Planners approve Verizon telecommunications antenna on Wal-Mart
ALBION – The Orleans County Planning Board backed several projects on Thursday, including a proposal from Bell Atlantic Mobile Systems/Verizon Wireless to a microcell telecommunications facility on Wal-Mart.
Verizon wants to install a 4-foot wall-mounted antenna and radio unit on the rear of Wal-Mart at 13858 Route 31 West.
The ground space of the unit will measure 4-by-12 feet. The height of the structure, with the antenna, will be 25 feet.
The facility is expected to boost Verizon coverage to slightly north of the canal, south to Allen Road, west to West Barre-Eagle Harbor Road and east to the Albion village line.
In other action, the Planning Board:
• Backed an additional six-month moratorium on industrial solar energy projects in the Town of Albion.
The Albion Town Board first imposed the six-month moratorium on Nov. 14, 2016, and is seeking more time to update its local zoning laws. The moratorium doesn’t include residential projects, only projects exceeding more than one-half acre of land area.
• Approved the Town of Yates proposed zoning ordinance for solar projects. Yates is proposing to separate small and large scale systems, with small projects considered less than 50 kilowatts.
Large-scale projects are at least 50 kW used primarily for offsite sale or consumption.
Small-scale systems are allowed in any zoning district and require site plan approval, compliance with zoning regulations, maintenance of adequate solar access, screening shall be required where possible and practical.
The small-scale projects also should not present any unreasonable safety risks and be only as tall as necessary to achieve goal, according to the proposed ordinance.
Large-scale systems require site plan review and a special use permit in Agricultural/Residential and Industrial zoning districts.
The large-scale systems need blueprints certified by professional engineer or registered architect, a property operation and maintenance plan, and a decommissioning plan.
• Recommended the Town of Barre approve the site plan and modify the special use permit for the Legion of Christ to subdivide its property at 1400 Drake Island Road Extension.
The Legion of Christ, based in Roswell, Ga., is splitting its parcel into approximately a 68-acre parcel and 128-acre parcel.
The town is requiring the Legion of Christ install a 30-foto gravel driveway to allow for access of ambulances, fire trucks and large-scale vehicles.
