CASE NUMBER: 17SN0738 APPLICANT: Chesterfield Department of Emergency Communications CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA MATOACA DISTRICT

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1 CASE NUMBER: 17SN0738 APPLICANT: Chesterfield Department of Emergency Communications CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA MATOACA DISTRICT ADDENDUM Board of Supervisors Hearing: APRIL 26, 2017 Board of Supervisors Time Remaining: 365 DAYS Applicant s Agent: HEATHER RUBINSTEIN ( ) Applicant s Contact: RICH TROSHAK ( ) Planning Department Case Manager: DARLA ORR ( ) 1 Acre Hull Street Road REQUEST Conditional use planned development to permit a communications tower plus exceptions to ordinance requirements in an Agricultural (A) District. Specifically, an exception is requested to tower height and setbacks. Notes: A. Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions. B. Under the Federal Telecommunications Act, localities cannot regulate cell towers on the basis of possible health or environmental effects of radio frequency emissions. SUMMARY A 310-foot tall communications tower to expand the County s existing Public Safety Emergency Communications Radio System and permit colocation of private communication services is planned on county-owned property, the site of an historic school. ADDENDUM The purpose of this Addendum is to provide the Commission s recommendation and clarification on the proposed diameter of dish antenna. Commission Recommendation: Following their public hearing on April 18, 2017, the Commission voted unanimously to recommend approval of this request subject to the nine (9) conditions in Attachment 1 of Staff s Analysis and Recommendation (staff report). Dish Antenna: As noted in the staff report, the Telecommunications Tower Siting Policy offers guidelines to use in consideration of tower locations. The Policy suggests that dish antennas not exceed 6-feet in diameter. In this case, dish antennas with a maximum diameter of 8-feet would be permitted. Staff finds the visual impact of a 2-foot difference in diameter would be negligible given the location and height of the proposed tower. Staff continues to recommend approval of this request subject to the conditions provided in the staff report for the reasons outlined on the following page. Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service

2 COMMISSION APPROVAL RECOMMENDATION STAFF APPROVAL Improved transmission of public safety communications benefits the health and safety of citizens and public safety personnel The Comprehensive Plan encourages co-location of the County s public facilities with existing facility sites While completely minimizing the visual impact of the tower is not feasible, existing buffers and protected environmental areas will reduce visibility from residential areas Proposed height is needed to enhance public safety communications and would provide space for co-location of private communications services; thereby, reducing the need for new towers in the area. 2 17SN APR26-BOS-ADD

3 CASE HISTORY Applicant Submittals 11/15/2016 Application submitted 4/5/2017 Applicant submitted document relative to coverage design Community Meeting 1/31/2017 Discussion: Review of proposed emergency communications system enhancements and its benefits System will be looped for reliability; signal strength increased to provide better coverage and penetrate larger buildings such as schools Current equipment outdated; system will no longer receive maintenance support Concern with cell phone coverage in area as more citizens rely on cell coverage to make emergency calls Room will be available on tower for 4 private communications service providers; may reduce need for other towers in area; structural integrity of tower to handle additional carriers Other sites considered for the tower Whether another tower is needed in Matoaca to provide coverage Money in bond referendum planned to cover multiple public safety projects, not just radio replacement Property is site of historic school Planning Commission 2/21/2017 Action DEFERRED TO APRIL 18, 2017 MEETING ON THEIR OWN MOTION WITH THE APPLICANT S CONSENT. 4/18/2017 Citizen Comments: Support case as conditions would protect historic school remains and require a historic marker to be erected to identify the property Site could become one of the historic sites featured in a self-guided African- American historical tour being developed in the county Commission Discussion: Dr. Wallin and Mr. Jackson expressed appreciation for the preservation of the historic school site and the citizens who came to speak in support those efforts. Mr. Sloan and Dr. Wallin thanked the applicant for providing additional information regarding coverage design. Recommendation - APPROVAL SUBJECT TO THE CONDITIONS IN ATTACHMENT 1 OF STAFF S REPORT Motion: Wallin Second: Freye AYES: Sloan, Jackson, Freye, Jones and Wallin The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will consider this request. 3 17SN APR26-BOS-ADD

