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

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through a separate section of .City Code because the needs for that type of tower are greatly different. Staff has received no written comments and recommends approval of the proposed ordinance amending City Code Section 9.15. Commissioner Van Scoy asked about the proposed tower overlay districts. Associate Planner Gladhill explained the map on display also "identifies wetland resources. Staff does not want a tower on property that is encumbered.. by natural resources and based the language on how Elk River handles their. overlay district. H~ noted that Ramsey will provide more options with this overlay district, which abides by 1996. FCC guidelines. Commissioner Van Scoy asked whether .Staff. started ~ti itli the existing overlay district and eliminated wetlands. Associate Planner Gladhill stated that is correct ~~i1d staff also addressed ,Taps in service areas based on bandwidth. He noted that many people na«r use cell~>l~~r telephones instead of landlines so it is also a matter of public safety. Chairperson Nixt stated the overlay districts idelitified on the rep-ised snap anticipates providing sufficient co-location capabilities to provide ~~,~ireless co~~erage at a reasonable level and meets the 1996 FCC Act. Chairperson Nixt noted there are different le~-els of coy eragc based on proximity to the tower. He asked whether Staff, while desi«nin~?the o~~erla~~ districts, considered signal quality inside a structure as opposed to inside a vehicle. Associate Planner Gladhill that Bloomington changed their ordinance because in higher populated areas, towers need io be shorter. In rural areas, the tower can be higher, based on the number of users.. IIe explained that as del~sity increases, towers may be shorter but more towers may be needed. He explained Siiiilera technology, which is well camouflaged. Staff hopes communication companies ~~~~11 consider this Ilew technology, which doesn't require the need .for a hi~~hto~tier, thus reducln~i the cost. citizen Input Jolui Enstrom, 8702 - 181st ~.~`enua, stated he has more bearing on power poles than anyone in the City of Ramsey because. ] .~ miles of power poles and the tallest structure in Ramsey are on his propert-. FIc reported that many utility companies want to put antennas on his 280 foot tower. However, he bclieies this use would be detrimental to his property value because they would need24-hour aecessto the tower and he does not want that to happen on this property. He stated Ramsey has po«Lr lines all .over and' tall aluminum towers where. the antennas can be placed. He stated he lives in the country to get away from the phone and does not care if Ramsey does not have enough cellular phone coverage in his area of Ramsey. He stated he talked with the Elk River Mayor and learned they are accepting cell towers so he would suggest they go there. Mr. Enstrom stated he attended Nowthen's first City Council meeting and learned they will accept towers and Nowthen is just across the road from his property. He suggested requiring a minimum lot size for the towers, noting it does not add to the value of the property. He stated he believes it tremendously devalues property, which may also impact residents that live one- -180-