Agenda - Planning Commission - 03/05/2015

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Regular Planning Commission Meeting Date: 03/05/2015 By: Tim Gladhill, Community Development 5. 2. Information Title: PUBLIC HEARING: Consider Ordinance #15-07 Amending City Code Section 117-428 Entitled Towers Purpose/Background: Much of the information pertaining to this case is found in the attached documents. Please read all attachments for full context. The purpose of this case is to hold a Public Hearing for Ordinance #15-07. The intent of Ordinance #15-07 is to amend City Code Section 117-428 entitled Towers to increase the maximum height of communications towers to 199 feet for entities providing Stage I and Stage II Improvements. Said improvements are required by City Code and represent basic utility services provided to Ramsey residents such as gas, electric, land -line telephones, streets, water, sanitary sewer, etc. The current height limitation for communications towers is 100 feet. The current language of City Code was amended in 2008 to addresses an increase in the number of mobile phone provider towers within the community. The Ordinance #15-07 is intended to address direction provided by the Planning Commission to address safety needs of core utility providers. Staff has clarified this to be interpreted as a City -Required Stage I or Stage II Improvement. The Ordinance #15-07 has been requested by Connexus Energy, who is proposing a 199 foot communications tower at their headquarters located at 14601 Ramsey Boulevard NW in Ramsey. Notification: The Notice of Public Hearing was published in the Anoka County UnionHerald. Additionally, Staff attempted to notify all Property Owners within 350 feet of 14601 Ramsey Blvd NW of the Public Hearing related to the requested Conditional Use Permit. The request for Conditional Use Permit is processed as a separate case. Observations/Alternatives: The City last updated the Tower Ordinance in 2008 in response to a request for a 165 foot communications tower in Alpine Park. The policy direction of the City Council at that time was to limit the height of all communications towers to 100 feet. The policy direction meant that the City was comfortable in potentially seeing additional shorter towers in lieu of allowing fewer, yet relatively taller towers. The report drafted in 2008 is attached for review. Towers are generally regulated by the Federal Telecommunications Act. In summary, said act prevents local governments from completely eliminating all possible locations for siting of said towers, but does provide for local government units to provide reasonable design, location, and other bulk standards. The act ensures that there is adequate cellular coverage across the nation. Over the past decade, the utilization of cellular phones has increased dramatically, with a majority of residents utilizing said services. With the number of residents utilizing said technology, it is also important from a public safety perspective to have adequate coverage. Ordinance #15-07 still maintains the 100 foot limit for most towers as currently prescribed by the current City Code and acknowledges the Planning Commission direction from January 8, 2015. The Ordinance will essentially create an exemption from those core utility servicesthat are required of all Ramsey development.