HomeMy WebLinkAboutARB201600018 Presentation 2016-02-16 MILESTONE COMMUNICATIONS ALBEMARLE HIGH SCHOOL
TIER III PERSONAL WIRELESS SERVICE FACILITY
Project Description:
Milestone Communications (the "Applicant") respectfully requests approval of a
Special Use Permit for a Tier III Personal Wireless Service Facility (PWSF) on
property owned by the County of Albemarle School Board with address 2775
Hydraulic Road, Charlottesville, Virginia on Tax Map parcel 06000-00-00-078A0
within the Jack Jouett Magisterial District of the county. The PWSF would be
comprised of a 125' galvanized steel monopole with two-foot lightning rod within
a five-sided fenced 2,600 square foot compound. The facility would support
antennas for use by the Albemarle County School Board at the top 125' RAD
center and an antenna array for use by AT&T at the 115' RAD center. Below
those arrays will be collocation opportunities for additional carriers, and the
compound will have room for additional carriers' ground equipment.
In addition to the Special Use Permit, the Applicant is requesting two Special
Exceptions for modification of Section 5.1 .40.b(2)(c), in order to permit arrays
that will stand off from the monopole greater than 18", and of Section
-.r,,,, 5.1 .40.(b)(d) to permit the monopole to retain its gray galvanized steel surface
and color to blend in with existing ball field light poles rather than to be painted
brown to blend with nearby trees.
The top antenna array position would be available for the county schools to
install communications equipment to provide improved wireless services to
students at Albemarle High School, Jack Jouett Middle School, and Greer
Elementary School and to all Albemarle County students at their homes within
the approximate three-mile radius of service. No rent would be charged to the
schools for such collocation, and the Applicant would share rent from carriers
with the School Board. The Schools' wireless facilities are also used by
Albemarle County's police, fire, and emergency rescue services, so the facilities
will help to improve first responders' communications and data recording.
In the second position on the monopole, to provide needed network coverage in
the area, AT&T would like to install a three-sector antenna array with four panels
antennas per sector, along with radio heads, cables, and related equipment, that
will operate at four different points on the radiowave spectrum to provide AT&T-
licensed services. The proposed panel antennas would be within the County's
size limitation of 1 ,400 square inches.
Wage 'i t €ic (. mmaa alJar
pII ,' • jail `src rir4 . ion 1) 0i ,.: 2 E ;, ; j 6
Initial ground equipment within the fenced compound would consist of a small
equipment cabinet on a 10' x 10'-10" concrete pad for the School Board, a 12' x
"" 11 .5' equipment shelter and emergency back-up generator on a concrete pad for
AT&T, and MESA cabinet and H-frame utility stand for other power and
communications components.
Service and Network Objectives:
Founded in 2000, Milestone Communications develops wireless towers in
partnership with school and government landowners and solves network
coverage priorities for the wireless industry by finding solutions that are
aesthetically and functionally optimized for their environments. The proposed
location on the Albemarle High School grounds will provide the schools with
both rent-free wireless communications and a share of rents from all carriers
on the Milestone Communications monopole. The facility would replace the
existing rooftop facility on Albemarle High School, which has coverage
limitations owing to its low height in relation to area topography.
The proposed site location is an isolated corner of unused land between the
southern ends of the Albemarle County High School baseball field and football
field close to a large wooded area that would screen the facility from
residential neighborhoods and local roads to the west and south. (Please see
the enclosed photographs of the site, surrounding area, and access road,
which were taken on March 20, 2015.) An existing telephone pole and one tree
would need to be removed from the site area. Because of the large number of
tall steel field lights with horizontal lighting attachments, Milestone is proposing
a steel monopole design, which will appear similar to the existing lights. The
use of a three-sectored array for each user of the pole will permit the maximum
number of users while presenting an appearance in keeping with the ball field
lights.
Access would be over the existing Lambs Road that circles behind the school
grounds so would not interfere with school activities or traffic. Milestone. will
pave the short stub connecting the existing access road with the compound
and will construct new parking spaces for the school's use, as shown on the
zoning drawings.
