Major Communication Facilities

As specified in the Oro Valley Zoning Code, all fees must be paid in full prior to approval of an application. 

The fee for a major communication facility is $1,800.

Public Outreach: The cost for mailing postcards for neighborhood meetings will be added to the fees via the Town's online permitting system. 

• A narrative that provides details about the proposed project
• Any supporting documentation such as maps, site plans, etc. 

The more information you are able to provide the more feedback staff will be able to give.

As part of the Public Outreach process (Section 22.15.E of the Zoning Code), the Public Outreach Plan and subsequent report are required.

• Public Outreach Plan (POP) – required following the first neighborhood meeting as part of the formal submittal. The Plan must include the following:
  • A description of the project
  • Identification of interested stakeholders, including homeowners’ associations that are affected by the proposal
  • A proposed neighborhood meeting process
  • The POP must incorporate the neighborhood meeting requirements noted in 22.15.F. The applicant may propose an alternative process if it is designed to include key stakeholders in a meaningful way, and is consistent with 22.15.A: Purpose, public participation, and notification policy. Any alternative proposal will be subject to Planning and Zoning Administrator approval. At a minimum, the POP must contain educational and issue identification and resolution elements, as defined in the public participation and notification policy.
• Public Outreach Report – required at the conclusion of the public outreach process. The report must include:

• A list of neighborhood meetings, noting when and where they were held; the number of people that attended; and copies of sign-in sheets.
• A list of meeting notification methods used.
• Copies of comment letters, petitions, and other pertinent information received from residents and other interested parties.
• A summary of the issues and concerns that were raised.
• A list of solutions that were agreed upon.
• A list of issues that were not resolved, with an explanation of why solutions were not achieved.

Please note, the Public Outreach Report must be updated and resubmitted throughout the process accordingly.

• The video is required prior to 1st neighborhood meeting to provide an introduction and brief overview of the proposal.
• The video must be posted at least 15-days prior to the neighborhood meeting. To achieve this, the recording must be done at least 1 week prior to the 15-day posting deadline.
• Videos are recorded online via Zoom. The recording must be coordinated with Town staff. 
• A PowerPoint (or PDF) presentation is required in widescreen format.  At a minimum, presentations should include the following:
  • Details about the proposal 
  • How the proposal complies with zoning requirements – this includes any applicable criteria or key standards such as height, stealth applications, and more. 

• Purpose: Identify questions, comments, or concerns from the community. Goals for the first neighborhood meeting include:

• Everyone understands the proposal, review process and applicable code requirements.
• A list of questions, comments, or concerns from the community is identified.
• If time permits, design solutions to mitigate concerns are discussed.

• Schedule: The first neighborhood meeting is scheduled roughly 4 weeks after the pre-application meeting to allow time to record the informational video and send out the required 15-day notice. A second neighborhood meeting is scheduled before the application goes to public hearing.

• Meeting format:
  • Staff Presentation: Provides a brief overview about the project, which includes the location, history of the site, key zoning requirements, proposal and review process.
  • Applicant Presentation: A description about the project and how it complies with zoning requirements. 
  • Audience questions and comments: Applicants should be prepared to answer questions and/or respond to comments. 

• Location: Neighborhood meetings are typically held at Town Hall (11000 N. La Canada Drive) from 6-7:30 PM.
• Presentations:
  
  • The presentation for the first neighborhood meeting is often similar to the one provided for the informational video.
  • All presentations must be provided in "Widescreen" format in both PPT and PDF. 
  • At a minimum, presentations should include the following:
    • Details about the proposal – 
    • How the proposal complies with zoning requirements – this includes but is not limited to height, stealth applications, etc. 

    • How the proposal addresses concerns from neighbors (only applicable for the 2nd neighborhood meeting)

The following items must be submitted in PDF format. Please name PDF files in a self-explanatory manner such as “Document Type – Date.”

Narrative:

1. Detailed description of all stealth applications used to reduce the visible impact of the facility and accompanying ground equipment
2. Opportunity for additional providers to collocate
3. Summary of site selection process
4. The following exhibits should be included with the written narrative:
   • Map of existing communication facilities within a 1- mile radius
   • Prop maps with and without the proposed facility
   • Photo simulations showing multiple elevations and details of antennas and ground equipment using stealth applications. Photo simulations should include both before and after images. 

5. CUP criteria in Section 22.5 responses. The criteria include:

   • That the granting of such CUP will not be materially detrimental to the public health, safety, or welfare. In arriving at this determination, the factors which shall be considered shall include the following:
     • Damage or nuisance arising from noise, smoke, odor, dust, vibration or illumination.
     • Hazard to persons and property from possible explosion, contamination, fire or flood.
     • Unusual volume or character of traffic
   • That the characteristics of the use proposed in such use permit are reasonably compatible with the types of uses surrounding area and sufficient mitigation measures are employed to minimize impact on adjoining properties.
   • That the proposed use is consistent with the goals and policies of the general plan.
   • That the hours of operation of the proposed use will not adversely impact neighboring properties.

Site Plan:

1. Location of tower, antennas and equipment structures.
2. Lease area for cell provider.
3. If collocating, show existing facility equipment.
4. Show setbacks from all property lines and residential areas.
5. Show proposed height of facility and ground equipment.
6. If proposing a new monopole or collocating on an existing monopole, show existing and proposed width of pole.
7. For new facilities and collocations, show the distance of the antenna arrays from the center point of the pole.
8. Provide detail (elevation view) of the proposed screening for ground equipment. Include color and materials.
9. Provide detail of the plaque or marker (no larger than four inches by six inches), clearly identifying the provider’s name, address and emergency phone number.

Construction Details (if applicable):

1. Structural calculations for any new poles or poles with modified loads due to antenna configuration, additions to buildings/new building(s), and/or walls over 6 feet.
2. Electrical plans for any revisions to existing electric wiring and panel boards, new electric wiring and panel boards, electrical bonding, ground of antenna poles and/or equipment, and outdoor lighting cut sheets with lumen output.

Native Plant Salvage and Landscape Details (if applicable)

1. If the new facility or associated ground equipment requires removal of any native plants, the following is required. 
2. An aerial of the site identifying the locations, types, and treatment of any native plants being disturbed. Treatment options include preserving the plant in place (PIP), transferring on site (TOS), or removing from site (RFS).
   • Plants that are removed from site yet meet the salvage criteria, must be mitigated per Table 27-1 of the Zoning Code.
   • Mitigated plants must be shown on an associated landscape sheets.
3. Landscape sheets:
   • Location, type and sizes of new plants. 
   • Irrigation source for all new plants. 

Submit all information on the customer portal under "Communication Facility - Major Facility" 

Staff Presentation

• Staff will provide a brief presentation to give an overview of the proposal and applicable code requirements.
• Staff presentations typically include the following:
  • Quick overview of the request 
  • Location of the project
  • Background or history of the site 
  • Key zoning requirements (e.g., evaluation criteria)
  • Public review process and/or neighborhood concerns
  • Summary and recommendation

Applicant Presentation 

• The applicant and/or property owner will be expected to provide a PowerPoint presentation about their proposal and answer questions or comments during the public hearings.
• Ultimately, it is the applicant’s responsibility to promote their proposal and show how it meets Town standards. At a minimum, presentations should include the following:
  • Details about the request
  • How the proposal complies with zoning requirements (e.g., conditional use permit criteria)
  • Impacts, if any
  • How the proposal addresses concerns from neighbors
• All presentations must be provided in “Widescreen” format in PPT and PDF.