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City Code restricts the height of towers to 120 feet for residential properties, 165 feet for <br />commercial districts, or 175 feet for industrial districts. Anoka County is proposing to construct <br />a tower that would be 195 feet in height. Anoka County has stated that the proposed height is <br />necessary to provide the most comprehensive coverage for the Ramsey area but yet, would not <br />require lighting per FAA standards (towers that are 200 feet or taller are required to be lighted). <br />The proposed tower site is zoned Public/Quasi Public for which there are no specific tower <br />standards in City Code. However, the City Council may permit a tower of greater height if an <br />applicant is able to demonstrate to the satisfaction of the City Council that the surrounding <br />topography, structures, vegetation, or other factors make the height limit for a complying tower <br />impractical. <br /> <br />City Code requires commercial wireless telecommunication service towers to be a monopole <br />design unless the City Council determines that an alternative design is preferred in cases where <br />structural or design considerations, neighborhood compatibility, locational availability, or the <br />number of potential co-locations warrants ttfis consideration. City Code defines commemial <br />wireless telecommunication services as "Licensed commercial wireless telecommunication <br />services including cellular, personal communication services (PCS), specialized mobilized radio <br />(SMR), enhanced specialized mobilized radio (ESMR), paging, and similar services that are <br />marketed to the general public. Anoka County, which, as a public agency, does not quite seem to <br />fit City Code's definition of commercial wireless telecommunication services, is proposing a <br />self-supporting lattice-style tower. Anoka County has stated that the proposed design is better <br />suited to meet certain thresholds relating to snow-load and wind-load requirements. The tower <br />would be designed to contain at least two additional users. <br /> <br />Anoka County is requesting that the City provide an 80 foot by 80 foot area that would contain <br />the tower and equipment shelter. The proposed site is currently zoned Public/Quasi Public and is <br />adjacent to properties zoned R-1 MUSA and B-1 Business and is across the street from property <br />zoned R-2 Medium Density Residential. There would be no personnel stationed at the site and <br />no signs will be posted on the tower or equipment building except applicable warning or <br />equipment information signs. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />Information pertaining to this request is still needed including a site specific site plan, tower <br />collapse plan or design documentation, and landscaping details that will outline how the tower <br />base and equipment shelter would be screened. Additionally, both the height (195 feet) and <br />design (lattice-style) vary somewhat from City Code standards. However, the ultimate goal of <br />this request is to improve public safety by strengthening the 800 MHz radio system used by First <br />Responders. <br /> <br />This request was presented to the Public Safety Board (PSB) at their January 12, 2006 meeting. <br />After receiving the proposal, the PSB not only determined that this request represented an <br />important safety matter for First Responders, but also passed a resolution requesting support <br />from the Ramsey Planning Commission and City Council in regards to this proposal. <br /> <br />52 <br /> <br /> <br />