Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-01-11-081 — Spectrasite Communications

Request: In I-3 zone to erect a 185 ft. tall communications tower for Nextel, Inc. as follows: 1. Special Exception for single use tower in lieu of co-located (NOTE: Nextel's antennas must be relocated from existing water tower to the proposed communication tower in that the water tower is being removed; 2. Special Exception to determine if proposed design of tower (light pole) constitutes a camouflage tower; 3. Variance to allow tower within 1295 ft. of residential uses to the south (Bonneville Subdivision). If the tower design is determined to be camouflaged, the residential separation is 647.5 ft., and if not determined camouflaged, the separation requirement is 1295 ft. Tower location is proposed at 175 ft. from closest residential use.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Pages____ The BZA felt there was a unique situation demonstrated to warrant the granting of the Variance, as explained in the staff report. The district BZA member opined the proposed design of the tower (a street light) did not fully meet the definition of a camouflage tower since it was not located next to a street; however, the proposed design was preferred to a typical communication tower and was a more aesthetically pleasing alternative to the existing 185 foot water tower. Therefore, it was felt that this request was approvable. There was no opposition present at the public hearing.