The School Board's Department of Accountability, Research, and Technology
(DART) operates a secure, private and protected internet network used by the
schools and by Albemarle County fire, rescue, and police. Currently an
antenna is mounted on the rooftop of Albemarle High School and provides
broadband service to students in a roughly one and a half to two-mile radius,
depending on topography. Because the school sits in a depression, and there
is a rise in elevation on the north side of Hydraulic Road, the current service
2 I P a u e \I 1 i . ` [ F t i= c i 0 iTT i"TT l9 Ili . :i 1
t' i i t 1 0 11 L[ ; ?Ti i s s i; ?Y i) i I : 2 1 6 1 6
•
has "shadowing" — areas where the signal is blocked. The new antenna
location on the 125' monopole would permit carrier-grade capacity and would
eliminate the shadowing of the signal and provide service to students up to
three miles from the site in all directions. With a tri-sectored array, the schools
would be in a position to add and upgrade wireless communications equipment
for years to come.
AT&T, which is licensed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to
provide wireless communications services within Albemarle County, desires the
proposed site location to provide coverage in the area of Georgetown Green
and surrounding areas. As described in the enclosed letter from AT&T
Radiofrequency (RF) Design Engineer Bill Schwartz, AT&T requires a RAD
center height of 115' in order to connect with the closest existing AT&T
network sites on U.S. Route 29. Without this proposed site, the large number
of residential customers living in the Georgetown/Hydraulic area as well as
travellers on Route 29 and surrounding local roads will experience dropped
calls and low quality to no service. AT&T's objective is to provide reliable
communications, improved in-building coverage, and in-car and on-street
coverage, as well as emergency 911 services. Please see the enclosed
propagation maps provided by AT&T showing the improvement in coverage that
the new facility would provide.
Special Use Permit Support:
The County Code provides that the Planning Commission and the Board of Supervisors
"shall reasonably consider the following factors when they are reviewing and acting
upon an application for a special use permit:
1. No substantial detriment. The proposed special use will not be a substantial
detriment to adjacent lots.
2. Character of district unchanged. The character of the district will not be
changed by the proposed special use.
3. Harmony. The proposed special use will be in harmony with the purpose and
intent of
this chapter, with the uses permitted by right in the district, with the regulations provided
in section 5 as applicable, and with the public health, safety and general welfare.
4. Consistency with comprehensive plan. The use will be consistent with the
comprehensive plan."
3 I I rl g e ; r i e e t o n C C o m m 11 n ; . ail : e r:
pE) i 1eatio71 s5 ll 4331 on iDate . 2 if, ( tx
The proposed PWSF application favorably addresses and satisfies all four factors:
1. The proposed PWSF would be situated on the subject property southwest of
Albemarle High School in an area set back toward a wooded area that provides a
substantial buffer to the south and west. Because of the buffer and the distance
from residential areas, it would not be visible from the multi-family and single-
family residential neighborhoods located along the Georgetown Road corridor.
Even on the school property itself, visibility will be limited because of trees and
intervening facilities. Any visibility on Hydraulic Road, which is a designated
Entrance Corridor, would be across the school property at a significant distance,
from which the pole will have an appearance similar to the 30+ steel ball field light
poles, and would blend in with the numerous parking lot light poles, which would
be in the foreground between the road and the site. Therefore, the facility should
pose no detriment to adjacent lots and would, on the contrary, provide wireless
services to students, Albemarle County fire, emergency rescue, and police in the
area, and to subscribers of wireless carriers using the facility.
• The facility would not change the character of the district because the pole and its
attachments, where visible, will appear in all respects like one of the numerous
light poles dotting the landscape of the high school around the football field,
baseball field, and tennis courts.
• The proposed use will be in harmony with the existing school uses on the subject
property and will enhance those uses by providing improved wireless broadband
services as the school board will install its own equipment at the top RAD center
of the monopole. Such school facilities will greatly enhance existing wireless
computerized learning capabilities at the nearby schools. All Jack Jouett Middle
School and Albemarle High School students are issued laptops that they use not
only at school but also at home to access school websites to obtain resources,
communicate with teachers, and complete and submit homework. The new
facility could serve over 600 students in the surrounding areas with free, closed
and managed internet.
