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

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1> c...., vn,' y) u-t~ 5 L,'"1.0~ Case #1: Continue Public Hearing - Request for a Conditional Use Permit fora Telecommunications Tower in Alpine Park; Case ofT-Mobile USA Public Hearinf! Acting Chairperson Levine closed the regular portion of the Planning Commission meeting at 7:04 p.m. in order to call the public hearing to order. Presentation T-Mobile has submitted a conditional use permit application to construct a telecommunications tower and a 60 foot by 40 foot compound in Alpine Park. The proposed tower would be a monopole, in accordance with City Code, and proposes three co-location sites on the tower. There would be no building, but the compound area would include ground equipment platforms. An 8-foot chain link fence with barb wire is proposed to enclose the compound, and would connect to the existing fence on the park property. Chairperson Nixt arrived at 7:05 p.m. Ms. DaInes stated when Alpine Park was platted ,and the park land was given to the, City of Ramsey, restrictive covenants were written into the development agreement between Waste Management of Minnesota and the City of Ramsey that read as follows: ".. .regardless of the provisions of the City's zoning code, as from time to time amended, the Property shall not be used for ~y purpose other than park or open space..." The Declaration of Restrictive Covenants would need to be amended to allow telecommunications towers in addition to parks and open space. A proposed draft of the amended covenants, signed by Waste Management's director of operations, is included in the Commission's packet. Ms. DaInes indicated a landscaping/screening plan has not been submitted at this time. Associate Planner DaInes stated after reviewing the request for the telecommunications tower to be located in the southernmost portion of the park, just south of the soccer fields, staff requested that the applicant re-Iocate the tower farther east. The primary reasoning for this request is: 1) The tower construction will be more compatible with the future improvements planned for the park. Locating the tower on the southwest comer of the future parking lot will allow the City to benefit from its presence by the installation of Class Five surfacing near the future building/parking construction site. Also, there is a possibility to utilize the telecommunications structure as a light pole, although the likelihood is unclear. 2) The tower will not need a vadance to the rear yard setback, which concerns the MPCA. 3) The tower will not be directly visible from the center of the park and from Alpine Drive. The future park improvements will buffer the base of the tower from park users. Associate Planner Dalnes advised the Planning Commission to recommend approval of the telecommunications tower at the location proposed by City Staff, contingent up\?n the following items: 1) The site plan being revised to indicate the preferred location directly south of the future parking lot; 2) A sufficient landscaping/sc!eening plan being submitted, indicating the construction of an opaque, board fencing that adequately screens the compound from view. 3) The City entering into an acceptable lease agreement with T-Mobile. -257-