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<br />Case #7: <br /> <br />Discussion of Section 9.15 "Towers" of the City Code; Case of City of <br />Ramsey <br /> <br />Presentation <br /> <br />Management Intern Gladhill stated on January 8, 2008, City Council directed staff to draft an <br />Interim Ordinance for a moratorium on Conditional Use Permits (CUP) to construct cell towers <br />within the City of Ramsey. The moratorium will be effective from March 17, 2008 through <br />September 17,2008. <br /> <br />The purpose of this moratorium is to allow staff time to study possible revisions to the current <br />cell tower ordinance. There has been significant discussion regarding height of towers, <br />placement of towers, as well as some minor revisions needed since the addition of the <br />Public/Quasi-Public zoning designations to City Code. Antennas will continue to be allowed to <br />be attached to existing structures during the moratorium. <br /> <br />Due to the increased demand of cell phone technology, cell phone providers state that additional <br />towers and antennas are required to provide basic, uninterrupted service to customers. Currently, <br />towers are allowed on residential parcels that are at least ten (10) acres in size within the Tower <br />Overlay District as shown on the official Zoning Map and all church, park, government, school, <br />utility, and institutional sites that are also at least ten (10) acres in size. <br /> <br />Management Intern Gladhill reviewed the current ordinance with the Commission as it relates to <br />the proposed changes. . <br /> <br />Staff recommends revisions to Section 9.15 "Towers" of City Code. <br /> <br />Commission Business <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt thought the question that needed to be asked and answered was how they are <br />going to get an adequate amount of coverage across the City of Ramsey. He wondered how they <br />are going to reasonably accommodate the wireless providers who want to have access to the City <br />so they can say the City feels this is where they feel comfortable to allow access. He, thought <br />they ought to be able to find a consultant who can come up with a reasonable plan for them. <br /> <br />Commissioner Levine thought they needed to figure out what they will need in ten to fifteen <br />years and then make the decision on where they are going to put the towers. <br /> <br />Chairperson Nixt stated they should be able to provide as a City what is the best balance and if <br />they craft their ordinance with the flexibility to meet that balance along with meeting the legal <br />obligation and soliciting some feedback they should be able to provide a reasonable plan. <br /> <br />Commissioner Brauer did not think towers would be in use fifteen years from now because of all <br />of the new technology that has come out and will come out. He stated there are a lot of <br />technological advances such as satellite and WiFi so he thought they needed to look at this as <br /> <br />Planning Commission / March 6, 2008 <br />Page 19 of 21 <br /> <br />P19 <br />