Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-00-07-010 — Florida Power Corporation

Request: Special Exception at electrical substation sitze zoned C-2 and R-3 as follows: Convert utility pole with existing ancillary communication antennas into a communication tower in order for additional communication antennas. Current pole exists at 100 ft. in height; conversion will allow for 20 ft. additional height (total 120 ft.). Also, applicant proposes to relocate pole approximately 183 ft. to the west of its existing location.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The Staff Report is located on pages ---. The applicant replaced a lightning mast with additional height a few years ago in order to accommodate communication antennas for a cellular phone company. Florida Power now wants another replacement for a second company, which would add 20 more feet to the pole. The extra 20 feet requires a public hearing by the BZA; however, the separation requirements applicable to new towers do not apply to this facility because its resultant height does not exceed the height theshold established by code. The existing pole with antennas exists about 120 feet from the closest home, located to the east in Winter Park Estates. Florida Power proposes to move the pole about 186 feet further away to the west. Although this would be further away from the homes to the east, Staff questioned whether or not the visusal impact would be the same or worse, given the 20 ft. of extra height and the second set of antennas. The applicant submitted a diagram showing the exisiting pole and the proposed relocated pole in relationship to the homes to the east. The diagram showed there to be little signficant difference in view of the proposed pole to the homes. Computer-enhanced photographs were submitted showing how the view would look from the homes, comparing the height and distance. The BZA noted that moving the pole further away from the homes makes the pole appear smaller, therefore, the visual impact is reduced from its current situation. Two residents from Winter Park Estates addressed the Board. Letters/commentaries from several residents were received. The primary concern was potential radiation emissions from the tower or from the electrical substation. Staff pointed out that local government is not permitted to consider the radiation emission issue in determining zoning decisions on communication towers, as mandated by the Federal Communication Commission. Two residents spoke at the public hearing. They indicated they were in f*