AGENDA DATE: 2/14/2018
TITLE: Bucks Elbow Mountain ECC Replacement Tower Special Use Permit Application
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Authorization of the Emergency Communications Center’s Special Use Permit Application to the County for the Charlottesville-UVA-Albemarle Emergency Communications Center Replacement Tower at Bucks Elbow Mountain
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Richardson, Walker, Kamptner, Blair, Elias, Ragsdale
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Jeffrey B. Richardson
BACKGROUND: In 2001, as part of the regional Emergency Communications Center’s (“ECC’s”) implementation of an 800 MHz radio system, a special use permit was approved for a 120’ tower at Bucks Elbow Mountain on property (Tax Map Parcel 03900-00-00-001B1) owned by the County of Albemarle. (Attachment A-Location Map) The special use permit was later amended in 2003 to extend the period of validity of the permit and for minor ground equipment changes (SP 2003-21). While the tower qualifies as a public use, the County has historically chosen to process public communication tower facilities as special use permits to provide a higher level of review, public input opportunities, and limiting conditions of approval.
STRATEGIC PLAN:
Infrastructure Investment: Prioritize, plan, and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
Rural Area Character: Preserve the character of rural life with thriving farms and forests, traditional crossroad communities, and protected scenic areas, historic sites, and biodiversity
DISCUSSION: The ECC needs to replace major technology components of the system and also construct a replacement tower for the Bucks Elbow site with an increase in height up to a 150’ tower. The replacement tower can be accommodated within the existing County owned parcel. However, the proposed increase in height does not comply with the special use permit condition for the site that requires that the site be developed in substantial compliance with the site plan approved. In order to allow for the increase in height, the special use permit condition must be amended. An application to amend SP 2003-21 has been prepared (Attachment B). County Code § 18-33.4 requires the owner of the property to file a special use permit application. The County owns the parcel where the Bucks Elbow site is located. Board authorization is necessary for the County Executive to sign the special use permit application as the property owner.
BUDGET IMPACT: The special use permit application fee of $1,075 will be funded from the ECC’s budget. There is no operating impact related to this matter at this time, and costs for the project have already been addressed through the CIP process.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the Board adopt the attached Resolution (Attachment C) authorizing the ECC’s application for a special use permit to the County.
ATTACHMENTS:
A. Location Map
B. Special Use Application
C. Resolution