• The paramount goal of Albemarle County's Wireless Policy, which is that portion
of the Comprehensive Plan specifically discussing PWSF's, is to minimize the
visibility of PWSF's by siting techniques and design standards. The proposed site
provides needed service in a high-density area while minimizing visibility through
siting and design. The Board of Supervisors has recognized that certain locations
are appropriate for full-sectored arrays because their visibility is so minimal as to
be outweighed by wireless service opportunities. The only location from which
the PWSF will be visible off-site is at a distance from Hydraulic Road over the
school campus, and from that location it would appear as one of the many light
poles visible in the foreground and background.
Compliance with the Requirements of Section 5.1.40 of the Zoning Ordinance.
5.1.40(a) Application for Approval.
1. Application form and signatures. A completed application form, signed by the parcel owner, the
parcel owner's agent or the contract purchaser, and the proposed facility's owner. If the owner's
agent signs the application, he shall also submit written evidence of the existence and scope of the
New
4 I P a L C l i l C t _, n c l i l til t n I c 1 t / 0
I) atc 2 ! 1 .
oive
agency. If the contract purchaser signs the application, he shall also submit the owner's written
consent to the application.
New
Enclosed please find an application form signed by the authorized signatory of
the Albemarle County School Board, which is the owner of the subject property.
2. Plat or survey of the parcel. A recorded plat or recorded boundary survey of the parcel on which
the facility will be located; provided, if neither a recorded plat nor boundary survey exists, a copy of
the legal description of the parcel and the Albemarle County Circuit Court deed book and page
number.
Enclosed is a new signed and sealed survey of the lease area, dated
February 4, 2016, last revised February 11 , 2016, prepared by Lincoln Surveying
(the "Survey").
3. Ownership. The identity of the owner of the parcel and, if the owner is other than a real person,
the complete legal name of the entity, a description of the type of entity, and written documentation
that the person signing on behalf of the entity is authorized to do so.
The owner of the subject property is the Albemarle County School Board,
which has executed the application.
4. Plans and supporting drawings, calculations, and documentation. Except where the facility will be
located entirely within an eligible support structure or an existing building, a scaled plan and a
scaled elevation view and other supporting drawings, calculations, and other documentation
required by the agent, signed and sealed by an appropriate licensed professional.
Please see enclosed the zoning drawings prepared by Advantage Engineers,
signed and sealed on February 12, 2016 by Andrew M. Miller, P.E. The following
required features are shown on the zoning drawings and/or Survey.
The plans and supporting drawings, calculations, and documentation shall show:
(a) Existing and proposed improvements. The location and dimensions of all existing and proposed
improvements on the parcel including access roads and structures, the location and dimensions
of significant natural features, and the maximum height above ground of the facility(also
identified in height above sea level).
Sheet Z-1 of the drawings depicts the features of the school property in the
area of the proposed compound, which would sit between the southern ends of the
baseball field and football field. Access roads are depicted on the Survey.
(b) Elevation and coordinates. The benchmarks and datum used for elevations shall coincide with
the State Plane VA South US Survey Feet based on the North American Datum of 1983 (NAD
83), and the benchmarks shall be acceptable to the county engineer.
Coordinates of the site are provided on the Title Sheet, and the elevation of
the tower base is shown on Sheet C-3 as 569' AMSL.
(c) Design. The design of the facility, including the specific type of support structure and the
design, type, location, size, height, and configuration of all existing and proposed antennas and
other equipment. q q
5I F' age M t . ti t t1 •i L` (_ ommua i is ; ono
A : L 0 1 1 e a i ? 1 o 0 S l i k 1 Y 1 I .• ` on i Date .. 1 6 1 (
As shown on Sheet C-3, a monopole design is proposed. The monopole
'4...- would be tapered and would be 125' tall with two-foot lightning rod. The application
requests approval for three antenna arrays. A cross-section of the antenna array
and antenna layout, antenna types and details for AT&T are shown on Sheet A-1; a
cross-section of the antenna array and layout and antenna details for the schools
are shown on Sheet A-2. Initially, the school board intends to install three antennas
and looks forward to having the remaining area available for future additional
technology and upgrades.
