Article 20, Sections 20-1 through 20-22
Dimensional standards
Height & bulk
Servicing
- Applies near
- Blue Ridge Parkway; Appalachian National Scenic Trail; Virginia Scenic Byway
- Applies within
- 1,320 ft
- Geographic extent
- Applies to all communication towers in Nelson County; specific setbacksSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. within viewsheds of Blue Ridge Parkway and Appalachian National Scenic Trail; within 120 feet of Virginia Scenic Byways
Extracted standards
30 individual requirements pulled out of this section’s prose, each with the sentence it came from.
Fencing & walls
- Minimum security fence heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.8 ft
Towers shall be enclosed by security fencing no less than eight (8) feet in height
Landscaping & trees
- Minimum landscaping buffer width4 ft
The standard buffer shall consist of a landscaped strip at least four (4) feet wide outside the perimeter of the facilities
- Tree removal restriction distance120 ft
Existing trees within one hundred twenty (120) feet of the tower shall not be removed
Lighting
- Equipment cabinet light maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first. above cabinet1 ft
A light installed on an equipment cabinet shall be no more than one (1) foot above the top of the cabinet
- Tower unlit unless required by federal agency
The communication tower shall be unlit unless required by a federal agency
Other
- Attachment pole maximum diameter3 in
An attachment pole (i) shall not exceed three (3) inches in diameter
- Co-location required for new towers
Applicants for new communication tower permits must agree to allow additional permitted uses of the tower by future applicants
- Construction completion timeframe12 months
construction of Class B and C tower structures shall be completed within one (1) year of the date of issuance of the permit
- Fall zone - lattice tower (% of heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.)125 pct
lattice tower—one hundred twenty-five (125) percent of tower height
- Fall zone - metal monopole (% of heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.)110 pct
metal monopole—one hundred ten (110) percent of tower height
- Fall zone - wood pole (% of heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.)100 pct
wood poles—one hundred (100) percent of tower height
guy wired towers shall not be permitted
- Lightning rod maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.2 ft
lightning rod, whose width shall not exceed one (1) inch in diameter at the base and tapering to a point, may be installed at the top of facility or the structure
- Lightning rod maximum width1 in
lightning rod, whose width shall not exceed one (1) inch in diameter at the base and tapering to a point
- Maximum antenna area1,152 sqin
each antenna shall not exceed one thousand one hundred fifty-two (1,152) square inches
- Maximum number of antenna arrays3 count
the total number of arrays of antennas attached to the existing structure shall not exceed three (3)
- Maximum antenna projection from structure12 in
no case shall any point on the face of an antenna project more than twelve (12) inches from the existing structure
- Maximum antennas per array3 count
each array shall contain no more than three (3) antennas
- Maximum slope ratio2 ratio
No slopes associated with the installation of the facility and accessory uses shall be created that are steeper than 2:1
- Minimum general liability insurance1,000,000 usd
a current Certificate of Insurance for general liability insurance for a minimum amount of one million dollars ($1,000,000.00) per occurrence
- Monopole maximum base diameter30 in
Shall not exceed a maximum base diameter of thirty (30) inches
- Freestanding monopole maximum heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.40 ft
A freestanding monopole less than forty (40) feet in height
- Monopole maximum top diameter18 in
maximum diameter at the top of eighteen (18) inches
- Removal timeframe after discontinuation90 days
The facility shall be disassembled and removed from the site within ninety (90) days of the date its use for wireless communication purposes is discontinued
- Temporary tower fall zone (% of heightMaximum heightThe tallest a building may be, given in feet, in storeys, or both — whichever binds first.)150 pct
The minimum distance from the base of a Temporary Tower to the property line(s) shall be a minimum of one hundred fifty (150) percent of the Temporary Tower height
- Temporary tower maximum duration30 days
not to exceed a maximum total duration of thirty (30) days
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from Blue Ridge Parkway or Appalachian Trail1,320 ft
No communication tower shall be located within one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet of the nearest boundary of the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Appalachian National Scenic Trail
- SetbackSetbackThe distance a building must be held back from a lot line. from Virginia Scenic Byway120 ft
No communication tower shall be located within one hundred twenty (120) feet of any Virginia Scenic Byway
- Whip antenna maximum diameter6 in
a whip antenna less than six (6) inches in diameter may exceed the height of the existing structure or monopole
Signage
- Maximum identification sign area6 sqftsq ftSquare feet. An acre is 43,560 sq ft; a typical suburban lot is 7,000–10,000.
A sign measuring six (6) square feet or less
From the ordinance
No communication tower shall be located within one thousand three hundred twenty (1,320) feet of the nearest boundary of the Blue Ridge Parkway or the Appalachian National Scenic Trail.