Agenda - Council - 04/14/2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

5.02: Public Hearing: Consider Ordinance #15-07 Amending City Code Section 117-428 Entitled Towers Public Hearing Chairperson Levine called the public hearing to order at 7:15 p.m. Presentation Community Development Director Gladhill presented the staff report stating the purpose of this case was 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. Staff reviewed the code amendment further and recommended approval. Citizen Input Crystal Specht, 7060 147th Avenue NW, expressed concern with how the tower would impact the adjacent park. She believed that the tower would be an eyesore. Community Development Director Gladhill commented other concerns have been voiced regarding the aesthetics or visual impact the tower would have on the neighborhood. Motion by Commissioner Bauer, seconded by Commissioner VanScoy, to close the public hearing. Motion Carried. Voting Yes: Chairperson Levine, Commissioners Bauer, VanScoy, Brauer, and Nosan. Voting No: None. Absent: Commissioner Maul. Chairperson Levine closed the public hearing closed at 7:23 p.m. Commission Business Commissioner Bauer discussed how neighboring communities were addressing monopole heights. He explained that neighboring cities were allowing towers up to 150 feet in industrial and commercial zoning areas. He suggested that aesthetically pleasing towers be referenced within the code for residentially zoned areas. Community Development Director Gladhill commented staff could review this language and reiterated that the visual impact of these towers could be softened, but noted the tower would still be visible. Commissioner Bauer supported amending the Code to allow for a 150 foot tower in commercial - industrial zoning districts.