(d) Color. Identification of each paint color on the facility, by manufacturer color name and color
number. A paint chip or sample shall be provided for each color.
As described below, the Applicant requests a special exception to this
provision in order to maintain the monopole's stainless steel finish. The steel finish
will give the monopole a similar appearance to the light poles already on the subject
property, and, if any portion of the top of the pole is skylit, the gray color will blend
with the sky far better than would dark brown.
(e) Topography. Except where the facility would be attached to an eligible support structure or an
existing building, the topography within two thousand(2,000) feet of the proposed facility, in
contour intervals not to exceed ten (10) feet for all lands within Albemarle County and, in
contour intervals shown on United States Geological Survey topographic survey maps or the
best topographic data available, for lands not within Albemarle County.
Please see the Survey and Sheet Z-1 of the zoning drawings.
(f) Trees. The caliper and species of all trees where the dripline is located within fifty(50) feet of
the facility. The height, caliper, and species of any tree that the Applicant is relying on to
provide screening of the monopole or tower. The height, caliper and species of the reference
tree. The caliper and species of all trees that will be adversely impacted or removed during
installation or maintenance of the facility shall be noted, regardless of their distances to the
facility.
Please see the survey and Sheet C-1 of the zoning drawings for tree details.
As a proposed Tier Ill PWSF, the site does not have a reference tree for height
evaluation purposes. A single tree will need to be removed for site construction.
(g) Setbacks, parking, fencing, and landscaping. All existing and proposed setbacks, parking,
fencing, and landscaping.
Sheet Z-1 of the zoning drawings shows that the setback from the closest
property line and the setback from the closest residential dwelling are met. The
required setback from the closest property line is 100% of the tower height; the
actual setback will be 245', which is approximately twice the required setback.
(h) Location of accessways. The location of all existing vehicular accessways and the location and
design of all proposed vehicular accessways.
Access to the site would be by Lambs Road, which circles behind the high
school. A short stub would be paved to connect the compound to Lambs Road.
6 I P , L e N1 1 I e • 2? t' . is inn I7 n
App v :i 1 C? 11 1111 1t ti 1) <1 ti'. : 2 6 1 6
Nov-
(i) Location of certain structures and district boundaries. Except where the facility would be
, attached to an eligible support structure or an existing building, residential and commercial
structures, and residential and rural areas district boundaries.
Please see Sheet Z-2 of the zoning drawings.
(j) Proximity to airports. If the proposed monopole or tower will be taller than one hundred fifty
(150) feet, the proximity of the facility to commercial and private airports.
The site will not be taller than 150 feet.
5. Photographs. Photographs of the location of the proposed monopole or tower shall be provided
that include, for applications for Tier II facilities, the reference tree, and for applications for Tier Ill
facilities, the area within fifty(50) feet of the proposed monopole or tower. These photographs shall
include reference points to enable the lease area, the vehicular access, the trees that will remain,
and the trees that will be removed, to be identified. In addition, photographs, where possible, or
perspective drawings of the facility site and all existing facilities within two hundred(200) feet of the
site, if any, and the area surrounding the site.
Please see the enclosed photographs of the proposed site area.
6. Balloon tests. For any proposed monopole or tower, photographs taken of a balloon test, which
shall be conducted, if requested by the agent, as follows:
(a) Scheduling. The Applicant shall contact the agent within ten (10) days after the date the
application was submitted to schedule a date and time when the balloon test will be conducted.
The test shall be conducted within forty(40) days after the date the application was submitted,
and the Applicant shall provide the agent with at least seven (7) days prior notice;provided that
this deadline may be extended due to inclement weather or by the agreement of the Applicant
and the agent.
(b) Marking key boundaries and locations. Prior to the balloon test, the locations of the access
road, the lease area, the tower site, the reference tree, and the tallest tree within twenty five (25)
feet of the proposed monopole shall be surveyed and staked or flagged in the field.
(c) Balloon height. The test shall consist of raising one or more balloons from the facility site to a
height equal to the proposed facility.
