Agenda - Council - 07/22/2008 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #3: Public Hearing -Consider Ordinance to Amend City Code Section 9.15 Towers; Case of City of Ramsey Chairperson Nixt closed the regular portion of the Planning Commission meeting at 7:55 p.m. in order to call the public hearing to order. Public Hearing Chairperson Nixt called the public hearing to order at 7:55 p:m Presentation Associate Planner Gledhill noted the item before. the Commissirni is ~sez-eral re~~iions to the ordinance that regulates the placement of towers inRan~se~~. He explaincdtha~ a moratorium on the construction of celltowers is currently in effecriintil September 17,2Q08: Associate Planner Gledhill reviewed staff's research of current t~~~-er location, identification of gaps in coverage, -and need for additional tow. ers. The southern half of Ramsey will be adequately served based on the current ordulaile`e. However, are~is in the northern half of Ramsey show gaps in coverage and there are i1o significant comn3ercial or industrial parcels within that area so an ordinance amendment to the To~~er Overlay District is recommended to cover those gaps.. Staff studied lot sizes and site conditions (natal resources) to determine the new overlay district and found opport~mit< fir c~-location on existing utility power poles. However, this cannot be required because the Cin~ does riot olvn the poles. Associate Planner Gla~dhill presented the follov~~iig~roposed ordinance changes .and provided an Q~_ a explanation for each: • Anteas ~~~~~ be co-located. oo z~isting structures in parks; however, no new towers may be constructed ~~~ithiii parla ~_~ • Nei~ht liniii~ have been adjusted to100~feet in all zoning districts; an additiona120' may be granted if a niinimumof two ser~~-ices are co-located on the tower • The 10 acre requu~enlent for lot size has been eliminated; lot size will be regulated by setback, which is the hei `~ ht °of the tower plus 10 feet • Totii-ers must still be de.si~~~le`d to accommodate three users • To~ti~ers «~ill not be alhti~ ed to be constructed in the Critical River Qverlay District or Tc~`~i1 Center Zonin~~ Districts; however, antennas will be allowed to be mounted on existing sfruciures'in iliese areas • Towers and antennas will not be allowed to'be constructed in the H-1 Highway Business District; this area is reserved for future Highway 10 alignment and construction of towers would result in added relocation costs . • Towers will be allowed to be constructed in the Public/Quasi-Public Zoning District Associate Planner Gledhill explained that questions came up from property owners who asked if this ordinance means they will -get a tower. However,. that will be up to the- property owner. The ordinance will allow them to lease or sell property to wireless providers, but it does not require them to do so. Also, there has been discussion of wind turbines but they are typically addressed -179-