HomeMy WebLinkAboutSP200700065 Application Special Use Permit 2007-12-26 Application for
Special Use Permit
Please See the List at the bottom of page 4 for the Appropriate Fee
(staff will assist you with this item)
PROJECT NAME: (how should we refer to this application?): Herring Property/Verizon Tier III PWSF-"Afton"
PROPOSAL: Installation of a personal wireless service facility with a 73-foot tall treetop monopole tower
EXISTING COMP PLAN LAND USE/DENSITY: Rural Areas 1
LOCATION: 8268 Green Hill Lane
TAX MAP PARCEL(s): 05300-00-00-00600
MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT: Whitehall
#OF ACRES TO BE COVERED BY SPECIAL USE PERMIT(if a portion it must be delineated on a plat): 2,400 s.f.
Is this an amendment to an existing Special Use Permit? If Yes provide that SP Number. NO ❑ YES ❑ NO
Are you submitting a preliminary site plan with this application? DYES ONO
Contact Person/Business Name(Who should we call/write concerning this project?): Stephen Waller,AICP (for Verizon Wireless)
Address 536 Pantops Center,PMB#320 City Charlottesville State VA Zip 22911
Daytime Phone(434) 825-0617 Fax#(757) 282-5811 E-mail stephen.waller(iewirelessresources.com
Owner of Record James M.or Julie Ann Herring
Address P.O.Box 1243 City Verona State VA Zip 24482
Daytime Phone(540) 248-4706 Fax#(_) E-mail
Applicant(Who is the Contact person representing?): Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless
Address 1831 Rady Court City Richmond State VA Zip 23222
Daytime Phone(434) 825-0617 Fax#(757) 282-5811 E-mail stephen.waller(&,wirelessresources.com
Does the owner of this property own(or have any ownership interest in)any abutting property? If yes.please list those tax map and parcel numbers
No
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istory:
❑ Special Use Permits: SP 03-54,SP 03-12,SP 00-41,SP 00-30,SP 99-10 ❑ ZMAs&Proffers: �i
❑ Variances: ❑ Letter of Authorization *n° � 3r \ 4 -72.)Concurrent review of Site Development Plan? ❑YES ❑NO V �/
FOR OFFICE USE ONLY �� O SP# oc'_y r , }
Fee Amount$c) Date Paid � By who? -64; Receipt# ( Ck# c/9C/ By:
r
County of Albemarle Department of Community Development
401 McIntire Road Charlottesville, VA 22902 Voice: (434) 296-5832 Fax: (434) 972-4126
8/7/06 Page 1 of 4
Section 31.2.4.1 of the Albemarle County Zoning Ordinance states that, "The board of supervisors hereby
reserves unto itself the right to issue all special use permits permitted hereunder. Special use permits for uses
as provided in this ordinance may be issued upon a finding by the board of supervisors that such use will not
be of substantial detriment to adjacent property, that the character of the district will not be changed thereby
and that such use will be in harmony with the purpose and intent of this ordinance, with the uses permitted by
right in the district, with additional regulations provided in section 5.0 of this ordinance, and with the public
health, safety and general welfare."
The items that follow will be reviewed by the staff in their analysis of your request. Please complete this form
and provide additional information which will assist the County in its review of you request. If you need
assistance filling out these items, staff is available.
How will the proposed special use affect adjacent property?
The proposed PWSF installation will not have any affect on adjacent properties as it will be compatible with
the existing facilities on the subject parcel,all of which have a substantial amount of backdrop.
How will the proposed special use affect the character of the district(s) surrounding the property?
Approval of the requested special use permit will not affect the character of the district. The site of the
proposed facility is surrounded by two lines of tall trees and the proposed ground equipment shelter will be
fully screened from off-site views by the existing vegetation that will remain.
How is the use in harmony with the purpose and intent of the Zoning Ordinance?
The proposed monopole will not be skylighted and it will be painted to blend in with the trees providing
backdrop. The facility will be consistent with conditions of approval for the other PWSFs at this site.
How is the use in harmony with the uses permitted by right in the district?
The proposed PWSF would be allowed by-right as a Tier II PWSF if it were not in close proximity to four other
existing facilities. The ground equipment shelter will be screened e with the RA district.
What additional regulations provided in Section 5.0 of the Zoning Ordinance apply to this use?
Section 5.1.40(e)contains the regulations for Personal Wireless Service Facilities and the Zoning Ordinance
defines a Tier III facility as any facility that doesn't meet the criteria for Tier I and Tier II PWSFs.
How will this use promote the public health, safety, and general welfare of the community?
The proposed facility will assist Verizon in offering another choice for wireless communications that provides a
full range of voice and data services included the required E-911 call services to the community.
