HomeMy WebLinkAboutSDP201100041 Legacy Document 2011-08-18 (4)PT0119S-1
June 10, 2011
County of Albemarle Department of Community Development
Attn: Gerald Gatobu
401 McIntire Road
Charlottesville, VA 22902
1150 Shenandoah Village Drive
Waynesboro, VA 22980
RE: NTELOS Tier II Application — Personal Wireless Service Facility at CV733
Owensville Road (Cantrell Property)
Dear Mr. Gatobu;
Virginia PCS Alliance, L.C. (` NTELOS') requests the consideration of the Albemarle
County Planning Commission for the construction of a personal wireless service facility
by NTELOS located on property owned by Lee Y. Cantrell' described as tax parcel 43-
16G, containing approximately 8.41 acres, and zoned Rural Areas (RA) in the Samuel
Miller Magisterial District. The entire farm consists of six parcels of property totaling
77.29 acres. The property is not located within an Entrance Corridor. The proposed
facility is located at 1925 Owensville Road, Charlottesville.
NTELOS is in the process of improving its existing wireless services in the Ivy and
Earlysville area of Albemarle County, as well within the City of Charlottesville in the
next year as shown on the attached map ( NTELOS Current and Proposed/Future Cell
Sites). The proposed facility on the Cantrell property will improve the NTELOS wireless
services along Owensville Road (Rt. 678) from Old Ballard Road (Rt.677) to Garth Road
(Rt. 601) (propagation map #1). The proposed personal wireless service facility shall
follow the Tier II treetop facility guidelines as set forth in the Personal Wireless Service
Facility Guidelines Policy (the "Policy ") adopted by Albemarle County.
Attached is a site plan of the location and design of the proposed facility. The proposed
Tier II treetop facility includes a steel monopole tower painted brown, 111.6 ft. in height,
with a top elevation of 613.6 ft. Above Mean Sea Level. The 104.5 ft. tall pine tree F
identified on the site plan as the reference tree ( #186) has a top elevation of 606.6 ft.
Above Mean Sea Level. The monopole will have a flush- mounted antenna array
consisting of three (3) panel antennas measuring 74.9 in. (L) x 6.5 in. (W) x 3.3 in. (D)
each. The antennas shall not project more than twelve (12) inches from the facility. The
The Albemarle County GIS parcel information inaccurately names the property owner of tax parcel 43-
16G & the adjacent tax parcel 43 -16 as Robert W. & Lee Y Cantrell. Deed Book 868 page 645 recorded in
the Clerk's Office of the Circuit Court of Albemarle County conveys the property by deed of gift to Lee Y.
Cantrell dated February 7, 1986.
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antennas and cabling will be painted Sherwin Williams Umbra brown to further
camouflage the facility. The proposed ground equipment will be located within the 50 ft.
x 50 ft. leased compound area. NTELOS will access the proposed facility by the existing
gated access to the barn off Owensville Road. A Tree Conservation Plan by Bartlett Tree
Experts has been requested and will be submitted prior to obtaining a building permit.
Once constructed, the proposed facility will be visited approximately 1 -2 times per month
for normal routine maintenance checks. Outdoor lighting for the facility shall be only
used during maintenance checks.
While it is the goal of Albemarle County to protect its natural, scenic and historic
resources and to retain the attractiveness of the County, the proposal by NTELOS has
been maintained by complying with the guidelines established by the Policy. The brown
monopole type flush - mounted design, the height above the tree tops and the strategic
location of the facility are designed to minimize the visibility of the facility while still
providing significant improvement to the NTELOS coverage objective (propagation map
#2). A balloon simulation visibility test has been conducted at the site and indicates the
proposed facility would appear only minimally from Owensville Road and Old Ballard
Road. The design of the proposed facility is compatible with the area's rural setting. A
determination from the Virginia Department of Historic Resources has been requested
but not yet received.
The proposed facility is located behind a grove of evergreen trees on the property. The
view from Owensville Road is mitigated by the evergreen trees on the subject parcel as
well as adjacent properties, which will help it blend in, and thus minimizing the view of
the facility. While conducting a balloon test, the visibility of the balloon was minimal
from Owensville Road through the evergreen trees. It was viewed minimally and at a
great distance from the Old Ballard Road area. The proposed facility is approximately
630 ft. from Owensville Road. The closest residence is the Cantrell home which is
approximately 510 ft. from the proposed facility and the next closest residence is
approximately 840 ft. from the proposed facility.
The proposed facility will be located closer in distance than the height of the tower to the
property lot line to the north of the proposed location. In order to achieve the best
screening by the evergreen trees, reduce the number of trees to be removed for the access
way, and utilize an existing 50 ft. private access easement already established on the
subject property, the proposed facility will be 60 ft. from the property line of tax parcel
43 -16, also owned by Lee Y. Cantrell. The proposed facility was also located in the
center of the entire farm owned by the Cantrell's rather than locating it on the outskirts of
the property. A Declaration of Restriction between NTELOS and the owner will be
recorded in order to restrict the use of the portion of the property as identified as the "Fall
Zone Easement" on the site plan drawings. A copy of the Declaration of Restriction will
be submitted once it has been recorded.
A Neighborhood Meeting was held on Wednesday, June 8, 2011 in which all adjoining
neighboring property owners to the Cantrell farm were invited, including Albemarle
County staff. A balloon simulation test at the height of the proposed facility was
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conducted in order for the neighboring properties to view the balloon from their homes
and property. NTELOS staff was present to discuss any questions or concerns the
neighbors had.
The proposed facility is fully consistent with the County's Wireless Telecommunications
Policy. It is a treetop monopole structure, has flush mounted antennas, has minimal
visual impact on the surrounding area, and provides adequate height and coverage
objective for NTELOS. As a personal wireless service facility, this proposal will serve
the public health and safety needs to the community by providing increased
communication coverage in this well traveled area. I look forward to receiving your
comments regarding this proposal as well as scheduling an additional balloon simulation
visibility simulation test for County staff. Please feel free to contact me if you need
additional information.
Sincerely, A
` i W
Jes((s/ /ica L. Wilmer
NTELOS
(540) 941 -3610
CC: Valerie Long — Williams Mullen
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