Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-18-03-008 — ECO-SITE INC.

Request: Special Exception and Variances in the I-2/I-3 zoning district to construct a 115 ft. high communications cell tower as follows: 1) Tower to be camouflaged as a pine tree (monopine tower) 2) Tower to be a single user tower (T-Mobile) at initial construction. 3) To allow a side setback of 8 ft. in lieu of 15 ft. 4) To allow installation of a cell tower without landscaping as required per Section 38-1427(d)(11). If the BZA determines the proposed tower is not camouflaged then the following variances are required: 5) Variance to allow communications tower 404 ft. from single family to the northeast in lieu of 575 ft. 6) Variance to allow communications tower 508 ft. from single family to the west in lieu of 575 ft. (Note: The tower will accommodate up to 3 users).

Decision: Approved

Hearing: Staff presented the case, show site photos, simulation photos of the tower, proposed location of the tower, and explained the variances needed. Staff noted if that if tower was deemed not to be camouflaged variances #5 and #6 would be needed as there are five (5) houses located within the 575 ft. radius. Staff recommended approval of the tower as it is proposed to be located in an industrial area and will be blocked from view by the existing structures. The applicant stated they looked at many sites in this area to provide cell coverage and found this site to be the best option. They also stated that they were open to the monopine or monopole option. The BZA discussed the unipole option with the applicant and that would require a wider/taller tower to accommodate the equipment inside the pole. They also discussed that with multiple carriers will require multiple antennas. The BZA felt that the additional antennas would stand out more and the monopine design would aid in disguising those antennas. No spoke in favor or in opposition of the request at the hearing. Staff received five (5) letters in opposition of the request. The BZA had a discussion regarding which type of tower would fit in better and blend in with the existing development. The board agreed that the monopine would disguise the antennas better and was the best option. The BZA determined the tower to be camouflaged, amended condition #4, and unanimously approved the request.