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Home My WebLink AboutARB201000084 Review Comments Preliminary Site Plan 2010-09-28ARCHITECTURAL REVIEW BOARD STAFF REPORT Project #/Name ARB- 2010 -84: Snow's (AT &T) Millcreek Review Type Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan Parcel Identification Tax Map 90, Parcel 35 Location 1995 Snow Point Lane, on the east side of Avon Street Extended, just south of the Snow's Garden Center Zoned Light Industry (LI), Entrance Corridor (EC) Owner/Applicant RDPD LLC/Williams Mullen (Kathryn M. Carmichael) Magisterial District Scottsville Proposal To construct a Tier II personal wireless telecommunications facility consisting of a 77' metal pole with flush - mounted antennas and associated ground equipment. Context The proposed lease area is located on a parcel adjoining the Snow's Garden Center property to the south, set back 516' from the EC. The adjacent property to the east is a heavily developed industrial site. The parcel to the south is wooded, and the area west of the proposed site is characterized by subdivided residential lots. The lease area is heavily wooded, but the portion of the property closer to the EC is characterized by densely spaced office units and fenced storage yards. The adjoining Snow's Garden Center property is also heavily developed, with a nursery, mulch mounds, chain link fencing, large cut stone blocks, and outdoor storage areas. ARB Meeting Date October 4, 2010 Staff Contact Eryn Brennan Project History DATE APPLICATION/D ISCUSSION RESULT 9/20/10 Discussion on As a result of a discussion on the ARB's role in the visibility of telecommunications facilities, the ARB visibility of recommended that the ordinance be changed to provide additional criterion to outline the acceptable telecommunications parameters for the sky - lighting of facilities. The ARB suggested that the criterion provide for some facilities at ARB minimal distance of unobstructed visible sky as backdrop for the monopole. meeting 9/9/10 ARB 2010 -84 — The balloon was launched 10' above the top of the reference tree at the proposed height of the 77' Balloon Test monopole. The balloon was visible for approximately 450' along the EC between the north and south corners of the Snow's Garden Center property. The balloon was also briefly visible between the Project Details • Construct a telecommunications facility on 30' x 30' (900sf) lease area rooflines of the buildings located on the parcel for which the lease area is proposed. Proposed steel monopole, painted SW #6090 Java Brown, 77' tall, height 10' (AMSL) above the top of the Reference Tree (24" caliper, 68' tall Pine) • For both areas of visibility the balloon was not sky -lit; however, the wooded mountain providing the • Proposed utility rack, Y -0" x Y -0" backdrop is located approximately one half of a mile east of the proposed site. At this distance the Proposed 7' tall chain link fence with three strands of barbed wire circumscribing the leased area • wooded backdrop eliminates sky - lighting of the monopole, but it does not allow the pole to blend • Three flush - mounted antennas painted SW #6090 Java Brown, each measuring 4' -2.9" (H) x 1' -0" (W) x 0' -6.5" (D), installed with brackets 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. seamlessly with the landscape. Access to the site provided by an existing gravel pathway through the Snow's Garden Center on parcel adjacent to the north. Additional 10' wide approximately 80' long gravel road proposed to be constructed from the adjacent parcel to the proposed lease area on subject parcel. SDP 2010 -6 Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan currently under review by Current Development. 5/1/07 ARB 2007 -17 Certificate of Appropriateness approved to install a sign for Snow's Storage Yard on the property. 3/1/07 ARB 2002 -31 Certificate of Appropriateness approved for a minor amendment to install screening fences and make changes to the proposed landscape plan. ARB 2001 -54 Approval to construct eight office and storage buildings on the parcel. 