2964240 Zoning Commission Notice of Public Hearing: Case No. 12-06 (Text Amendment: Antennas, Section 2711)  

  • ZONING COMMISSION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

    NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

     

    TIME AND PLACE:           Thursday, October 11, 2012, @ 6:30 p.m., 1st Case

    Jerrily R. Kress Memorial Hearing Room

    441 4th Street, N.W. Suite 220-S

    Washington, D.C.  20001

     

    FOR THE PURPOSE OF CONSIDERING THE FOLLOWING:

     

    CASE NO. 12-06 (Text amendments to allow upgrades and maintenance of existing antenna sites as a matter-of-right without the requirement of an Office of Planning report)

     

    THIS CASE IS OF INTEREST TO ALL ANCs

     

    The Office of Planning (“OP”) submitted a report dated June 29, 2012 that served as a petition requesting text amendments to the Zoning Regulations.  The report recommended amending the Zoning Regulations to provide that no OP report is required as part of the permitting process for upgrades and maintenance of existing antenna sites, or for the installation or maintenance of antenna-related equipment cabinets. 

     

    At its regular public meeting held July 9, 2012, the Zoning Commission setdown this case for a public hearing.

    The proposed amendments to the Zoning Regulations, Title 11 DCMR, are as follows:

     

    Chapter 27, Regulations of Antennas, Antenna Towers and Monopoles, Section 2711, Office of Planning Report, is amended as follows (new text is shown in bold and underline text):

     

    2711          OFFICE OF PLANNING REPORT

     

    2711.1       The Zoning Administrator shall not take final action on an application to permit an antenna tower, a monopole, or an antenna not exempted by § 2707, or for the modification of an existing antenna not exempted by 2711.4, until a report is received from the Office of Planning or thirty (30) days have passed since the application was submitted to the director of the Office of Planning, whichever occurs first.

     

    2711.2       The Director of the Office of Planning and the Zoning Administrator may agree to lengthen the time period indicated in § 2411.1, but in no event shall the review period exceed sixty (60) days.

     

    2711.3       The report of the Office of Planning shall provide specific criteria and information sufficient to enable the Zoning Administrator to determine whether the antenna complies with the applicable requirements of this chapter.

     

    2711.4       A report from the Office of Planning is not required for the:

     

    (a)     Installation or maintenance of antenna-related equipment cabinets and shelters consistent with the roof structure regulation;

     

    (b)    Modification of an existing antenna site that involves a one-to-one replacement of antennas or an increase of one antenna to a mount or sector,  for no more than            four (4) antennas per mount or sector, and provided that there would be no change to the permitted locations on roof tops or increase in the height of the antennas.

     

    Proposed amendments to the Zoning Regulations of the District of Columbia are authorized pursuant to the Zoning Act of June 20, 1938, (52 Stat. 797), as amended, D.C. Official Code § 6-641.01, et seq.

     

    The public hearing on this case will be conducted as a rulemaking in accordance with the provisions of 11 DCMR § 3021.  Pursuant to that section, the Commission will impose time limits on testimony presented to it at the public hearing.

     

    All individuals, organizations, or associations wishing to testify in this case should file their intention to testify in writing.  Written statements, in lieu of personal appearances or oral presentations, may be submitted for inclusion in the record.

     

    Information should be forwarded to Sharon S. Schellin, the Secretary of the Zoning Commission, Office of Zoning, Suite 200-S, 441 4th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., 20001.  Please include the number of this particular case and your daytime telephone number.  FOR FURTHER INFORMATION, YOU MAY CONTACT THE OFFICE OF ZONING AT (202) 727-6311.

     

    ANTHONY J. HOOD, MARCIE I. COHEN, PETER G. MAY, AND MICHAEL G. TURNBULL -------- ZONING COMMISSION FOR THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, BY SARA J. BARDIN, DIRECTOR, AND BY SHARON SCHELLIN, SECRETARY TO THE ZONING COMMISSION.