Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-01-11-079 — VERIZON WIRELESS, cont. 12/6/01

Request: Special Exception in I-4 zone for single use (non-co-located) communication tower (140 ft. monopole with flush-mounted antennas).

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Pages ____. The BZA approved the request for a single use tower with the conditions recommended by staff. The district BZA representative added condition #6 with respect to lighting. The BZA noted the flush-mounted antennas were not as visually obtrusive than the standard horizontal antenna brackets. The applicant submitted three notarized affidavits that eluded to numerous attempts by their staff to find another cell phone carrier for co-location on the tower, without success. The BZA accepted the affidavits, but gave the applicant a firm directive that any future requests by Verizon for single use towers will require the submission of more detailed evidence and documentation on their inability to co-locate. A couple dozen commentaries were received in opposition from residents located to the north and further to the west. The comments were general opposition typical to that of communication towers. However, there was no opposition present at the public hearing. A representative from TAFT (Take Action for Taft), spoke in favor, stating the organization had polled the area and found no opposition.