Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-00-12-011 — Nextel Communications

Request: Special Exception in C-2 zone for a 120 ft. tall single use camouflaged communication tower.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The staff report and recommendation is located on the following pages. A letter was received from the City of Winter Park in support of the applicant's request for a tower camouflaged as a clock tower. A copy of the City's letter is attached. Four individuals were present in opposition. The first speaker stated most of the residents were not concerned about the aesthetics of the issue, but about the potential health hazards associated with radiation emissions. The BZA chairman explained the County was pre-empt from this issue, but that the authority on it rested with the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). A subsequent speaker stated he resides in Jupiter and owns numerous residential properties in the area. He felt the project was aesthetically distasteful and out of character with the area. Two additional speakers stated they reside on Lake Front Boulevard which is across Lee Road to the south, on Lake Killarney. They also felt the clock tower was ugly. In an effort to work a compromise, the district BZA representative suggested a pine tree camouflage design. It was pointed out that the BZA had approved a pine tree design last month, and that the design was aesthetically-pleasing. It was felt that the pine tree design would work in this area along Lee Road against a backdrop of an existing treed area; further, the pine tree concept has less bulk and mass than the clock tower. The rest of the BZA members agreed, the the applicant accepted the alternative design suggested.