Plans For Herndon High Monopole Revised; Hearings Rescheduled

Herndon VA

15 June, 2020

10:21 AM

Description

HERNDON, VA — The application to install a telecommunications monopole at Herndon High School has been delayed again, this time due to changes submitted by the applicant at the request of Fairfax County Public Schools. The Fairfax County Planning Commission first postponed its decision on the application submitted by Milestone Communications in March, to allow FCPS a chance to address concerns raised by some Herndon residents. FCPS staff met with community members on March 4 and has since requested changes from the applicant about the placement and height of the pole and its supporting compound. Originally, Milestone was seeking the county's approval to install a 124-foot tall monopole and equipment compound on the north side of the Herndon High School football field. The facility would be located in an open area just west of the north side visitors bleachers, in between two stadium light poles, which are approximately 75-85 feet in height. FCPS already has 35 monopoles on school properties across the county, including administrative centers. Herndon Middle School has had a monopole since 2012. In February and March, a group of Herndon residents objected to the height of the pole and its cell carrier capacity, saying it was too high. In addition, they had concerns about the compound area, which was located in a space traditionally used by sports teams to warm up. The original location of the monopole compound is shown in red and the revised location, which is partially under the visitors bleachers, is shown in green. (Fairfax County)Under Milestone's revised application, the monopole would be shorter — 114 feet — and have only a four cell carrier capacity. The compound area would be smaller and moved nearer the visitors bleachers. In addition, two future carrier lease areas, measuring 24 feet by 9 feet, would be located under the bleachers for future use. Material Change SummaryOriginal PlanRevised PlanPercentage of Increase/DecreaseMonopole Height124 feet114 feet(8 percent)Cell Carrier Capacity54(20 percent)Compound Area (SF)*Surface AreaUnder-Bleacher AreaTotal2,590N/A 2,5901,175432. 1,607(55 percent)N/A. (38 percent)*The original compound area was all surface area to the left of the Visitor's bleachers. The revised compound area is adjacent to and partially under the bleachers which is a similar configuration at some of the other high schools hosting monopoles. (FCPS) FCPS will be conducting an onsite meeting July 1 with the community members who originally objected to the application, as well as representatives from athletic organizations and adjacent homeowners associations. The Planning Commission will vote July 8, at 7:30 p.m., on the application and the Board of Supervisors will host a public hearing on Sept. 15, 3 p.m. "These meeting changes were necessitated, in part, by the COVID pandemic but, mostly by a change in a down-sized scope of the proposed monopole project by the applicant (Milestone Communications) as requested by Fairfax County Public Schools (FCPS)," said Robert Cordova, coordinator of the Property Management of FCPS' Department of Facilities & Transportation Services in an email. Also see ... Herndon High Monopole Decision Delayed Indefinitely Planning Commission Postpones Vote On Herndon High Monopole