Agenda - Planning Commission - 02/01/2007

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Associate Planner DaInes advised while City Code requires co-location of telecommunications towers where possible, it is staff s opinion that the applicant has made a reasonable attempt to identify alternate locations. The setback and height requirements for towers within the Public- Quasi Public District defer to the requirements in the B-1 Business District. Front, side, and rear yard setbacks are 35, 10, and 30 feet, respectively. The height restriction on towers is 165 feet, and the proposed tower is 185 feet. However, according to City Code, City Council has the authority to approve towers taller than 165 feet, at their discretion. Ms. Dalnes indicated staff has requested that the tower compound be shifted towards the northern property line to accommodate the possibility of constructing a storage facility for the Ramsey Fire Department. The Engineering Department has reviewed the location of the septic and secondary sites, and the geothermal field, and has determined there is ample space for a future storage area and the tower compound. Staff does not believe that the ingress/egress easement proposed on through the fIre station parking lot is necessary to permit access to T-Mobile and other maintenance entities. The parking lot is accessible to the public. Access rights will be determined in the lease agreement. Ms. DaInes indicated a landscaping/screening plan has been requested, as City Code requires a landscape screen for all towers. Citizen Input Commissioner Van Scoy asked what the setback of the structure would be at the requested location. Associate Planner DaInes replied the required side yard setback for towers in the B-1 District is 10 feet. They would try to stay as far from the property line as possible, while still accommodating the request from the Fire Chief to provide space for a possible storage facility in the future. Commissioner VanScoy expressed concern with the closeness of the 10 foot setback from the adjoining R-1 property and asked if there are other locations on the property where the structure could be located. Associate Planner DaInes replied very few. The only other option would be on the north side. The geothermal field takes up about 'l4 of the property, and the parking lot takes up another good portion. There are also the secondary and primary septic system sites. In working with the Engineering Department this location was determined based on the setbacks and the Fire Chief s request for a future storage facility. Commissioner VanScoy asked the applicant to address the safety concerns of a 10 foot setback. Mr. Steven Edwards, representative of T-Mobile indicated the monopole is a very safe design. He has never heard of a monopole failing, but if they do fail they are designed to collapse onto themselves. The top of the tower, which will contain the antennas, will receive the majority of the wind. If anything below were to fail, the steel at that point would essentially collapse onto itself; it would not create a situation where steel would be going through the air. Planning Commission/January 4, 2007 Page 4 of 36 P4