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Jacksonville committee approves waivers for proposed camouflage tower on CSX rail corridor
Summary
The Tower Review Committee approved two waivers to allow a 195-foot camouflaged "pine tree" wireless communications tower on CSX right-of-way near Woodley Road, reducing landscaping and setback requirements; staff recommended approval and the motions passed by voice vote.
The Tower Review Committee on Tuesday approved two waivers that will allow a 195-foot camouflaged wireless communications tower to be built on CSX railroad property just south of Woodley Road.
The committee voted to approve a waiver of minimum landscape requirements and a waiver of minimum setback requirements for the proposed pine-tree style tower, after a planning staff presentation and a brief public-comment period. Planning staff recommended approval for both waivers and the committee approved them by voice vote.
Planning staff told the committee the application for the waiver of minimum landscape requirements (WLR 2402) seeks to reduce or eliminate required landscaping under Part 15 of the zoning code for the proposed tower. Staff said the subject site is within an active two-track CSX rail line and that CSX requested limiting potential hazards or obstacles within the rail corridor.
Staff said it visited the site on Feb. 4 and observed the area from Woodley Road, noting that an existing tree line would provide a buffer between the tower site and Woodley Road and the residential property to the north. The staff report identified a companion waiver for minimum setbacks (WMS 2404) and a companion application for a camouflage wireless communication tower (CTW 2405).
According to the staff report, the proposed site covers about 12.77 acres and the tower design is a 195-foot “pine tree” camouflage structure to be located in a wooded area adjacent to the rail lines. The waiver of minimum setbacks would reduce the required setback from 195 feet to 85 feet, 8 inches for the nearby residentially zoned parcel. Staff said the single-family structure on the adjacent parcel at 7883 Woodley Road is 236.5 feet from the proposed tower location and that the site location was chosen in part to limit the length of an access road on CSX property for safety reasons.
At the public hearing the committee listed one card; Kendall Lotzsey appeared on behalf of the applicant and said he was available for questions. After closing the public hearing, a committee member moved to approve the first waiver and another member seconded; the committee approved the motion by voice vote. The committee then opened the public hearing on the companion waiver and, after the same applicant representative was acknowledged, moved and seconded approval; that motion also passed by voice vote.
The committee recorded the actions as approvals; no named roll-call votes were taken and committee members voted by voice. The meeting agenda indicated five members were present for a quorum.
No other public testimony or substantive conditions on the approvals were recorded in the transcript. The committee adjourned after the second approval.
Votes at a glance: WLR 2402 — Waiver of minimum landscape requirements for proposed camouflage tower on CSX right-of-way: approved by voice vote. WMS 2404 — Waiver of minimum setback requirements (reduce required setback from 195 feet to 85 feet, 8 inches) for adjacent residential parcel: approved by voice vote.
