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Home My WebLink AboutSDP201200065 Legacy Document 2013-01-03 (2)VERIZON Wi..ELESS: CROSSROADS (SHIFFLEI PROPERTY) TIER II PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITY ADDITION OF A NEW EMERGENCY POWER BACK -UP GENERATOR Project Description: Alltel Communications LLC, trading as Verizon Wireless, respectfully requests approval to allow the installation 'of an emergency power back -up generator at an existing Personal Wireless Service Facility ( "PWSF" or "Facility ") on property identified in Albemarle County records as Tax Map 87 / Parcel 7A (the "Property "). Due to the fact that a well serving the dwelling on this property is located approximately 100 feet away, the generator will be fueled using and above ground propane tank instead of diesel fuel. This site is located in the Samuel Miller Magisterial District of Albemarle County, off of Monacan Trail Road (US Route 29) approximately 1/3 -mile north of the intersection with Plank Road (State Route 692) and it is addressed as 3456 Monacan Trail Road. The proposed generator and its propane tank will both be located within a 17' x 20' expansion of the existing 20' x 20' lease area that surrounds the site. For safety purposes, the facility will be enclosed within a 7' high wood fence that will prevent trespassers from accessing the propane tank as well as screening all ground equipment from adjacent parcels and the property owners' home. The ability to access reliable communications lines is often magnified in emergencies and proposed generator and its supporting tank will be necessary to keep the site on -air after large storms and other incidents might disrupt power for extended periods. This need for access to wireless communications such as Cellular and PCS for voice as well as mobile data services is very important, as most home -based communication devices such as landline phones and modems require a constant connection to a domestic AC power source. Character of the Area: The existing PWSF is located in a wooded area approximately 480 feet east of the right -of -way for Monacan Trail Road, at the foot of a mountain to the west. Access is provided to this site using an existing driveway that serves provides access to this Verizon Wireless / Alltel site and another facility owned by nTelos. Verizon Wireless' existing monopole and existing equipment is located approximately 86 feet from the nearest property line to the west. The area surrounding the existing PWSF has several trees that screen the facility from views off of the property. Trees that are situated upslope from the site also provide an extensive amount of backdrop to help assist in camouflaging the monopole when viewed from south. Compliance with Tier II Criteria (Section 5.1.40 of the Zoning Ordinance): This facility was originally approved for Alltel with a special use permit prior to the adoption of Section 5.1.40. However, Verizon Wireless was recently allowed to extend the monopole in order to allow the installation of new antennas for the LTE (4G) service with the approval of a by -right Tier II application. Most of the other facilities that were approved in a similar manner included the installation of emergency back -up generators. However, due to the size of the lease area that was originally held by Alltel, the currently proposed generator addition was not shown on the drawings that were approved with the monopole extension. Since then, Verizon Wireless and the property owner have come to a full agreement on the lease expansion compound as shown on the attached drawings. Verizon Wireless is submitting a tree conservation plan, completed by Dave Rosene, a Certified Arborist in order to confirm that no trees will be removed or otherwise adversely impacted by the expansion of the leased area. Verizon Wireless Page 1 Crossroads Tier II (Generator) Both the generator and propane .....ik will be screened within the proposeda . .,00den fence and neither will be visible from off of the property. Subsection 5.1.40(c)(9) of the Zoning Ordinance addresses the fencing of PWSFs as follows: Any equipment cabinet not located within an existing building shall be fenced only with the approval of the agent upon finding that the fence: (i) would protect the facility.from trespass in areas of high volumes of vehicular or pedestrian traffic or, in the rural areas, to protect the.facility from livestock or wildlife; (ii) would not be detrimental to the character of the area; and (iii) would not be detrimental to the public health, safety or general welfare. Conclusion: Verizon Wireless is confident that the modification of this existing wireless communications facility as proposed complies with the criteria for approval of a Tier II PWSF, which are geared toward mitigating visual impacts. Approval of this application will allow the facility to operate without interruption during and after the major storm events and any other occurrences that have often disrupted power throughout Albemarle County. Furthermore, the proposed generator and propane tank will be no different than similar ones that serve many existing Personal Wireless Service Facilities and other uses allowed by -right in the Rural Areas zoning district. Sincerely, Stephen Waller, AICP GDNsites Site Development Consultants to Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless Page 2 Crossroads Tier II (Generator)