Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-18-05-048 — JORGE MORA

Request: Special Exception and Variances in the A-2 zoning district to construct an 80 ft. tall FM monopole tower as follows: 1) Tower to be camouflaged as a pine tree (monopine tower). (Approved w/Conditions) 2) To allow a tower 115 ft. from vacant unplatted residential land in lieu of 200 ft. (Approved w/Conditions) 3) Tower to be a single user tower at initial construction. (Approved w/Conditions) 4) To allow a tower 500 ft. from an existing lattice tower in lieu of 2,500 ft. (Approved w/Conditions) If the BZA determines the proposed tower is not camouflaged then the following variance is required: 5) To allow a tower 115 ft. from vacant unplatted residential land in lieu of 400 ft. (Unnecessary)

Decision: Approved

Hearing: Staff explained the history of the cases noting that it had been continued from May to allow the applicant to follow the direction given by the BZA. The BZA had asked the applicant to consider lowering the height of the tower from 100 ft. to 80 ft., and to consider using a monopole rather than a lattice tower. The applicant had submitted not only an 80 ft. tall monopole, but a camouflaged monopine. The BZA needed to find that the proposed monopine did in fact adequately blend with the surroundings to be considered camouflaged. If that finding was made, then the BZA can act on the Special Exception. If the monopine was considered camouflaged, then the BZA should find that the six criteria for a Special Exception have been met, if the BZA does not make that finding, they should find that the request does not meet all of the six criteria. Staff noted that it had not received any correspondence for or against the request. The stated that they were in agreement with the staff recommendation and all of the conditions, however, he wanted to reiterate that the portion of the "The Grow" which will be located at the Corner of S. Tanner Rd. and Highway 50 is to be developed as commercial. One person spoke in favor of the proposed tower. There being no other person to speak for or against the request, the public hearing was closed. The BZA found that the proposed monopole satisfied the intent of a camouflaged tower. They found that with this proposal, they could approve the Special Exception and Variances 2-4. A motion to that effect was made and seconded, passing unanimously.