01/04/00 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

CASE #: REQUEST FOR A VARIANCE TO TOWER HEIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN THE RESIDENTIAL DISTRICT; CASE OF U.S. WEST WIRELESS By: Acting Community Development Director Sylvia Frolik Background: The City has received an application from U.S. West Wireless. to construct and operate a telephone tower in the Residential District. The City Code restricts tower heights in Residential districts to 75 feet. U.S. West is requesting a tower height of 180 feet. Staff made a determination during the absence of the Acting Community Development Director to process the excess height request as a variance and advertised the public hearing accordingly. Observations: The City's Tower ordinance states that the City Council can approve a height increase and it does not state that a variance procedure is required to do so. In addition, Staff has accumulated a lot of resource materials on towers and a handout from the League of Minnesota Cities suggests the use of a special (conditional) use permit or a variances to allow increases to tower heights. It has been Ramsey's practice to follow criteria established by State Statute and only use variances when there is some unique, physical feature about the property that is causing the applicant a hardship in complying with established setbacks. In cases where the applicant is requesting a deviation from any standard established by City Code and the deviation does not relate to some unique, physical feature of the property, the conditional use permit process is utilized. Recommendation: City Staff recommends that the Board call the variance public hearing to order as advertised, inform the public that the issue of tower height is more appropriately handled as a part of the conditional use permit, and adjourn the public hearing. Board Action: No action is necessary. Bd of Adj: 01/04/00