Agenda - Parks and Recreation Commission - 05/10/2007

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CASE # , REVIEW REQUEST FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS TOWER IN ALPINE PARK By: Mark Riverblood, Parks Supervisor and Leonard Linton, Civil Engineer II Background: The T-Mobile has submitted an application for a conditional use permit- to place a telecommunications tower in Alpine Park. Their analysis indicates service would be improved in Ramsey by placing a tower north of the closed landfill Towers located in City-owned parks are required to be reviewed by the Park and .Recreation Commission prior to approval by the City Council. Towers will only be considered in parks that are adjacent to commercial or industrial use and city code gives preference to towers located on existing structures within parks or park maintenance facilities. Alpine Park was dedicated to the City by Waste Management of Minnesota, Inc. in conjunction with closing the landfill site. A restrictive covenant. was placed on the property at the time of platting restricting the use of the site to park `or open space. T-Mobile has contacted Waste Management and has received a draft covenant amendment to add "telecommunication towers" to the permitted uses. This amendment will be processed if the conditional use permit is approved. The site plan proposed placing the tower in a 40 ft x 40 ft fenced enclosure southwest of the .soccer fields. This would be adjacent to the landfill fence and the wetland: This would require construction of a new access road and the siting would interrupt the natural habitat along the southern edge of the park. Staff requested that the tower be moved to the west side of the park adjacent to the proposed skate park. The applicant is willing to evaluate the location and the case was moved from the May Planning Commission agenda to the June agenda. Staff Recommendation: Staff recommends working with T-Mobile to coordinate tower placement in the western part of the park. Commission Action: Motion to recommend staff work with T-Mobile to coordinate tower placement in the western part of the park. Reviewed by: Copies to: Director Public Works/Principal Engineer T-Mobile Parks/Utilities Supervisor P&R: 05/10/07