(d) Balloon color or material. The balloons shall be of a color or material that provides maximum
visibility.
(e) Photographing balloon test. The photographs of the balloon test shall be taken from the nearest
residence and from appropriate locations on abutting properties, along each publicly used road
from which the balloon is visible, and other properties and locations as deemed appropriate by
the agent. The Applicant shall identify the camera type, film size, and focal length of the lens for
each photograph.
Enclosed are balloon test-based photosimulations created for the school
board's review of the proposed facility. The Applicant will schedule and conduct a
balloon test pursuant to these requirements and, if requested pursuant to
subsection 9 below, will create photosimulations based on the photographs taken at
the test.
7. Additions of antennas. If antennas are proposed to be added to an eligible support structure or an
existing building, all existing antennas and other equipment on the structure, building, or facility, as
well as all ground equipment, shall be identified by owner, type, and size. The method(s) by which
the antennas will be attached to the mounting structure shall be depicted. NA
711' a '•Ii1 ion Coil Til un : :. ti () n :<
li ° z krt uhrtis i .' n 3a . 2 1 (' 1
8. Site under conservation or open space easement. If the proposed facility would be located on
lands subject to a conservation easement or an open space easement, a copy of the recorded deed
Now' of easement and the express written consent of all easement holders to the proposed facility. NA
9. Photographic simulations. At the request of the agent, photographic simulations of the proposed
facility.
Please see subsection 6 above.
5.1.40(b) Development Requirements.
1. General design. The facility shall be designed, installed, and maintained as follows:
(a) Guy wires. Guy wires are prohibited.
(b) Outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting for the facility shall be permitted only during maintenance
periods; regardless of the lumens emitted, each outdoor luminaire shall be fully shielded as required
by section 4.17; provided that these restrictions shall not apply to any outdoor lighting required by
federal law.
(c) Ground equipment. Any ground equipment shelter not located within an eligible support structure
or an existing building shall be screened from all lot lines either by terrain, existing structures,
existing vegetation, or by added vegetation approved by the agent.
(d) Whip antenna. A whip antenna less than six(6) inches in diameter may exceed the height of the
facility, the eligible support structure, or the existing building.
(e) Grounding rod. A grounding rod, whose height shall not exceed two (2) feet and whose width
shall not exceed one (1) inch in diameter at the base and tapering to a point, may be installed at the
top of the facility, the eligible support structure, or the existing building.
All of the foregoing general design guidelines shall be met by the proposed
site and facility.
2. Antennas and associated equipment. Antennas and associated equipment that are not entirely
within a proposed facility, an eligible support structure, or an existing building shall be subject to the
following:
(a) Number of arrays. The total number of arrays of antennas shall not exceed three (3). All types of
antennas and dishes, regardless of their use, shall be counted toward the limit of three arrays.
The Applicant proposes three antenna arrays, as is shown on the zoning
drawings and survey.
(b) Size. Each antenna proposed under the pending application shall not exceed the size shown on
the application, which size shall not exceed one thousand four hundred(1400) square inches.
Proposed antennas will not exceed 1400 square inches each.
(c) Projection. No antenna shall project from the facility, structure or building beyond the minimum
required by the mounting equipment, and in no case shall the closest point on the back of the
antenna be more than twelve (12) inches from the facility, structure, or building; and in no case shall
the farthest point of the back of the antenna be more than eighteen (18) inches from the facility,
structure, or building; and
In order to maximize facility capabilities, the Applicant proposes arrays that
will not meet the projection limits and requests a special exception for this
modification. Using sectored arrays will allow each user of the facility space for all
8 I P a i; i l ` t cr C" (. t= t;i TTi 11 t1 I C ' ' 0 (. h
ppliLatio 't St1 '> ni : : 01t 1) at 2 , t, , 1
of its desired technologies. With three arrays, the facility would have the layered
look of ball field lights with multiple rows of lights.
(d) Color. Each antenna and associated equipment shall be a color that matches the facility,
structure, or building.
The Applicant will ensure that the schools and carriers using the facility paint
antennas to match the monopole.