4 CASE NUMBER: 17SN0738 APPLICANT: Chesterfield Department of Emergency Communications CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, VIRGINIA MATOACA DISTRICT STAFF S ANALYSIS AND RECOMMENDATION Board of Supervisors Hearing: APRIL 26, 2017 Board of Supervisors Time Remaining: 365 DAYS Applicant s Agent: HEATHER RUBINSTEIN ( ) Applicant s Contact: RICH TROSHAK ( ) Planning Department Case Manager: DARLA ORR ( ) 1 Acre Hull Street Road REQUEST Conditional use planned development to permit a communications tower plus exceptions to ordinance requirements in an Agricultural (A) District. Specifically, an exception is requested to tower height and setbacks. Notes: A. Conditions may be imposed or the property owner may proffer conditions. B. Conditions, site layout, tower elevation and Coverage Design Response are located in Attachments 1-4 C. Under the Federal Telecommunications Act, localities cannot regulate cell towers on the basis of possible health or environmental effects of radio frequency emissions. SUMMARY A 310-foot tall communications tower to expand the County s existing Public Safety Emergency Communications Radio System and permit colocation of private communication services is planned on county-owned property, the site of an historic school. COMMISSION STAFF RECOMMENDATION STAFF WILL ADVISE THE BOARD OF THE COMMISSION S RECOMMENDATION AFTER THEIR MEETING ON APRIL 18, 2017 APPROVAL Improved transmission of public safety communications benefits the health and safety of citizens and public safety personnel The Comprehensive Plan encourages co-location of the County s public facilities with existing facility sites While completely minimizing the visual impact of the tower is not feasible, existing buffers and protected environmental areas will reduce visibility from residential areas Proposed height is needed to enhance public safety communications and would provide space for co-location of private communications services; thereby, reducing the need for new towers in the area. Providing a FIRST CHOICE community through excellence in public service

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6 Map 2: Comprehensive Plan Classification: RURAL RESIDENTIAL/AGRICULTURAL This designation suggests farming and single family residential use on 1 to 5 acre lots or larger would be appropriate. Map 3: Surrounding Land Uses & Development Hull Street Road Residential use, farming or vacant Church and vacant 3 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

7 PLANNING Staff Contact: Darla Orr ( ) Proposal A 310-foot communications tower is proposed on a portion of the county-owned property being one (1) of six (6) new towers to complete an expansion of the County s Public Safety Emergency Communications Radio System. The existing system is being enhanced as part of a regional project to meet the long-term public safety needs. The proposed tower is designed to provide enhanced interoperability, redundancy, and improved frequency coverage. The Zoning Ordinance establishes the maximum height for communications towers in the area of the subject property at 300-feet. An exception is requested to permit the 310-foot tower. The applicant s representative has indicated that the increased tower height is necessary to reduce the number of tower facilities needed to provide the radio coverage proposed and to increase the ability for the signal to penetrate larger structures such as schools, larger commercial, office and industrial facilities, and government buildings. Beulah Rosenwald School The request property is the site of an historic African- American school known as The Beulah Rosenwald School at Skinquarter, constructed between 1917 and The school was used until the end of the school year. The building was razed around A standing chimney and concrete pillars which supported the building are located on the site. The applicant agrees with a recommended condition that would ensure the tower and compound is located so as not to disturb these ruins of the school and that the applicant will work with state and local officials to ensure an historical highway marker is erected to commemorate the school. (Condition 9) Public Facilities Plan The Public Facilities Plan, an element of The Comprehensive Plan, suggests public facilities should be co-located whenever possible with existing public facility sites. The Plan suggests telecommunications facilities should be designed and located to provide broad access to communication services and minimize the numbers of towers and their impact on the surrounding area. The Plan encourages co-location on existing telecommunications towers, or architectural incorporation into existing building features. Where co-location or architectural incorporation is not feasible, the Plan suggests that in highly visible areas, towers should be located and designed to conceal such facilities to the greatest degree feasible to minimize their visual impact. The visual presence should be minimized by: Maintaining natural features (such as topography or mature forested areas) Obscuring or blocking views with other existing structures Using stealth designs to disguise and camouflage the appearance or, when this is not feasible, using a monopole design 4 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

