[Scan-DC] Mont. Council scheduled to vote on zoning measure for cell towers

[Alan Henney]

*Council scheduled to vote on zoning measure for cell towers and County
Fire and Rescue Service fiscal year 2019 savings plan on Oct. 23*
*Also on Oct. 23: Briefing by Washington Metropolitan Area Transit
Authority on improving service*

The Council will meet on *Tuesday, Oct. 23 at 9:30 a.m.* Individuals
interested in attending a Council meeting should confirm the information on
the day of the meeting by visiting the Council’s web page
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgxMDIyLjk2NTc3OTUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MTAyMi45NjU3Nzk1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MzE2MjkyJmVtYWlsaWQ9YWxhbkBoZW5uZXkuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1hbGFuQGhlbm5leS5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&100&&&https://tinyurl.com/CountyCouncilMeetings>or
by calling the Council’s Legislative Information Office at 240-777-7832.
All meetings are held in the Council Office Building (100 Maryland Ave.,
Rockville, MD.) in the third floor hearing room, unless otherwise noted.

*Zoning Text Amendment (ZTA) 18-11, Telecommunications Towers – Approval
Standards*
The Council is scheduled to vote on ZTA 18-11, Telecommunications Towers –
Approval Standards. ZTA 18-11 would, in part, allow the replacement of
poles taller than 22 feet to be approved as a limited use and poles up to
22 feet to be approved as a conditional use. A conditional use is one that
requires a subjective finding of compatibility after a public hearing. It’s
decided by a County hearing examiner and can be appealed to the Board of
Appeals. A limited use allows the Council to detail standards under which a
use is acceptable. The goal of ZTA 18-11 is to ensure access to robust
wireless broadband services by streamlining access to taller poles, while
retaining a process to allow greater input for pole placement and visual
appearance in residential areas. The Planning, Housing and Economic
Development (PHED) Committee recommends enactment with the following
amendments:

   - For facilities that require a conditional use (where existing poles
   are less than 22 feet tall), require a 60-foot setback subject to the
   hearing examiner’s determination that 30 feet is acceptable.
   - Require more assurance that Department of Permitting Services (DPS)
   permitting limits are followed.
   - Require that DPS has all the information in the application submitted
   to the Transmission Facility Coordinating Group (TFCG).
   - Correct the name of the TFCG.
   - Clarify the provision under which the hearing examiner is examining a
   new facility.

Additional amendments proposed by Councilmembers Tom Hucker, Roger Berliner
and Sidney Katz can be found on pages 2-3 of the Council staff report,
which can be viewed here
<http://links.govdelivery.com/track?type=click&enid=ZWFzPTEmbWFpbGluZ2lkPTIwMTgxMDIyLjk2NTc3OTUxJm1lc3NhZ2VpZD1NREItUFJELUJVTC0yMDE4MTAyMi45NjU3Nzk1MSZkYXRhYmFzZWlkPTEwMDEmc2VyaWFsPTE3MzE2MjkyJmVtYWlsaWQ9YWxhbkBoZW5uZXkuY29tJnVzZXJpZD1hbGFuQGhlbm5leS5jb20mZmw9JmV4dHJhPU11bHRpdmFyaWF0ZUlkPSYmJg==&&&101&&&https://www.montgomerycountymd.gov/council/Resources/Files/agenda/col/2018/20181023/20181023_4A.pdf>
.