3. Tree conservation plan; content. Before the building official issues a building permit for the
facility, the Applicant shall submit a tree conservation plan prepared by a certified arborist. The plan
shall be submitted to the agent for review and approval to ensure that all applicable requirements
have been satisfied. The plan shall specify tree protection methods and procedures, identify all
existing trees to be removed on the parcel for the installation, operation and maintenance of the
facility, and identify all dead and dying trees that are recommended to be removed. In approving the
plan, the agent may identify additional trees or lands up to two hundred (200) feet from the lease
area to be included in the plan.
The tree conservation plan will be provided before or at the time of building
permit application.
4. Creation of slopes steeper than 2:1. No slopes associated with the installation of the facility and
its accessory uses shall be created that are steeper than 2:1 unless retaining walls, revetments, or
other stabilization measures acceptable to the county engineer are employed.
No steep slopes shall be created by the site.
5. Ground equipment shelter; fencing. Any ground equipment shelter 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.
As shown on the zoning drawings, the Applicant proposes a fence around the
compound to screen and protect the ground equipment from trespass and 18
Virginia pines to screen the compound from surrounding property.
6. Screening and siting to minimize visibility. The site shall provide adequate opportunities for
screening and the facility shall be sited to minimize its visibility from adjacent parcels and streets,
regardless of their distance from the facility. The facility also shall be sited to minimize its visibility
from any entrance corridor overlay district, state scenic river, national park, or national forest,
regardless of whether the site is adjacent to the district, river, park or forest. If the facility would be
located on lands subject to a conservation easement or an open space easement, or adjacent to a
conservation easement or open space easement, the facility shall be sited so that it is not visible
from any resources specifically identified for protection in the deed of easement.
Ground equipment shall be screened from the school property and from
neighboring properties by a closed slatted fence and pine tree buffer. The site is
located on property on an entrance corridor but will be approximately 1,200 feet
from Hydraulic Road at the closest point, and any visibility of the top of the
monopole will be at a distance at which it will appear similar to the many light poles
� g
91 Page ? ; esto it l - :: inadl ', . `• ! [ a
:A ; a7I e ;Itiu< . S (1u +) ate: l o . 1 ±:
on the school property. The property is not subject to a conservation easement nor
visible from any state scenic river, national park, or national forest, but, rather, is
located in a densely-developed urban area with residential and commercial uses on
all sides north, east, and south.
7. Open space plan resources. The facility shall not adversely impact resources identified in the
natural resources chapter of the county's comprehensive plan and the parks and green systems
chapters in any county master plan.
The facility would not adversely impact natural resources.
8. Horizontal separation of multiple facilities. The facility shall not be located so that it and three (3)
or more existing or approved personal wireless service facilities would be within an area comprised
of a circle centered anywhere on the ground having a radius of two hundred(200) feet.
No other PWSF's are within 200' of the proposed facility.
9. Diameter of monopole. The maximum base diameter of the monopole shall be thirty (30) inches
and the maximum diameter at the top of the monopole shall be eighteen (18) inches.
This provision is inapplicable to Tier Ill PWSF's.
10. Height of monopole. The top of the monopole, measured in elevation above mean sea level,
shall not be more than ten (10) feet taller than the tallest tree within twenty-five (25) feet of the
monopole, and shall include any base, foundation or grading that raises the monopole above the
pre-existing natural ground elevation.
This provision is inapplicable to Tier Ill PWSF's.
11. Color of monopole, antennas, and equipment. Each monopole shall be a dark brown natural or
painted wood color that blends into the surrounding trees. The antennas, supporting brackets, and
all other equipment attached to the monopole shall be a color that closely matches that of the
monopole. The ground equipment, the ground equipment shelter, and the concrete pad shall also be
a color that closely matches that of the monopole, provided that the ground equipment and the
concrete pad need not closely match the color of the monopole if they are enclosed within a ground
equipment shelter or within or behind an approved structure, facade or fencing that: (i) is a color that
closely matches that of the monopole; (ii) is consistent with the character of the area; and(iii) makes
the ground equipment, ground equipment shelter, and the concrete pad invisible at any time of year
from any other parcel or a public or private street.