8 Tower Siting Policy The Policy establishes guidelines for design, setbacks and security. The Policy elements: Discourage sectored arrays in residential areas Limit size of satellite and microwave dish antennas Require certification of structural integrity Require setbacks from existing off-site dwellings, and public rights-of-way (not withstanding Ordinance setback requirements) Prohibit signs, except as required by state or federal guidelines Require security fencing to preclude trespassing Provide for screening of tower base and ground mounted equipment The following provides an overview of the proposal and conditions recommended to mitigate the impact of the tower: General Overview Requirements Details Tower is proposed on county-owned property as identified on Location the Site Location Plan Condition 1, Plan and Policy Tower Design & Integrity/Opportunities for Future Users Lighting Signage Security, Screening and Equipment Tower Height Cessation of Use Self-supporting lattice tower; Gray or another neutral color; Tower to be designed to accommodate 4 additional communications service providers Engineer s report required to certify structural integrity of the tower and that the tower has a fall-zone no greater than the 100 X 100 foot fenced compound Microwave or satellite dish antennas maximum of 8 feet in diameter, neutral color, and with no logos Conditions 5, 6 and 7 plus Policy Soft blinking red light at night with upward reflection, medium white strobe light during the day, with upward reflection Condition 5 No signage permitted Condition 2 and Policy 6-foot tall security fence Landscaping around fenced compound Meet ordinance requirements in O, C, I Districts 40-foot vegetation retention area Conditions 3, 4 and 5 plus Policy Maximum of 310 feet Condition 1 Removal required within 12 months once use ceases Condition 8 and Policy 5 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

9 As conditioned, the proposed communications tower complies with The Comprehensive Plan and is consistent with the Telecommunications Tower Siting Policy criteria as outlined below: Is co-located on county property site of an historic school (chimney and partial foundation remains) Includes recommended tower design elements: neutral color; no signs or logos permitted; and limit on size of dish antennas Is a self-supporting lattice tower, similar to a monopole because guy wires are not required (a monopole cannot be used due to the proposed height) Designed to offer co-location opportunities for additional communications service providers thereby reducing the need for additional towers in the area Will provide an Engineer s report to certify structural integrity of the tower and fall zone within 100 X 100 foot fenced compound Provides for security and screening of the base of the tower, including vegetation retention Addressed cessation Given the requested height of 310 feet, the tower will be highly visible and required to be lit; however, the proposed tower has been located and designed to reduce the visual impact to the greatest degree feasible without compromising the planned emergency radio system expansion which benefits the health and safety of citizens and public safety personnel. 6 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

10 FIRE SERVICE Staff Contact: Anthony Batten ( ) This request will have minimal impact on Fire and EMS. Nearby Fire and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) Facilities Fire Station The Clover Hill Fire Station, Company Number 7 EMS Facility The Manchester Volunteer Rescue Squad ENVIRONMENTAL Drainage, Erosion and Water Quality Staff Contact: Rebeccah Ward ( ) wardr@chesterfield.gov Geography The southern third of the property drains to the southwest to a natural channel to Tates Pond, which drains into Goode Creek. The remainder of the property drains northeast to an existing culvert under Hull Street Road, which drains to an unnamed tributary to Sappony Creek. The entire property is located within the Appomattox River Watershed. Stormwater Management The development is subject to the Part IIB technical criteria of the Virginia Stormwater Management Program Regulations for water quality and water quantity. COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Staff Contact: Jim Banks ( ) banksj@chesterfield.gov VIRGINIA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION Staff Contact: Brian Lokker ( ) brian.lokker@vdot.virginia.gov UTILITIES Staff Contact: Jamie Bland ( ) blandj@chesterfield.gov PARKS AND RECREATION Staff Contact: Stuart Connock ( ) ConnockS@chesterfield.gov This request will have a minimal impact on these facilities. 7 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

