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<br />has been eliminated as a possibility due to the landfill's elevation and its interference with <br />signals. <br /> <br />The setback and height requirements for towers within the Public-Quasi Public District defer to <br />the requirements in the B-1 Business District. Front, side, and rear yard setbacks are 35, 10, and <br />30 feet, respectively. The applicant has been working with City Staff, and the agreed upon <br />location will meet all applicable setbacks. The height restriction on towers is 165 feet, and the <br />proposed tower meets this restriction. <br /> <br />The site plan is proposing access to the compound from Alpine Drive via a 12-foot-wide Class 5 <br />road surface. In conjunction with the proposed road, a 20- foot access and utility easement is also <br />proposed. <br /> <br />When Alpine Park was platted and the park land was given to the City of Ramsey, restrictive <br />covenants were written into the development agreement between Waste Management of <br />Minnesota and the City of Ramsey that read as follows: ".. . regardless of the provisions of the <br />City's zoning code, as from time to time amended, the Property shall not be used for any purpose <br />other than park or open space..." The Declaration of Restrictive Covenants would need to be <br />amended to allow telecommunications towers in addition to parks and open space. A proposed <br />draft of the amended covenants, signed by Waste Management's director of operations, is <br />included in your packet. <br /> <br />A landscaping/screeni11g plan has not been submitted at this time. Staff is requmng the <br />submission of a landscape and screeni11g plan, in accordance with City Code, and subject to <br />review by the Environmental Coordinator. Staff is also requiring the construction of an opaque <br />board fencing to soften the visual impact of the tower compound. The applicant has agreed and is <br />working to revise the plans to indicate this. <br /> <br />Recommendation: <br /> <br />After reviewing the request for the telecommunications tower to be located in the southernmost <br />portion of the park, just south of the soccer fields, Staff requested that the applicant re-locate the <br />tower farther east. The primary reasoni11g for this request is: <br />1) The tower construction will be more compatible with the future improvements planned <br />for the park. Locating the tower on the southwest corner of the future parking lot will <br />allow the City to benefit from its presence by the installation of Class Five surfacing near <br />the future building/parking construction site. Also, there is a possibility to utilize the <br />telecommunications structure as a light pole, although the likelihood is unclear. <br />2) The tower will not need a variance to the rear yard setback, which concerns the MPCA. <br />3) The tower will not be directly visible from the center of the park and from Alpine Drive. <br />The future park improvements will buffer the base of the tower from park users. <br /> <br />Staff recommends that the Planning Commission recommend approval of the <br />telecommunications tower at the location proposed by City Staff, contingent upon the following <br />items: <br />1) The Parks Commission reviewing the application and making a recommendation to City <br />Council; <br />2) The site plan being revised to indicate the preferred location directly south of the future <br />parking lot; <br /> <br />2 <br />