As noted above, in order to blend with the current development of the subject
property, the Applicant is requesting a special exception to this requirement in order
to keep the monopole its galvanized steel color and finish. The antennas and
brackets will be painted or finished to blend with the monopole's color and finish.
Ground equipment will be screened by fencing and trees.
12. Placement of cables, wiring, and similar attachments. Each wood or concrete monopole shall be
constructed so that all cables, wiring, and similar attachments that run vertically from the ground
equipment to the antennas are placed on the monopole to face the interior of the site and away from
public view, as determined by the agent. Metal monopoles shall be constructed so that vertical
cables, wiring, and similar attachments are contained within the monopole's structure.
101 e : g e ( <t <1i n1 Li 1 C / 1 0 1i ',
Applin. . ? 12 k 'nissi =} 12 1., = te : 2 t 1 (,
This provision is inapplicable to Tier III, but cables will be routed through the
monopole as shown on Sheet C-3 of the zoning drawings.
13. Special use permit conditions. All conditions of approval of a special use permit. Noted.
5.1.40(c) Applicability of Other Regulations in this Chapter.
1. Building site. A facility is not required to be located within a building site. Noted.
2. Vehicular access. Vehicular access to the facility site or tower site shall be subject to the
requirements of section 4.2 and shall not be exempt under section 4.2.6(c). Noted.
3. Setbacks. Notwithstanding section 4.10.3.1(b), the agent may authorize a facility to be located
closer in distance than the height of the tower or other mounting structure to any lot line if the
Applicant obtains an easement or other recordable document showing agreement between the lot
owners, acceptable to the county attorney as to addressing development on the part of the abutting
parcel sharing the common lot line that is within the monopole or tower's fall zone. If the right-of-way
for a public street is within the fall zone, the Virginia Department of Transportation shall be included
in the staff review, in lieu of recording an easement or other document.
The 100% of height of the monopole setback will be met.
5.1.40(d) Performance Standards and Requirements for Approved Applications.
1. Building permit application; submitting certification of monopole height and revised plans. The
following shall be submitted with the building permit application: (i) certification by a registered
surveyor stating the height of the reference tree that is used to determine the permissible height of
the monopole; and (ii) a final revised set of plans for the construction of the facility. The agent shall
review the surveyor's certificate and the plans to ensure that all applicable requirements have been
satisfied. NA to Tier Ill PWSF.
2. Tree conservation plan; compliance; amendment. The installation, operation, and maintenance of
the facility shall be conducted in accordance with the tree conservation plan. The Applicant shall not
remove existing trees within the lease area or within one hundred (100) feet in all directions
surrounding the lease area of any part of the facility except for those trees identified on the plan to
be removed for the installation, operation, and maintenance of the facility and dead and dying trees.
Before the Applicant removes any tree not designated for removal on the approved plan, the
Applicant shall submit and obtain approval of an amended plan. The agent may approve the
amended plan if the proposed tree removal will not adversely affect the visibility of the facility from
any location off of the parcel. The agent may impose reasonable conditions to ensure that the
purposes of this paragraph are achieved. Noted.
3. Completion of installation; submitting certifications of compliance. Within thirty(30) days after
completion of the installation of the facility, the Applicant shall provide to the agent prior to issuance
of a certificate of occupancy: (i) certification by a registered surveyor stating the height of the tower
or monopole, measured both in feet above ground level and in elevation above mean sea level,
using the benchmarks or reference datum identified in the application; and (ii) certification stating
that the lightning rod's height does not exceed two (2) feet above the top of the tower or monopole
and its width does not exceed a diameter of one (1) inch. Noted.
