Article XV, Telecommunication Towers
Dimensional standards
Uses
Permitted by right1
Extracted standards
17 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Design
- Antenna color neutral
Dish antennas will be of a neutral, non-reflective color with no logos. If an antenna is installed on a structure other than a tower, the antenna and supporting electrical and mechanical equipment must be of a neutral color that is closely compatible with the color of the supporting structure.
Other
- Abandonment period24 months
Any tower that is not in active use for a continuous period of 24 months shall be considered abandoned.
- Applies to towers exceeding 50 feet50 ft
The supplementary regulation in this article shall govern the location of towers that exceed 50 feet in height and antennas that are installed at greater than 50 feet in height.
- Approval timeframe for co-location application90 days
Unless some other timeframe is mutually agreed upon, an application for co-location shall be reviewed by the county and a written decision shall be issued within 90 days of a completed submission.
- Approval timeframe for tower application150 days
Unless some other timeframe is mutually agreed upon, an application for a tower shall be reviewed by the county and a written decision shall be issued within 150 days of a completed submission.
- Landscaped buffer width4 ft
The security fencing surrounding tower facilities shall be significantly screened from the view of adjacent properties and public rights-of-way by a buffer zone at least four feet wide that shall be landscaped with plant materials.
- Co-location permitted without conditional useConditional useAllowed only after a discretionary approval — usually a public hearing and a board vote. permit
Whenever a proposed placement of an antenna on or in an existing structure ... shall fall within the scope of Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2316.4:1 and Section 6409 ... such placement shall be permitted without the need for a conditional use permit so long as the proposed placement complies with Section 6409 and the FCC rules.
- Tower must collapse within lot lines
Towers shall be designed to collapse fully within the lot lines of the subject property in case of structural failure.
- Maximum tower heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.199 ft
Maximum tower height (including appurtenances) shall generally be 199 feet; however, the board of supervisors may approve a greater height based upon a demonstration of a significant gap in coverage.
- Removal time after notice90 days
The owner of any such tower ... shall remove the tower within 90 days of receipt of notice from the county.
- Replacement of nonconformingNonconformingLawful when built, but not compliant with the rules now in force; usually allowed to continue but not to expand. tower without conditional useConditional useAllowed only after a discretionary approval — usually a public hearing and a board vote. permit
A pre-existing nonconforming tower may be replaced without the need for a conditional use permit, subject only to administrative site plan, zoning permit, building permit and other applicable approvals if all of the following are met.
- Security fence minimum 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 the tower shall also be equipped with an appropriate anticlimbing device.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. to industrial/commercial properties
The minimum setback to the property lines of properties zoned industrial, commercial or to any property owned by the same owner as the subject property is 110 percent of the tower's designed break point (fall zone) measured from the center of the base of the tower.
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. to residential/agriculturalAgricultureRaising crops or livestock, generally including the structures that serve them./PUDPlanned unit development (PUD)A negotiated district where a whole site is approved to its own bespoke plan. properties
The minimum setback to property lines of properties zoned residential, agricultural, or PUD planned unit development shall generally be 110 percent of total tower height or 500 feet to off-site dwellings not owned by the owner of the subject property, measured from the center of the base of the tower, whichever is greater.
- Small cell facilities permitted by rightBy rightPermitted outright: if the plans meet the written rules, permission cannot be withheld.
In accordance with Code of Virginia, § 15.2-2316.4, small cell facilities shall be permitted by right in all zoning districts subject to the following general performance standards.
- Underground utilities required
All newly installed utilities including but not limited to, electric, fiber, CATV and telephone leading to the site shall be placed underground unless prohibited by the state or federal agency regulating such utilities.
Signage
- No signage on tower
No signage of any type may be placed on the tower or accompanying facility other than notices, warnings, and identification information required by law.
From the ordinance
Maximum tower height (including appurtenances) shall generally be 199 feet; however, the board of supervisors may approve a greater height based upon a demonstration of a significant gap in coverage, including a gap affecting wireless users in buildings and cars.