Agenda - Council - 09/25/2007 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Case #1: Continue Public Hearing _ Request for a Conditional Use Permit for a Telecommunications Tower in Alpine Park; Case of T-Mobile USA Public Hearin2 Acting Chairperson Levine closed the regular portion of the Planning Commission meeting at 7 :04 p.m. in order to call the public hearing to order. Presentation T "Mobile has submitted a conditional use permit application to construct a telecommunications tower and a 60 foot by 40 foot compound in Alpinel'ark. The proposed tower would be a monopole, in accordance with City Code, and proposes three co-location sites on the tower. There would be no building, but the compound area would include ground equipment platforms. An 8-foot chain link fence with barb wire is proposed to enclose the compound,. and would connect to the existing fence on the park property. Chairperson Nixt arrived at 7:05 p.m. Ms. Dalnes stated when Alpine Park' was platted and the park land was given to the City of Ramsey, restrictive covenants were written into the development agreement between Waste Management of Minnesota and the City of Ramsey that read as follows: ".. .regardless of the provisions' of the City's zoning code, as from time to time ameuded, the Property shall not be used for any purpose other than park or open space..." The Declaration of Restrictive Covenants would need to be amended to allow telecommunications towers in addition to parks and open space. A proposed draft of the amended covenants; signed by Waste Management's director of operations, is included in the Commission's packet. Ms. Dalnes indicated a landscaping/screening plan has not been submitted at this time. Associate Planner Dalnes stated after reviewing the request for the telecommunications tower to be located in the southernmost portion of the park, just souili of the soccer fields, staff requested that the applicant re-locate the tower farther east. The primary reasoning for this request is: I) The tower construction will be more compatible with the future improvements planned for ilie park. Locating ilie tower on the southwest. comer of ilie future parkIng lot will allow the City to benefit from its presence by the installation of Class Five surfacing near the future building/parking construction site. Also, there is a possibility to utilize the telecommunications structure as a light pole, although the likelihood is unclear. 2) The tower will not need a varillnce to ilie rear yard setback, which concemsthe MPCA. 3) The tower will not be directly visible from ilie center of ilie park and from Alpine Drive. The future park improvements will buffer the base of the tower from park users. Associate Planner Dalnes advised ilie Planning Commission to recommend approval of ilie telecommunications tower at ilie location proposed by City staff, contingent upon the following items: I) The site plan being revised to indicate ilie preferred location directly souili of ilie future parking lot; 2) A sufficient landscaping! screening plan being submitted, indicating ilie construction of an opaque, board fencing that adequately screens the compound from view. 3) The City entering into an acceptable lease agreement with T -Mobile. -223-