Tower regulations

Other

• Abandonment period24 months

  Any antenna or tower that is not operated for a continuous period of 24 months shall be considered abandoned.

• Landscaping buffer width4 ft

  The standard buffer shall consist of a landscaped strip at least four-feet wide outside the perimeter of the facilities.

• Building code compliance

  To ensure the structural integrity of towers, the owner of a tower shall ensure that it is maintained in compliance with standards contained in applicable federal, state, and local building codes and regulations.

• Change of status report

  The owner of any tower that required a special use permit under these regulations for which a change of user status occurs, shall submit a report to the Accomack County Department of Building, Planning and Zoning.

• Collapse within lot lines

  Towers shall be designed to collapse within the lot lines or lease lines, if leased area does not conform to property lot lines, in case of structural failure.

• Availability of suitable existing towers

  No new tower shall be permitted unless the applicant demonstrates that no existing tower or structure can accommodate the applicant's proposed antenna.

• FAA/FCC compliance

  All towers must meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the FAA, the FCC, and any other agency of the federal government with the authority to regulate towers and antennas.

• Factors considered in granting special useConditional useAllowed only after a discretionary approval — usually a public hearing and a board vote. permits

  The board of zoning appeals shall consider the following factors: height, proximity to residential structures, nature of adjacent uses, topography, tree coverage, design, ingress/egress, co-location policy, lease agreement, consistency with comprehensive plan, availability of existing towers, VDOA approval.

• Information required for special use permitConditional useAllowed only after a discretionary approval — usually a public hearing and a board vote.

  Each applicant requesting a special use permit under this chapter shall submit the following: owner authorization, specifications, site plan, visual impact analysis, antenna owners, need justification, inventory of existing sites, propagation maps, co-location policy, engineering report, notice to adjoining property owners, FCC license, VDOA approval.

• Local government access

  Owners of towers may provide the county co-location opportunities as a community benefit to improve radio communication for county departments and emergency services.

• Maximum co-location heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.199 ft

  To permit co-location, the tower shall be designed and constructed to permit extensions to a maximum height of 199 feet.

• Removal time after notice90 days

  The owner of each such antenna or tower shall remove same within 90 days of receipt of notice from the county.

• Security fencing heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.6 ft

  Towers shall be enclosed by security fencing not less than six feet in height and shall also be equipped with an appropriate anti-climbing device.

• SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from off-site residential structure400 ft

  The tower must be set back from any off-site residential structure no less than 400 feet.

• Tree removal distance from tower200 ft

  Existing trees within 200 feet of the tower shall not be removed except as may be authorized to permit construction of the tower and installation of access for vehicle utilities.

• VDOA review

  Towers and antennas proposed to penetrate above any Federal Aviation Regulations (FAR) Part 77 surface pertaining to the Accomack County Airport or the Wallops Island Airport shall be submitted to the VDOA for review and approval.