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<br />Exhibit B provides a summary of a sample of surrounding community's tower regulations. <br /> <br />According to wireless providers, as wireless technology increases, so does the need for <br />additional bandwidth. Topography and canopy coverage are common barriers to ideal coverage. <br />F or optimal service within a structure, the service area is approximately one mile to one and one- <br />half mile. This service area can actually be reduced as the number of users and use of bandwidth <br />increases as more people begin to use cellular technology as the primary phone. Text messaging, <br />photo messaging and streaming video, also reduce the amount of bandwidth available. Current <br />technology restricts the amount of bandwidth available per tower. These providers are seeking <br />additional towers in order to increase the total bandwidth available to their customers in the <br />community. Feedback from cellular technology is that the City of Ramsey's current ordinance <br />restricts the placement of these towers to just a few locations. <br /> <br />The future need of the community for additional cell towers depends on the increase in <br />population and the increase in demand for bandwidth due to technology. City Code requires that <br />carriers look for existing towers within one mile of the service area before considering an <br />additional tower. <br /> <br />Exhibit C shows current cell tower locations with one mile buffers. <br /> <br />It would seem that future towers would be required in the northern section of the City, especially <br />the NEand NW comers. According to a T-Mobile representative, the new water tower in Elk <br />River and larger Xcel Energy Utility Poles may be suitable to enhance coverage in those areas. <br />It is also noted that an additional Water Tower for the City of Ramsey is planned near Elmcrest <br />Park. <br /> <br />Exhibit D shows parcels that would qualify under the current ordinance that are not already <br />within a one mile radius of an existing tower. <br /> <br />Staff is seeking direction on the following: <br /> <br />. Should the City allow towers to be constructed in parks? <br />o Currently, towers can only be constructed in church, park, government, school, <br />utility, and institutional sites at least ten acres in size and only residential areas <br />within the Tower Overlay District at least ten acres in size. <br />o Because of their size, parks are often times the only option due to the current <br />language in City Code restricting construction on parcels smaller than ten acres in <br />SIze. <br />. Should the City allow towers on parcels smaller than ten (10) acres in size? <br />o One barrier to allowing towers in areas other than parks is this size of parcel <br />reql.lirement. <br />o Current City Code requires that towers be constructed of monopole design, which <br />is designed to falL straight down on itself in the event of tower structure failure. A <br />ten acre lot appears to be less critical as is the case with lattice designed towers. <br />o Size oflot could be determined based on set back measured as height of tower. <br />. Should the City increase/decrease the maximum height of towers? <br /> <br />-2- <br />