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CASE <br /> <br />INTRODUCE INTERIM ORDINANCE TEMPORARILY PROHIBITING <br />CONSTRUCTION OF NEW TOWERS <br /> By: Planning Intern Kirk Skoog <br /> <br />Background: <br /> <br />On September 24, 1996, the Ramsey City Council granted a conditional use permit to <br />American Pbrtable Telecom for consmaction of a Personal Communication Service (PCS) <br />Tower. <br /> <br />Observations: <br /> <br />Recent adva~, ces in wireless communications technology have resulted in a new generation <br />of cellular communications services. These new services will likely require numerous <br />antenna locations. One company alone plans 300 antennae in the Twin Cities area. Along <br />high-traffic ~olurne highway corridors, there is a potential need for an antenna tower every <br />one or two miles. For these reasons, the City of Ramsey could soon be inundated with <br />requests forlthese towers. The Telecommunications Act of 1996 prohibits cities from <br />restricting th~ installation, maintenance or use of antennas. The Act does, however, permit <br />cities to establish regulatory controls concerning placement of towers. <br /> <br />There is a n.ec.d to study these issues to determine what regulatory controls should be in <br />place in order to properly regulate these towers. Staff and the City Attorney have <br />determined tl~at a moratorium of 90 days should be issued in order to complete the <br />necessary stu~lies and consider and implement new regulations on the subject. <br /> <br />A draft ordinance amendment for a moratorium on the development of towers in the City <br />was presented to the Planning Commission on November 7, 1996. A copy of the <br />proposed ordinance is enclosed. Subsequent to the Planning Commission meeting on <br />November 7, ithe City Attorney recommended that the ordinance be modified slightly to <br />exempt any tower construction approved prior to the effective date of this proposed <br />ordinance. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />The Planning Commission and City Staff recommend adoption of a moratorium ordinance <br />on tower development. <br /> <br />Council Action: <br /> <br />Motion to: <br />IntroduCe Ordinance g96- to establish a 90 day moratorium on the construction, <br />enlargement, or expansion of towers within the City and on the development and <br />use of this property for such purposes. <br /> <br />Review Checklist: <br /> <br />CC: <br /> <br />City Administrator <br />City Attorney <br />Zoning Administrator <br /> <br />11/12/96 <br /> <br /> <br />