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BACKGROUND. Several months ago, county staff began working with the state to develop an acceptable way of accommodating the I-95 corridor communications needs of various state agencies, including the Division of Communications, and FDOT's call box system. Originally, the state proposed erecting two new towers along I-95: a *3501 tower at the CR 512/1-95 interchange and a * 150' tower at the SR 60/1-95 interchange. In March and April of this year, the Board agreed with staff recommendations and requested that the state not site the towers at the interchanges and that the state work with county staff to find alternative sites located away from major entranceways to the county. Since that time, staff has worked with the state on various alternative north and south county sites. The state has now finalized revised plans that are acceptable to county staff. Therefore staff requests the Board's concurrence with the state's plans, with conditions. ANALYSIS• As previously reported to the Board, the county has no regulatory authority over the state siting towers within the state's right-of-way. However, the state has agreed to work with the county and to respect the county's wishes to keep towers away from the high profile I-95 interchanges that function as major entranceways to the county. The state's final plans are as follows: •North County No new state tower will be erected in northern Indian River County. Instead, a new 300' tower will be erected in southern Brevard County at I-95 and the C54 Canal. Also, an antenna for the state Division of Communications will be attached to the existing 300' tall American Tower Systems tower located southeast of Fellsmere. Such collocation is encouraged by the county, and has already been permitted via a staff -approved administrative approval site plan, pursuant to the county's new tower regulations. *South County In lieu of a tower at the I-95/SR 60 interchange, a new 201' tower will be located 2 miles further south, on the west side of I-95 where it crosses 90th Avenue. The FAA (Federal Aviation Administration) has determined that the tower will not exceed FAA obstruction standards and will not be a hazard to air navigation. The tower will be located within state controlled right-of-way, far from any existing homes and west of I-95 where county zoning and tower regulations allow towers over 150' tall in the A-2 agricultural zoning district. As requested by stat y dual lighting is to be provided with white strobe lighting during the day and red pulse lighting at night. Also, consistent with county tower requirements, the state has agreed to preserve and provide landscape muning around the equipment building that will be located at the base of the tower. Staff Will coordinate with FDOT's environmental division to determine species and placement of supplemental landscaping. In stag's opinion, the state's final plans meet the county's previously stated objective of keeping new state towers away from the I-95 interchanges. Although the south county tower will be located next to I-95, it will be located in an area far from any existing homes, in an area where towers over 150' tall are approvable under the county's new tower regulations, and it will be consistent with the county's tower lighting and landscape screening requirements. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board of County Commissioners concur with staff that the state's final I- 95 corridor tower and antenna plans are acceptable, with a condition that the I-95/90th Avenue tower be provided with day/night dual lighting and landscape screening around the equipment building. ON MOTION by Commissioner Ginn, SECONDED by Commissioner Tippin, the Board, by a 4-0 vote (Commissioner Macht absent) unanimously concurred with staff that the State's final I-95 corridor tower and antenna plans are acceptable, with a condition that the I-95/90' Avenue tower be provided with day/night dual lighting and landscape screening around the equipment building, pursuant to staffs recommendations. OCTOBER 7, 1997 91