8/7/06 Page 2 of 4
Describe your request in detail a d include all pertinent information such`Ts the number of persons involved
in the use hours, and any unique features of the use:
The proposed facility will be unmanned and Verizon Wireless technical operations staff will only visit the site
once a month to perform regularly scheduled maintenance duties. More frequent visits will only be necessary
after power outages and other unexpected events that may interrupt normal service and signal quality.Please
see the attached written narrative and site construction plans for additional project specifics.
ATTACHMENTS REQUIRED—provide two (2) copies of each
❑ 1. Recorded plat or recorded boundary survey of the property requested for the permit. If there
is no recorded plat or boundary survey, please provide legal description of the property and the
Deed Book and page number or Plat Book and page number.
❑ 2. Ownership information—If ownership of the property is in the name of any type of legal
entity or organization including, but not limited to,the name of a corporation, partnership or
association, or in the name of a trust, or in a fictitious name, a document acceptable to the
County must be submitted certifying that the person signing below has the authority to do so.
If the applicant is a contract purchaser, a document acceptable to the County must be submitted
containing the owner's written consent to the application.
If the applicant is the agent of the owner, a document acceptable to the County must be
submitted that is evidence of the existence and scope of the agency.
OPTIONAL ATTACHMENTS:
❑ 3. Provide 16 copies of any drawings or conceptual plans.
❑ 4. Additional Information, if any. (16 copies)
Owner/Applicant Must Read and Sign
I hereby certify that I own the subject property, or have the legal power to act on behalf of the owner in filing
this application. I also certify that the information provided on this application and accompanying information
is accurate,true,and correct to the best of my knowledge.
December 24,2007
Signa ure of Owner, Contract Purchaser Date
Stephen Waller(for Verizon Wireless) 434-825-0617
Print Name Daytime phone number of Signatory
8/7/06 Page 3 of 4
FEES �
❑ Rural area division for the purpose of"family division" where all original 1980 development rights have been exhausted under
"family division"as defined under section 14-106(15)of the subdivision ordinance=$220
❑ Rural area divisions=$1,240
❑ Commercial use=$980
❑ Industrial use=$1,020
❑ Private club/recreational facility=$1,020
❑ Mobile home park or subdivision=$980
❑ Public utilities=$1,020
❑ Grade/fill in the flood plain=$870
❑ Minor amendment to valid special use permit or a special use permit to allow minor expansion of a non-conforming use=$110
❑ Extending special use permits=$70
❑ Home Occupation-Class B=$440
❑ For day care centers-six(6)to nine(9)children=$490
❑ For day care centers-ten(10)or more children=$980
❑ All other uses except signs=$980
❑ Signs—Per Chapter 18 Section 4.15.5 Electric message signs,off-site signs,and signs in public rights-of-way-$120.00
(Heard before the Board of Zoning Appeals-BZA).
8/7/06 Page 4 of 4
TIER III PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITY
VERIZON WIRELESS
"AFTON" - HERRING PROPERTY
Proiect Description:
Cellco Partnership, operating as Verizon Wireless ( "Verizon "), respectfully requests approval
to allow installation ofa Tier III Personal Wireless Service Facility (PWSF) on a site located
off of Newtown Heights in the Newtown area, addressed as 8268 Green Hill Lane and
identified as Tax Map 53 - Parcel 6 (the "Property-). The Property is located in the
Whitehall Magisterial District in Albemarle County and the proposed PWSF will be part of a
network of facilities intended to provide seamless Personal Communications Services to
residents of the surrounding area, and travelers along Interstate Route 64.
A special use permit is required because one of the requirements of the Tier 11 criteria will
not be met request. This specific requirement deals with the proximity of Verizon's PWSF to
four existing facilities [5.1.40(d)(4)], all of which were approved with special use permits.
Section 3.0 of the zoning ordinance defines a Tier III facility as "a personal wireless service
facility that is neither a Tier I nor Tier 11 facility, including a facility that was not approved
by the commission or the board as a Tier If facility."
The Property comprises 83.417 acres and the proposed PWSF facility will be contained
within a 2,400 square foot lease area on the Property. The site is located at an elevation of
approximately 1,269 feet Above Mean Sea Level (AMSL). The proposed PWSF will include
a metal monopole, with a top height of73 feet (1,341.5 feet AMSL) that will be fitted with
three (3) flush- mounted antennas, a 2 -foot long lightning rod and coaxial cables that will be
run vertically inside the monopole. All ground -based transmitting equipment and an
emergency ^ generator will be housed within a prefabricated equipment shelter measuring 12`
x 30.42' x 10.58' (W x L x H). The monopole and antennas will be painted with Sherwin
Williams Java Brown - #6090, which is a matte enamel color that has been previously
approved as an appropriate color for Tier It facilities at other sites in Albemarle County.
Furthermore, the proposed facility received an approval from the Architectural Review Board
on 'November 19, 2007.
