Brevard cell-tower rules up for vote on Thursday
County officials have reached a compromise with a coalition of amateur radio operators, clearing the way for new rules on communications towers.
The Brevard County Commission plans to take a final vote Thursday evening on rules that set height and design guidelines for cellular and radio towers in unincorporated Brevard, as well as setting up a process for streamlined approval of towers that are situated on county-owned land.
Radio operators objected to the proposed rules because they had no exemption for private radio antennas. They have had an exemption under the current rules since 2003.
Commissioners directed county staff to add the exemption to the proposed rules, and took a preliminary, unanimous vote in favor of the overall series of rule changes.
Under the proposed rules, the height of future towers in unincorporated Brevard generally would be limited to:
• 80 feet along the barrier islands, and the infrastructure should be concealed.
• 120 feet in urban areas where there are more than 100 addresses per square mile.
• 199 feet in rural areas where there are fewer than 100 addresses per square mile.
Tower developers could seek permission to exceed these heights, but would need to get County Commission approval for what's known as a "conditional-use permit."
The rules also encourage the use of concealed or camouflaged tower designs. Concealed towers would be enclosed within an architectural feature like a faux window, or support structures that have a secondary use like a bell or clock tower, church steeple, light standard, flagpole or faux tree. Camouflaged towers would be painted to blend in with the sky or nearby vegetation.
The more common non-concealed towers would be the least-preferred design style, and would undergo a most stringent review process, as part of the county proposal.
Assistant County Manager Mel Scott said the revisions represent "a very forward-thinking planning tool" as demand for more cell towers increases with the proliferation of smartphones and other devices that are heavy users of data.
The proposed ordinance also could represent "a future revenue source for the county," County Commissioner Robin Fisher said.
That's because the plan would allow streamlined approval for towers if they are on county-owned land. In those cases, the county would get money from leasing the land to tower developers.
Research also is underway related to the county constructing cell towers on county land, then leasing space on the towers to cellular companies.
County Commissioner Chuck Nelson the potential increased regulation on amateur radio operators was an "unintended consequence" of the nearly two years of work the county has gone through to craft new regulations for the cell tower industry.
"We want to get back to where we were" for the amateur radio operators, Nelson said.
In addition to being hobbyists, the ham operators help provide communications for the county in times of emergency, such as a hurricane or large wildfire.
Contact Berman at 321-242-3649 or dberman@floridatoday.com Follow him on Twitter at @ByDaveBerman and on Facebook at facebook.com/dave.berman.54
IF YOU GO
The Brevard County Commission will hold its final hearing and vote on proposed regulations of telecommunications towers during its meeting that begins at 5 p.m. Thursday at the Brevard County Government Center, Building C, 2725 Judge Fran Jamieson Way, Viera.