Agenda - Council - 01/25/2000 - Laserfiche WebLink

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There wilt be no personnel stationed at the site. No signs will be posted on the tower or cabinets except applicable warning or equipment information signs. The site access is proposed to be an existing farm equipment access off of St. Francis Blvd. The proposal was forwarded to Mn/DOT for comments on the proposed access. The proposal was also forwarded to an independent consultant for confirmation that there are no other structures within a ½ mile radius that would accommodate the proposed antenna. There are currently four cell towers in Ramsey, all of which are located on commercial or industrial parcels. The height limit in commercial districts is 165 feet and 175 feet in industrial zones. One of the towers is 120 feet in height and the other three are 165 feet in height. The cell tower in Rum River Plaza on 167th Avenue is on commercial property but adjacent to a residential zone and is one of the 165 foot towers. Staff surveyed other communiti.~s for tower heig5.t restrictions :~: residential dist. 2:ts and c'_gtermined the f~'!lowing: Andov< - 150 feet (parc~ must be 20 acre:; ~i'; size) Ham L~k,; - not allowed in ':esidential zone? Blaine- ~,.ot allowed in e, w~ithin 1 ;000 fee~ of a residential zvv.-., East Bethe.!. - 120 feet wi~h special permit (~ c ~) feet in agricui~.,,~al zones) Oak Gro~c - 175 feet Bums - 200 feet Champlin .... not allowed i- residential zones Elk Rive;. -- t 50 feet ifreouired rezoning is ac1:~:~eved (199 feet £or multi-user towers) i"he Planning Cc~,~,mission conducted a public hearing on January 4 ::nd several residents were present in opposit';on to the tower on the basis that it is not a compatible use or strL:ctt, re in a residential dis~..?ct. The residents also expressed concern with heaith hazards related t~ tower emissions. The FCC Act of 1996 states that if a tower complies with FCC requirement;, then it cannot be denied on the basis of health hazards. Letters from the City's tower consultant, W.M. Montgomery, and 1Vm/DOT were also received on January 4 and presented to the Planning Commission at the hem'ing. The consultant has verified that there are no other existing structures within a ½ mile radius that will accommodate the proposed antenna. The consultant did not have a sufficient amount of time prior to the Planning Commission to verify that the Applicant's submittal supports that an increase in tower height is necessary because of surrounding topography and vegetation. Mn/DOT has indicated that an access permit will be required, and this is an unsafe area of Hwy. #47 and no access will be granted. Mn/DOT recommends accessing the tower from 177th or finding' an alternate, safer site. Recommendation: The Planning Commission has forwarded findings of fact for Council consideration and recommended denial of the application. Staff is recommending amending the proposed findings by the addition of the following statements: a) That the Applicant's proposal for a 180 foot high tower is equal to 240% of the 75 foot height limit established in the Residential district, and the