Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-04-07-138 — T-Mobile USA, Inc.

Request: "Special Exception in A-2 (agricultural) zone to erect 140 ft. tall communication tower as follows: 1) Tower camouflaged as a religious symbol (cross); 2) Single use (one carrier) in lieu of co-location (more than one carrier)."

Decision: Approved

Hearing: "The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Pages_____. The applicant submitted a new design plan of the cross that showed the dimensions of the vertical section being 3 1/2 feet at the base tapering to 2 1/2 feet at the top. The horizontal section diameter is 2 1/2 feet at the center, tapering to 2 feet at the ends. The plan also showed the horizontal section would be 40 feet below the top of the cross, making it 20 feet lower than the original elevation plan submitted. The BZA felt the dimensions of the cross were sufficiently narrow to ensure an insignificant visual impact to the area. In addition, lowering the cross ""arm"" 20 more feet also reduces the visual impact. Based on the design of the camouflage tower, the natural buffers in the area, and the location of the tower on-site, the BZA felt this request could be approved without creating a detrimental visual impact. As to co-location, staff advised that the applicant spent a great deal of effort in attempting to acquire a secondary user. Responses from other carriers, however, indicated those carriers had no need for expanded service in this area at this point in time. Staff indicated that a majority of previous BZA approvals for single use towers in the past have since acquired co-location. Staff's opinion is that eventually, most towers do in fact achieve co-location. There was no opposition present at the public hearing. One letter of no objection to the proposed cross design was received from a resident on Chickasaw Trail."