Agenda - Planning Commission - 04/05/2007

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. . , . and is likely the best protection on the land. lfthe City decides to sell the land they can decide whether it is an appropriate use and change the zoning at that time. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Jeffrey, Elvig, Dehen, Look, Olson, and Strommen, Voting No: None. Case #7: Request for a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunications Tower; Case ofT-Mobile USA Community Development Director Trndgeon stated T-Mobile has submitted a request to construct a telecommunications tower on the fire station property located at 15050 Armstrong Boulevard NW. This tower will serve as a replacement for the existing tower at 14622 Ferret Street NW, which will be purchased by the City as part of the Ramsey Crossings redevelopment project. T-Mobile is requesting a conditional use permit to construct 'a monopole, telecommunication.s tower on the fire station property on Armstrong Boulevard, The tower will accommodate two additional users on the tower. In the previous case Council approved a rezoning of this parcel to Public-Quasi Public. Mr. Trndgeon indicated 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. Mr. Trndgeon explained the setback and height reqnirements for towers within the Puhlic-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. Mr, Trndgeon indicated T-Mobile has revised their plans to indicate the tower compound in the northwestern comer of the site. In order to accommodate the Fire Chiefs request to dedicate an area on the plan for a possible future storage facility, the towf::r compound has been shifted north, but still adheres to the setbacks in the district. Mr. Trudgeon advised staff does not believe that the ingress/egress easement proposed 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. A landscape plan has been submitted, and revisions have been requested by staff to provide additional plantings to screen the tower compound. Mr, Trndgeon indicated the tower will be constructed by T-Mobile, and a lease will be established for the use of City property. Staff recommends approval of the conditional use permit for the construction of a telecommunications tower on the fire station property, contingent upon receiving a zoning amendment to Public-Quasi Public. Mr. Trudgeon stated the Planning Commission met on January 4, 2007, and recommended 6 to 1 approval of the conditional use pennit, contingent upon submission of a revised site plan and landscape plan and upon the City Council considering what other personal utilization they might find appropriate for the tower and to work with the applicant to make arrangements to accommodate that use. There was discussion about the City receiving co-location space on the proposed tower for things such as wi-fi capabilities. There was some discussion regarding safety concerns associated with the 10 foot side yard setback. City Council! January 23, 2007 Page 19 of 28 P81