Network Obiectives:
Verizon Wireless recently secured a license from the Federal Communications Commission
to provide Personal Communications Services within a new market that includes the County
of Albemarle, City of Charlottesville and other surrounding counties. These services range
from phones with voice, data, text, video and GPS capabilities, to wireless broadband
solutions for personal and business computer systems. All phones and facilities operating on
the Verizon network will be compatible with the Enhanced 911 (E -911) emergence service
that use GPS and triangulation technology to help quickly identify the locations from where
emergency calls are being made.
Verizon does not currently offer any service options locally, providing limited services
within this market only to existing customers from other areas through roaming agreements
with another wireless carrier. There had been no opportunities for Verizon to offer the full
range of services until the FCC license was obtained.
Verizon has identified several sites throughout the market that will be integral to establishing
this service. Once all ofthe proposed sites are "on- air ". Verizon will be able to provide
Verizon Wireless PWSF Page I Afton (Herring)
potentially seamless in- building, in -car and on- street coverage throughout the market. By
providing coverage within this market, it is Verizon's objective to ensure that the full range
of services will be available to existing customers, "[tile also allowing an additional,
competitive option for access to wireless services by future customers.
The specific facility proposed with this application will establish in- building coverage for the
nearby residential units in the Greenwood and Newtown area, and will support in -car
coverage for customers traveling on 1 -64 by connecting its service with the other antenna
sites that will be installed to the east toward Crozet and to the west up Afton Mountain.
Character of the Area:
The Property is zoned Rural Areas (RA) and Entrance Corridor (EC) overlay district. All of
the surrounding properties are zoned Rural Areas. The proposed PWSF will not substantially
impact the rural character ofthe surrounding area due to the extensive amount of backdrop
that is provided by the wooded slope to the north ofthe facility. The fact that a large amount
of backdrop will be provided to this site is supported by the limited visibility ofthe existing
PWSFs located near this site. Additionally, the results of a balloon test that was performed
for County staff that this particular site will also have ample backdrop.
The proposed PWSF will be located approximately 600 Peet north of the right -of -way for 1 -64
in a wooded area below the ridgeline of Afton Mountain. The proposed site ofthis facility is
an open area between two tree lines that run parallel from east to west. Access to the facility
will be provided from Green Hill Lane by way of Newtown Heights, a gravel roars that
crosses over the CSX railroad and continues up a slope to a clearing where there are four
existing PWSFs in close proximity to one another. Verizon's proposed PWSF will be located
approximately 120 feet away from the existing facility that is located farthest to the east. The
nearest off -site dwelling unit is nearly 620 feet northwest ofthe proposed PWSF site. None
ofthe resources that are defined as avoidance areas in Section 3.1 ofthe zoning ordinance are
located on or within close proximity to this site.
Compliance with Section 5.1.40 of the Zoning Ordinance:
The County's specific design criteria for Tier It Facilities, set forth in Section 5. 1 .40(d), are
addressed as follows:
• 5.1.40(d)(1) - The facility shall comply with subsection 5.1.40(b) and subsections
5.1.40(c)(2) through (4).
! Subsection 5.' ""' ' " _': The proposed PU''SF will be in compliance with the setback
regulations and all other area and bulk regulations and minimum yard requirements are
being met with this request. Verizon has selected a location for the proposed monopole
that exceeds the required tower setback distance equal to 100% ofthe structure's height
from all parcel lines shared with adjoining lots. Furthermore, there are no public road
rights -of -way within a radius equal to the monopole's height. The attached site
drawings, antenna and equipment specifications are being provided to
demonstrate that the PWSF regulations and the relevant site plan requirements, set
forth in Section 32 ofthe zoning ordinance, will be met with this application.
♦ Subsection 5.1.40(c)(2): The proposed monopole does not require the installation of
guy wires, nor will it be fitted with any whip antennas without any further Countv
approvals. The proposed grounding rod complies with the County's size
requirements. The facility will only have one outdoor light fixture attached to the
Verizon Wireless PWSF Page 2 Afton (Herring)
proposed shelter which will only be used by Verizon's technical staff during times
when maintenance ofthe site is undertaken. Verizon is currently in the process of
securing a design for a retrofit shield for the original light or a replacement light
fixture to ensure that the facility will be in full compliance with Section 4.17 ofthe
zoning ordinance. Verizon request approval to screen the shelter within a chain link
security fence.
♦ Subsection 5.1.40(c)(3): The proposed antenna configuration will consist ofone
sector with three panel antennas (Anphenol Antel 'Model 4 BXA -I 85085/12) that
measure 72.44" x 6.06" x 4.13 ", giving each antenna an area of approximately 439
square inches. These antennas will be installed using "pipe- mounts" that will allow
for any required amount of down - tilting without exceeding the County's
requirements for flush - mounts (I2- inches maximum between the face ofthe
monopole and the face ofthe antenna). All antennas will be painted to match the
color ofthe monopole.
