Agenda - Council - 01/08/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

Funding Source: The applicant is responsible for' all costs associated with processing the land use application and reviewing the request for conditional uSe permit. Recommendation: While it is recognized that there are aesthetic concerns with telecommunications towers, it is also acknowledged that there is public value increasing access to cellular service. Furthermore, locating these. towers on City-owned property further benefits the City by generating revenue. City Staff is proposing that revenue generated from the lease of the Subject Property is directed to the Park Trust Fund and is utilized for the future improvements in Alpine Park. Currently, lease revenue for other antennas on the City's water towers is directed to the general fund. The Park and Recreation Commission met on May lO, 2007 and recommended that the City Council proceed with the permitting of a cellular tower in Alpine Park, subject to the location and opportunities identified [in the minutes]. ' The Planning Commission met on June 7, 2007, held a public hearing, and recommended that the City Council approve the' request for a telecommunications tower, contingent upon revising the location to be directly south of the future parking lot [in the originally proposed location], submission of the landscaping plan and construction of opaque fencing for screening purposes, and the City entering into a lease agreement. Since the public hearing, revised plans have been submitted based on staff's and Council's comments. Residents spoke at the original hearing and submitted comments outlining concerns regarding aesthetics and the proximity of the tower to residential areas. The City Council heard the request for the construction of the tower on the southwest comer of the park on September 25, 2007, and tabled the request for staff and the Council to work with the applicant on identifying a location that was farther away from residents. The location has since been changed to be located farther east, away from residents. At a worksession on October 30,2007, the City Council discussed multiple alternative locations, and determined that the south-central portion of the park, as currently proposed, was the least intrusive to the environment or park uses. The Council also directed staff to re-examine the tower ordinance to consider eliminating park locations from the list of acceptable areas for telecommunications towers. Staff recommends approval of the telecommunications tower at the location proposed by the applicant, contingent upon the following items: 1) Submission of a final landscaping plan that addresses the requests of the Parks Supervisor and the Environmental Coordinator. 2) Adopting and recording Restrictive Covenants, as proposed. 3) The City entering into an acceptable lease agreement with T-Mobile. Council Action: Motion to adopt Findings of Fact#_ relating to a request from T-Mobile to construct a telecommunications tower in Alpine Park; -243-