10/18/01 ARB 2001 -38 Preliminary Review of a Site Development Plan to construct eleven offices and storage yards on the parcel. Project Details • Construct a telecommunications facility on 30' x 30' (900sf) lease area • Proposed steel monopole, painted SW #6090 Java Brown, 77' tall, height 10' (AMSL) above the top of the Reference Tree (24" caliper, 68' tall Pine) • Proposed AT &T Equipment Mobilit Shelter, 11' -6" x 20' -0" • Proposed utility rack, Y -0" x Y -0" • Proposed 7' tall chain link fence with three strands of barbed wire circumscribing the leased area • One locust, two pine, one poplar, and one locust tree are proposed to be removed • Three flush - mounted antennas painted SW #6090 Java Brown, each measuring 4' -2.9" (H) x 1' -0" (W) x 0' -6.5" (D), installed with brackets 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. • Access to the site provided by an existing gravel pathway through the Snow's Garden Center on parcel adjacent to the north. Additional 10' wide approximately 80' long gravel road proposed to be constructed from the adjacent parcel to the proposed lease area on subject parcel. ANALYSIS FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF APPROPRIATENESS FOR THE GROUND EQUIPMENT AND BASE STATION A Certificate of Appropriateness from the ARB is required for the base equipment portion of a proposed telecommunications facility in the Entrance Corridors. The ARB may impose conditions on the Certificate of Appropriateness, based on the EC Guidelines, and consistent with Section 5.1.40 of the Zoning Ordinance. REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION Compatibility with significant historic sites: 33 Accessory structures and equipment Although the character of the site is industrial and None. 17 The following should be screened to eliminate Due to the distance from the EC, the lower elevation None. visibility from the Entrance Corridor street: of the proposed lease area, and the wooded character be as follows: of the site in this particular area, neither the e. Mechanical equipment, mechanical equipment nor the 7' tall chain link g. Chain link fence, barbed wire, razor wire, fence is expected to be visible from the EC; and similar security fencing devices. therefore, no additional screening is required. ANALYSIS REGARDING VISIBILITY OF THE MONOPOLE The ARB may act in an advisory capacity to the Planning Commission on the Planning Commission's determination as to whether the facility is being sited to minimize its visibility. REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION Development pattern 33 The relationship of buildings and other Although the character of the site is industrial and None. structures to the Entrance Corridor street and to the site contains visual distractions, the view across other development within the corridor should the site to the wooded Carter's Mountain is quite be as follows: scenic and representative of vistas in Albemarle County. The distance from the proposed pole to the f. The placement of structures on the site wooded backdrop is great. So, although the pole is should respect existing views and vistas on and not expected to be sky -lit, the pole will be around the site. discernible from the backdrop and recognizable as another visual distraction on the site. Should the ARB determine that the distance from the pole to the backdrop is an issue such that the location of the facility does not minimize visibility from the EC, the ARB could advise the Planning Commission that the 3 REF GUIDELINE ISSUE RECOMMENDATION pole would constitute an adverse visual impact and recommend additional measures for mitigation. Mitigation could take the form of trees added along the EC to help break up the open view of the monopole while maintaining the distant view of the mountain. Such planting along this stretch of the corridor would also bring the corridor more into conformance with the EC Guidelines. It should be noted, however, that there may be utility conflicts along the EC in this area (so plant size and species would have to be carefully considered) and a planting easement would be required. SUMMARY OF RECOMMENDATIONS Regarding the Certificate of Appropriateness for the ground equipment and base station: Because the proposed facility is consistent with all applicable guidelines, staff recommends approval of the Certificate of Appropriateness as proposed. Regarding visibility of the monopole: Should the ARB determine that the distance from the pole to the backdrop affects the visibility of the monopole so as to create an adverse visual impact, and therefore find that the proposed location of the facility does not minimize visibility from the EC, the ARB could advise the applicant as follows and forward this information to the Planning Commission: The ARB finds that the proposed location of the facility does not minimize visibility from the EC and that the monopole would have an adverse visual impact on the Entrance Corridor, and recommends that trees be added along the Corridor to help break up the open view of the monopole to mitigate the visibility. 2 APPENDIX A This report is based on the following submittal items: Sheet # Drawing Name Drawing Date/Revision Date T -1 Title Sheet 8/9/10 N -1 through N -3 General Notes 8/9/10 SP -1 Survey Plat 6/8/10 SP -2 Area Map 515110 C -1 through C -8 Site Plan Drawings 8/9/10 E -1 through E -7 Electrical Drawings 8/9/10