4. Discontinuance of use; notice thereof; removal; surety. Within thirty (30) days after a tower or
monopole's use for personal wireless service or any service facilitated by transmission equipment is
discontinued, the owner of the facility shall notify the zoning administrator in writing that the facility's
use has discontinued. The facility and any transmission equipment shall be disassembled and
11 I P i c r 1 E 4 Y; i C? 117 171 l l t 1 C 1 t? 1't
SLihin1 :, u 1) a1e 1 d, ; • _,
Now
removed from the facility site within ninety (90) days after the date its use for personal wireless
service or any service facilitated by transmission equipment is discontinued. If the agent determines
at any time that surety is required to guarantee that the facility will be removed as required, the
agent may require that the parcel owner or the owner of the facility submit a certified check, a bond
with surety, or a letter of credit, in an amount sufficient for, and conditioned upon, the removal of the
facility. The type and form of the surety guarantee shall be to the satisfaction of the agent and the
county attorney. In determining whether surety should be required, the agent shall consider the
following: (i) whether there is a change in technology that makes it likely that the monopole or tower
will be unnecessary in the near future; (ii) the permittee fails to comply with applicable regulations or
conditions; (iii) the permittee fails to timely remove another monopole or tower within the county; and
(iv) whenever otherwise deemed necessary by the agent. Noted.
Special Exception Requests
Request to Modify Section 5.1.40.b(2)(c) of the Zoning Ordinance:
The Applicant requests approval of a Special Exception to allow modification of the
requirements set forth in Zoning Ordinance Section 5.1 .40.b(3)(c), which states the
following: "Projection. No antenna shall project from the facility, structure or building
beyond the minimum required by the mounting equipment, and in no case shall the
closest point of the back of the antenna be more than twelve (12) inches from the
facility, structure, or building, and in no case shall the farthest point of the back of
the antenna be more than eighteen (18) inches from the facility, structure, or
building."
The proposed communications facility would provide services to Albemarle County
Schools, Albemarle County fire, rescue, and police, and to students at home within
an approximately three-mile radius from the monopole. In order to provide sufficient
space for both schools and a committed provider, AT&T, it is industry best practice
to use non-flush-mounted antennas so that each user may attach antennas for all
desired services in a single horizontal array. The schools intend to install one
antenna per sector initially, and AT&T proposes to attach four antennas per sector,
on a tri-sectored antenna mount. The proposed mount will measure 13 feet in length
across each face. This proposed full-sectored design allows for maximized use of
the monopole in order to provide new and improved levels of wireless coverage.
Providing maximum coverage and capacity at this site is very important from a siting
standpoint because the subject parcel, at over 216 acres, is unusually large for this
area of the county that is characterized by small lot and multifamily residential
developments that could not accommodate PWSF's owing to restrictions on
maximum structure heights and setbacks. It also contains large areas of trees that
will buffer the visual impact of the PWSF from neighboring parcels.
Request to Modify Section 5.1.40.b(11) of the Zoning Ordinance:
Section 5.1.b(11) provides that each monopole shall be a dark brown, natural, or
painted wood that blends with surrounding trees and that the antennas and other
12 page , let ' ll ll = .l tiaras
t� pl l nt r rl ?' 1) Ill ! i ii} t`, s) a1 !', 2 ; 6
equipment attached to the pole shall be painted to match. Though the monopole
will be close to a wooded area and have a tree backdrop from some locations, the
Applicant is confident that it would blend with its surroundings, which consist of
school fields and supporting structures, most effectively if kept as galvanized steel
since it will have an appearance very similar to the existing steel ball field lights.
Therefore, a modification to the regulation would satisfy the purpose of the Zoning
Ordinance, which is to have the PWSF blend into its surroundings to minimize visual
impact, at least an equivalent degree as to paint it brown.
Conclusion:
Milestone Communications has worked extensively with the Albemarle County School
Board to plan a communications facility that would serve the schools and the densely
populated and surrounding areas. This location offers an unusual opportunity to
construct a monopole at a height that would enable multiple users to serve a large
population while remaining out of sight of residential neighborhoods. The facility would
greatly improve wireless broadband coverage and capacity for students, teachers,
school administration, fire, rescue, and police that is currently provided by a single
antenna on Albemarle High School. The site would provide new service in an area of
poor coverage within the AT&T network. We respectfully request approval of this Tier
III Personal Wireless Service Facility application and the related Special Exceptions in
order to expand and improve wireless services to a significant number of Albemarle
County citizens, teachers, and emergency responders at no cost to the County.
Sincerely,
Lori H. Schweller
Attorney for Milestone Communications
13 vrye
l it ' tit 1 .° rl S hi i , Nion 16 16