HomeMy WebLinkAboutC.054.93009_1693OF
LOCAL LAND USE REGULATION OF BROADCAST TOWERS
WHEREAS, Iredell County and other North Carolina local governments have developed land use
regulations governing the location and construction of broadcast towers within their jurisdictions; and
WHEREAS, such towers can have a large adverse affect upon property values, and their location can
often create the greatest amount of public concern; and
WHEREAS, the location of such towers needs to be carefully considered on a case-by-case basis
by local officials who are most familiar with land use patterns and other pertinent concerns within each
community; and
WHEREAS, the Federal Communications Commission has proposed rule making (Docket No. 97-
182) that would preempt local zoning authority over broadcast towers, and severely limit zoning authority over
the siting and construction of such broadcast towers in preparation for a proposed shift to digital television;
and
WHEREAS, digital television will require approximately 1,000 towers nationwide to be upgraded or
replaced; and
WHEREAS, the location of such broadcast towers should not be just a federal concern but rather a
local concern as well; and
WHEREAS, the Iredell County Board of Commissioners is strongly opposed to federal preemption
of this important local prerogative.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, by the Iredell County Board of Commissioners that it
strongly opposes the proposed rule making (Docket No. 97.182) by the Federal Communications
Commission which would preempt local land use authority in this situation. The Clerk is directed to forward
a copy of this resolution immediately to the Chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, the
President of the United States, the Senators and Representatives representing Iredell County in the United
States Congress, the local delegation in the North Carolina General Assembly, and the North Carolina
Association of County Commissioners.
VOTING: Ayes - 5; Nays - 0 .
REQUEST FROM TOWN OF MOORESVILLE FOR EXTENSION OF ITS EXTRA-
TERRITORIAL JURISDICTION TO INCLUDE THE AREA SURROUNDING THE
PROPOSED NEW LAKE NORMAN REGIONAL MEDICAL CENTER AT EXIT 3311-77:
Robert Randall, Town of Mooresville Commissioner; Rick McLean, Mooresville Town Manager; and
Erskine Smith, the Mooresville Planning Officer, attended the meeting in reference to this item.
Commissioner Johnson mentioned that Hwy. 21 and Hwy. 115 were mostly commercial corridors. He
said that "in -land" of these areas, and in between 1-77 and Hwy. 21, there were some residential areas,
but as the price of land became more valuable there would be a willingness of some people to sell
and move elsewhere. Johnson said he desired to maintain the integrity of the residential areas. He
asked Smith about the town's buffering between commercial and residential areas. Smith said the
town's zoning ordinance stipulated that if a commercial piece of property was developed near a
residential lot some type of screening (opaque fencing, minimum buffer size of 20 ft, in width with
a number of trees and shrubs in the buffer up to a maximum of a 50 ft. buffer) was required.
Johnson said he understood from the briefing session that several people were requesting
voluntary annexation. Smith said this was correct and that Crosland Retail and Lake Norman Regional
Medical Center had submitted petitions for annexation. Several others voiced a desire to be annexed
when water sewer was completed. Smith further said that more voluntary annexations would
probably occur between 1998 and 1999.
Town Commissioner Randall said he had not heard of any opposition to Mooresville's request.
Chairman Haire said she was from the community being discussed and she felt if anyone had any
problems she would have heard from them.
Smith said the General Statutes would require the Town to advertise and post the property