a section of Route 250W east of the railroad overpass 0 2 photos taken on -site 0 1 photo taken from Owensville Road Photo simulations at 4' above the reference tree including: 0 2 from a section of Route 250W east of the overpass 0 1 from Route 250W adjacent to Duner's Restaurant 0 1 from Morgantown Road just west of the site. Issue: Visibility Comments: ARB staff attended a balloon test on Thursday, February 4, 2010. The balloon was raised from the location of the proposed monopole and to the height of the monopole, 10' above the Reference Tree. The balloon was highly visible and sky -lit from a section of Route 250W east of the railroad overpass. The balloon was oriented directly in front of the viewer and visible for a distance of approximately 650'while descending down the hill, westbound, into the Village of Ivy (see Attachments A & B). Lowering the balloon from 10' to 7' did not result in a material difference in its visibility. The balloon was not visible from points along Route 250W west of the site, and the balloon's visibility from points along Route 250W adjacent to the site was sufficiently mitigated by the wooded area in between. The lease area and associated ground equipment is not expected to be visible. Due to the balloon's high degree of visibility at both the 7' and 10' elevations, staff asked the applicant if ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 2 reducing the monopole height to 4' above the Reference Tree would provide the coverage needed. The applicant indicated that a 4' height would be acceptable; however, the 7' or 10' elevations would be preferable. A second balloon test was conducted on Tuesday, February 23, 2010 with the balloon raised to a height 4' above the Reference Tree. There was not a material difference in the balloon's visibility between the 4' and 7' or 10' elevations from the section of Route 250W east of the overpass, where it was previously viewable (see Attachments A & Q. As with the previous test, the balloon continued to be sky -lit and highly visible along that section of Route 250W. A photo simulation provided by the applicant (see Attachment D) demonstrates the high degree of visibility, and sky -lit appearance, this proposal (at 4' above the Reference Tree) would have from this section of the Corridor. Recommendations: Staff cannot support the proposed monopole at the 4', 7' or 10' elevations above the Reference Tree. Note: Should this application be approved as currently proposed, the issues /comments that follow in this report should be addressed. Issues: Grading/Tree Protection/Tree Conservation Plan & Arborist Report Comments: Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation shows proposed AT &T equipment to be located on an 11.5' x 20' concrete pad inside of the 20' x 30' lease area. Temporary tree protection is shown inside the lease area at the north end and outside of the lease area along the southwest and southeast boundaries. Permanent tree protection is shown just outside of the lease area along the southeast boundary. Sheet A -6 Details contains the drawing Tree Protection Details showing several types of tree protection; however, this application does not indicate which type is to be temporary and which is to be permanent. Proposed grading required, if any, is not indicated on the drawing. Possible impacts on the trees by the proposed pad and monopole are not clear from the information provided with this application. Verification is needed from a certified arborist that all proposed grading and the construction of the concrete pad and monopole would not be detrimental to the health of the trees designated as remaining. 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. Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation references an arborist's conservation plan; however, that plan was not included with this submission. Recommendations: Revise all applicable drawings to indicate which type of tree protection is to be temporary, which is to be permanent and what grading, if any, is proposed. Provide verification from a certified arborist that the location of the proposed concrete equipment pad, monopole and all required grading will not harm the existing trees currently designated as remaining. Provide a tree conservation plan with measures proposed that would limit impacts of this proposal on all existing trees designated as remaining. Issues: Leyland Cypress Trees Comments: Sheet A -1 Compound Plan & Elevation shows a double staggered row of Leyland Cypress trees, approximately 5' on center, along the northwest boundary of the lease area. These trees are not expected to be visible from the Route 250W EC and their purpose is to visually screen the equipment compound from the residence on the same parcel. Leyland Cypress trees have a limited root ball size leaving them at high risk for falling over in severe weather. They are also at high risk for Seiridium Canker which can severely damage the tree's appearance. Virginia Red Cedars, a native plant material found nearby, 10' on center, would be a more suitable alternative. Recommendations: Consider replacing the proposed double staggered row of Leyland Cypress trees with Virginia Red Cedars, 10' on center, located in an irregular, natural pattern, as permitted by the limits of the planting area. ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 3 SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Staff recommends the following as the primary points of discussion: 1. Anticipated visibility of the monopole from the Entrance Corridor. 2. Impacts, by grading and site design, on the reference tree and other existing trees designated to remain. Staff does not recommend approval of the proposed telecommunications facility at the 4', 7' and 10' elevations above the Reference Tree. If the proposed facility is approved, the following comments would need to be addressed. 1. Revise all applicable drawings to indicate which type of tree protection is to be temporary, which is to be permanent and what grading, if any, is proposed. Provide verification from a certified arborist that the location of the proposed concrete equipment pad, monopole and all required grading will not harm the existing trees currently designated as remaining. Provide a tree conservation plan with measures proposed that would limit impacts of this proposal on all existing trees designated as remaining. 2. Consider replacing the proposed double staggered row of Leyland Cypress trees with Virginia Red Cedars, 10' on center, located in an irregular, natural pattern, as permitted by the limits of the planting area. ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 4 Attachment A ARB 10 -2: AT &T — Singleton Balloon Test - Location Map ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 5 Attachment B t 7 r E 8: 0 U iU� O N O O .. y O bA H � O N O � 1R. ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 6 Attachment C 0 0 0 O v a w � � w a� 0 0 an E� Ct N � O �G ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 7 Attachment D Photo Simulation at 4' above Reference Tree — Location 1 ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 8 Attachment E Photo Simulation at 4' above Reference Tree — Location 2 ARB 3/15/2010 Singleton (AT &T), Preliminary - Page 9