TITLE
Title
PUBLIC HEARING AND APPROVAL OF TEXT AMENDMENT (CASE #16-08-GCPL-04129) TO THE GUILFORD COUNTY GENERAL DEVELOPMENT ORDINANCE FOR RADIO, TELEVISION, AND COMMUNICATION TOWERS (PRINCIPAL)
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SPONSOR
Sponsor
J. Leslie Bell (Les Eger)
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BACKGROUND
Background
Staff requests a public hearing and approval of Text Amendment Case #16-08-GCPL-04129 to the Guilford County General Development Ordinance for Radio, Television, Communication Tower (Principal). While the purpose of the text amendment is to provide greater flexibility in locating Radio, Television, and Communication Towers (Principal) as service demand increases and is needed, updating associated definitions, development standards, and site requirements (including co-location) regarding stealth/camouflage and non-stealth design towers updates the General Development Ordinance with industry zoning guidelines and requirements, as advances in technology has improved. Briefly, the text amendment includes the following:
Amends Section 6-4.70 Radio, Television, Communication Tower (Principal) to permit Stealth/Camouflage Design Towers in all zoning districts. Non-Stealth Design Towers to be allowed in the Agriculture (AG), General Business (GB), General Office, Moderate Intensity (GO-M), General Office High Intensity (GO-H), Highway Business (HB), Corporate Park (CP), Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), and Public and Institutional (PI) Zoning Districts only;
Amends Section 6-4.70 Radio, Television, Communication Tower (Principal) to revise development standards tailored to both stealth/camouflage and non-stealth design towers;
Adds a new Section (Section 2-1.16) to Article II Definitions to define the following terminology: Anchor Tower, Co-location, Fall Zone, Non-Stealth Design Tower, Stealth Camouflage Design, Stealth Design, Search Ring and Wireless Facility; and
Updates the Permitted Use Table 4-3-1 of the General Development Ordinance to allow as limited permitted uses Stealth/Camouflage Design Towers in all zoning districts (with development standards for all). Non-Stealth Design Towers to be allowed in the Agriculture (AG), General Business (GB), General Office Moderate Intensity (GO-M), General Office High Intensity (GO-H), Highway Business (HB), Corporate Park (CP), Light Industrial (LI), Heavy Industrial (HI), and Public and Institutional (PI) Zoning Districts (with development standards for all).
A redlined version (including the proposed revisions to the Permitted Use Table) indicating both new text to be added to and existing text to be deleted from the Guilford County Development Ordinance is attached.
Stakeholders that worked with staff on this amendment include the following:
Thomas E. Terrell, Jr. , Atty. - Smith Moore Leatherwood LLP
Liz Hill- American Tower and NC / SC Carolinas Wireless Association
Katherine Evans - AT & T
Jim Tarman - AT & T (retired)
Marlene Sanford, President - Triad Real Estate and Building Industry Coalition
Staff recommends approval, along with the Guilford County Planning Board holding its public hearing on September 14, 2016 (minutes attached) and recommending approval by a unanimous vote of 8-0 in favor as presented (Ayes: Collins, Cannon, Leonard, Apple, Jones, Alexander, Geter, Mann. Nays: None.).
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BUDGET IMPACT
Budget Impact
NO ADDITIONAL COUNTY FUNDS REQUIRED
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REQUESTED ACTION
Requested Action
Conduct a public hearing and request approval of Text Amendment Case #16-08-GCPL-04129: Radio, Television, Communication Tower (Principal) to the Guilford County Development Ordinance to add a new Section 2-1.16 to Article II Definitions for industry terminology, amend the Permitted Use Table 4-3-1, Radio Television Communication Tower (Principal) to allow Stealth/Camouflage Design Towers as limited permitted uses in all zoning districts with development standards (amends Section 6-4.70), and allow Non-stealth Design Towers as limited permitted uses in the AG, GB, GO-M, GO-H, HB, CP, LI, HI, and PI Zoning Districts with development standards (amends Section 6-4.70).
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