11 CASE HISTORY Applicant Submittals 11/15/2016 Application submitted 4/5/2017 Applicant submitted document relative to coverage design Community Meeting 1/31/2017 Discussion: Review of proposed emergency communications system enhancements and its benefits System will be looped for reliability; signal strength increased to provide better coverage and penetrate larger buildings such as schools Current equipment outdated; system will no longer receive maintenance support Concern with cell phone coverage in area as more citizens rely on cell coverage to make emergency calls Room will be available on tower for 4 private communications service providers; may reduce need for other towers in area; structural integrity of tower to handle additional carriers Other sites considered for the tower Whether another tower is needed in Matoaca to provide coverage Money in bond referendum planned to cover multiple public safety projects, not just radio replacement Property is site of historic school Planning Commission 2/21/2017 Action DEFERRED TO APRIL 18, 2017 MEETING ON THEIR OWN MOTION WITH THE APPLICANT S CONSENT. 4/18/2017 STAFF WILL ADVISE THE BOARD OF THE COMMISSION S ACTION AFTER THEIR MEETING ON APRIL 18, 2017 The Board of Supervisors on Wednesday, April 26, 2017, beginning at 6:00 p.m., will consider this request. 8 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

12 CONDITIONS ATTACHMENT 1 1. The tower shall not exceed a height of 310 feet and shall be located generally as depicted on the Site Location Plan prepared by Pyramid Network Services, LLC., last revised (P) 2. There shall be no signs permitted to identify this use except those required by FCC or other regulatory body. (P) 3. The base of the tower shall be enclosed by a minimum six (6) foot high fence, designed to preclude trespassing. The fence shall be placed so as to provide sufficient room between the fence and the property line to accommodate evergreen plantings having an initial height and spacing to provide screening of the base of the tower and accessory ground-mounted equipment or structures from adjacent properties and park facilities. (P) 4. Except to accommodate access to the tower, the property shall be subject to a Vegetation Retention Area of 40 feet along the eastern perimeter of the property. No trees within the vegetation retention area may be removed unless such trees are dead, diseased or dying. (P) 5. The color, design and lighting system for the tower shall be as follows: a. The tower shall be gray or another neutral color, acceptable to the Planning Department. b. Unless otherwise required by the FAA, tower lighting during daylight hours shall be limited to medium intensity strobe lights with upward reflection and lighting during night-time hours shall be limited to soft blinking red lights with upward reflection. c. The tower shall be a self-supporting lattice structure. d. Any satellite dish and microwave dish antennas attached to the tower shall not exceed eight (8) feet in diameter and shall be of a neutral color with no logos. (P) 6. Any building or mechanical equipment shall comply with the Zoning Ordinance relative to architectural treatment of building exteriors and screening of mechanical equipment in O, C and I Districts. (P) (NOTE: The Zoning Ordinance requires the screening of mechanical equipment located on the building or ground from adjacent properties and public rights of way. Screening would not be required for the tower or tower-mounted equipment.) 9 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

13 7. Prior to use of this telecommunications tower, the owner of the tower shall obtain approval of the structural integrity by a registered professional engineer licensed in Virginia and a copy of the report filed with the Planning Department. The tower shall be certified as structurally sound to accommodate the applicant s equipment and equipment for four (4) additional communication service providers and that the fall zone of the tower is no greater than the 100 X 100 foot fenced compound. (P) 8. At such time that the telecommunications tower ceases to be used for communications purposes for a period exceeding twelve (12) consecutive months, the property owner(s) and/or lessee(s) shall dismantle and remove the tower and all associated equipment from the property. (P) 9. The tower shall be located so as not to disturb the visible chimney and concrete pillars of the historic school. Prior to use of the tower, the applicant will work with appropriate local and state officials to erect a Virginia Historic Highway Marker to commemorate the property as the historic site of the Beulah Rosenwald School at Skinquarter. (P) 10 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT

14 SITE LOCATION PLAN, SITE PLAN AND TOWER ELEVATION ATTACHMENT SN APR18-CPC-RPT

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17 PHOTO SIMULATIONS ATTACHMENT SN APR18-CPC-RPT

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19 ATTACHMENT 4 PUBLIC SAFETY RADIO SYSTEM COVERAGE DESIGN AUGMENTATION INQUIRY Chesterfield County Planning Commission / Board of Supervisors Public Safety Radio System Coverage Design Augmentation Inquiry I. Background. Chesterfield County, in conjunction with its Capital Region Partners 1, contracted with Motorola Solutions in June 2016 for a regional public safety radio communications system. The Chesterfield County subsystem includes a 15-site 800 MHz simulcast network 2 to provide radio coverage, new Emergency Communications Center dispatch consoles, as well as the redundant system core electronics that control the operation of the regional radio system. Detailed design activities for the new regional radio system have been ongoing in Chesterfield County and the Capital Region since July A subset of the overall detailed design process involves working closely with the County Planning Commission and Board of Supervisors to optimally locate and define the use of every tower site in the new simulcast network. As part of the tower siting process, the Chesterfield project team has conducted numerous community meetings and informational work sessions with stakeholders to gather information and refine the use of each proposed tower site. II. III. Planning Commission (PC) / Board of Supervisors (BOS) Request. As a result of the PC/BOS oversight process during the detailed design process, the Chesterfield County Planning Commission has expressed an interest in developing a candidate strategy for augmenting 20dB Radio System coverage in a targeted corridor primarily in the Matoaca District (see triangular area in Figure 1 depicted between the existing Grange Hall-Union Branch-NATS tower sites). Candidate Coverage Design Augmentation. Per the contractual 15-site System Design, the target area in question is predicted to reliably provide 12-14dB coverage levels; but in response to the PC/BOS request for a strategy to improve 20dB Radio System coverage in the target area, the Chesterfield project team worked with Motorola Solutions to identify an additional tower location on Beach Road (see Figure 2) that would reasonably address the concerns raised by the PC/BOS to date. Motorola provided a conceptual design coverage model (see Figure 3) using a 300-ft self-supported tower located at Latitude N / Longitude W. The candidate Beach Road tower site location is currently an undeveloped Chesterfield County Parks and Recreation parcel SN APR18-CPC-RPT

20 The Chesterfield project team estimates the total cost of ownership (including design, construction, installation, and maintenance) for this additional site on Beach Road to range between $3.75M-$4.0M in current dollars based on the Motorola Solutions contract pricing 3. The Chesterfield project team is recommending that the PC/BOS reserve judgment on whether to pursue an additional simulcast site until after the contractual coverage acceptance test to gauge how much additional coverage is actually needed based on the performance of the implemented system. Upon completion of system we will bring the actual test results back to the PC & BOS for further consideration. Subsequently should the County desire to pursue integration of an additional simulcast site following the execution of the contractual coverage acceptance test (currently planned between May-October 2019), the County should expect a month timetable 4 to fully complete the initiative. 1 Capital Region Partners include Chesterfield County, Colonial Heights, Henrico County, City of Richmond, Hanover County, and the Capital Region Airport Commission (CRAC). 2 One of the 15 sites in the Chesterfield County simulcast network is located on Roslyn Road in Colonial Heights, VA. 3 Chesterfield County and Henrico County provide redundant Zone Core electronics for the new Capital Region Radio System. 4 This is our teams estimate in today s dollars and will be subject to inflation over time, a formal quotation has not been solicited from Motorola. Final pricing will be subject to negotiation with Motorola after determining the county s desired solution. 5 While a contractual schedule has not been solicited from Motorola, the Beach Road site provides a conceptual solution to address the PC/BOS inquiry. Based on the current project schedule, the additional site would come online after the Regional System is operational (anticipated May 2020) SN APR18-CPC-RPT

21 Figure 1. Contractual 15-Site Simulcast Network Design Noting Triangular Target Area for 20dB Coverage Augmentation Figure 2. Candidate 16 th Simulcast Site on Beach Road to Address Request for Targeted 20dB Coverage Augmentation Figure 3. Conceptual 16-Site Simulcast Network Design Addressing Request for Targeted 20dB Coverage Augmentation 18 17SN APR18-CPC-RPT