♦ Subsection 5.4�4 n: Installation ofthe proposed PWSF and its access from
the existing road wilt be constructed largely within a grassed area that is cleared.
However, there will need to be some cut and fill activity on each side ofthe facility in
areas where shorter trees and vegetative underbrush are present. However, the
resulting opening between the two tree lines will not greatly reduce the amount of
backdrop or front screening ofthe monopole and ground equipment. Verizon has
already contracted Van Yahres Tree Company to provide a tree conservation plan that
will be prepared by a certified arborist. In order to ensure that there is no significant
impact to any ofthe trees that are to remain, the conservation plan will be completed
prior to the submittal of a building permit for this facility. Recommendations ofthe
tree conservation plan will then be integrated into the construction process and
followed on all portions ofthe Property that will be affected by the construction of
Verizon's facility.
♦ Subsection 5.1.40(e)(6): Should use ofthe antenna site in this location become
discontinued at anytime in the future, Verizon and/or its assignee(s) will be required
to remove the facility within 90 days.
♦ Subsection 5.1.40(c)(7): Verizon shall submit an annual report updating the user
status and equipment inventory ofthe facility in the required time period.
t Subsection 5.1.40(e)(8): The steep slopes to be created on the uphill side ofthe
compound will be stabilized using a gabion retaining wall. This consisted of several
stone -filled cages that are stacked and fined in connected rows.
♦ Subsection 5.1.40(c)(9): Because the proposed facility will be located in remote area,
Verizon proposes the installation of a chain link security fence. Instead of
surrounding the full extent ofthe lease area, Verizon will only fence the ground
equipment shelter, tower and surrounding area as needed to carry out service and
maintenance activities within the fence. Because the facility site is screened by
existing vegetation on all sides and not visible from any adjacent residences.
Verizon's fence should not be detrimental to the character of the area or the
general welfare, safety and health ofthe surrounding properties and their
residents.
• Section 5.1.40(d)(2) - The proposed PWSF will be located in a heavily wooded area, and
will only require removal of some shorter trees and underbrush that do not contribute
Verizon Wireless PW'SF Page 3 Afton (Herring)
significantly in providing screeing or backdrop to the proposed site. Remaining wooded
area around the site will serve to screen the facilities and provide a backdrop to the
proposed tower.
• Section 5.1.40(d)(3) - Although the proposed PWSF is located within the Mountain
Overlay District, this site is well below the ridgeline. Therefore, as demonstrated with
the existing PWSF on the Parcel there will be extensive backdrop for the monopole.
• Section 5.1.40(4)(4) - Because this facility will be located where it and three other
PWSF's could be enclosed within a circle that has a 200 -foot radius, this proposal
requires a special use permit. In order avoid an increase in the appearance of the
clustering ofthe facilities, Verizon's PWSF is proposed in a location that is more than
120 feet from the nearest of the existing facilities.
• Section 5.1.40(d)(5) - The monopole will have a base diameter that is no greater than 30
inches and a top diameter that is no more than 18 inches.
• Section 5.1.40(d)(6) - Based on the results of a balloon test that was performed for
Current Development and .ARB staff, Verizon has agreed to install a monopole that will
only be 7 feet higher than the reference tree. This reference tree has been identified as a
12" caliper Oak tree with a dripline that is approximately 23 feet away, from the from the
monopole location. From a coverage standpoint, this will be acceptable in this case
because all of objectives are located on the same side of the ridge where the monopole
will be placed and at lower elevations.
• Section 5.1.40(d)(7) - The monopole and all antennas will be painted Sherwin Williams
.lava Brown #6090. This is a color that has been applied to previously approved PWSF
monopoles. The prefabricated shelter that will be installed at the facility has siding that is
a natural brown color and an aggregate stone finish.
• Section 5.1.40(d)(8) - All coaxial cables and service lines running vertically from the
transmitting equipment to the antennas will be located inside the monopole.
• Section 5.1.40(d)(9 -13) - Verizon has reviewed and understands all of the remaining
criteria for Tier II Personal Wireless Service Facilities and will provide any additional
information or assistance to ensure that these standards are met.
Conclusion:
Verizon Wireless is confident that the proposed Personal Wireless Service Facility meets the
most important design criteria Tier 11 facilities that are focused on mitigating visual impacts
and it will not conflict with the goals and objectives of the Comprehensive Plan. The
approval of this PWSF application will contribute to the deployment of a highly reliable
personal communications system in this new market, providing Albemarle County residents
and travelers on I -64 an additional option for high quality personal wireless services
Sincerely,
Stephen Waller, AICP
Site Development Consultant
Verizon Wireless. Charlottesville Market
Verizon Wireless PWSF Page 4 Afton (Herring)