SEBASTIAN — Just say no to the proposal to locate a 149-foot communications tower on unincorporated county property adjacent to the Sebastian city limits was the message City staff urged the Sebastian Planning and Zoning Commission relay to the County Commission and, after some spirited discussion Thursday evening, the Commission voted to do just that.
The 37-acre privately owned parcel, known as the Russell property, is accessed by a road off County Road 510 opposite Treasure Coast Elementary School, near Sebastian River Landing and the Sebastian Highlands.
All adjacent properties are currently zoned residential and the Russell property itself is zoned for agriculture. Because of the nature of the area, the tower would have to receive a special exception approval from the Indian River County Planning and Zoning Commission.
Since being notified by the county of the tower project in August, the Sebastian Community Development Department staff has studied the request. Using the city’s Telecommunications Facilities Standards as a guide, staff concluded that concerns exist regarding visual impact, danger to adjacent properties and possible compromised value of adjacent property for future development.
Staff, too, expressed concern as to how the 149-foot tower would blend with its surroundings. The city was given photo simulations that showed the tower in its proposed location. Monopole stealth towers can be made to simulate tree tops or flag poles, among other designs, and the proposed tower is a “flag pole,” considered by city staff to appear “out of place” and aesthetically displeasing.
Moreover, if the proposed location had been within the city’s jurisdiction, the required setback would be equal to the height of the tower or 149 feet from a property line, so that if the tower fell it wouldn’t land on adjacent property. The current setback on the Russell property, not including the ground equipment area, is 61 feet – the county code requirement, calculated using the tower structure’s “breakpoint” design.
The County Technical Review Committee had expressed concerns similar to those of the city and had asked the applicant to “please coordinate with the City of Sebastian regarding the City’s tower regulations and whether the tower could be conforming if annexed.”
Annexation, the commission agreed, was not a probability.
Sebastian’s Community Development staff indicated they had not been so notified and further noted that if the location were to be inside the city limits the tower would be non-conforming, based on the setback requirement of the city and the residential zoning in the area.
After considering arguments, pro and con, the vote was 5-2 to take staff’s recommendation against the tower and requested City Manager Al Minner draft a position statement to bring before the County Planning and Zoning Commission at its Sept. 26 meeting.
