HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 05/03/2022 - FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE NO. 055, 2022, AUTHORIZ Agenda Item 14
Item # 14 Page 1
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY May 3, 2022
CDNS-Planning
STAFF
Will Lindsey, Associate Planner
Brad Yatabe, Legal
SUBJECT
First Reading of Ordinance No. 055, 2022, Authorizing an Extension of the Temporary Exception to the Land
Use Code to Allow T-Mobile to Place a Temporary Wireless Telecommunications Facility at 1800 East
Harmony Road to Replace Lost Wireless Service Coverage.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The purpose of this item is to extend the authorization originally granted with Ordinance No. 167, 2021, for a
temporary wireless telecommunication facility known as a cell-on-wheels (COW), operated by T-Mobile,
currently located at 1800 East Harmony. The current temporary authorization is set to expire on June 7, 2022.
This temporary facility is in place to address a critical loss in T -Mobile's existing cellular coverage in south Fort
Collins caused by T-Mobile’s removal of wireless equipment from Platte River Power Authority (“PRPA”)
infrastructure, to be used only until a permanent facility (prop osed at 4518 Innovation Drive) is fully constructed
and operational no later than December 1, 2022.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Ordinance on First Reading.
BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION
On April 4, 2022, T-Mobile submitted a formal request to the City requesting an extension of Ordinance No.
167, 2021, to continue the maintenance and operation of a temporary cell-on-wheels (COW) located at 1800
E. Harmony Rd. The original ordinance placed the expiration of the temporary authorization on June 7, 2022.
At the time of second reading on December 21, 2021, this aligned with the projected approval timeline for T -
Mobile’s proposed permanent facility at 4518 Innovation Dr ive.
A hearing for that permanent facility was held on January 24, 2022 and the Hearing Officer’s determination
approving the facility with two conditions was issued on February 4, 2022. The conditions were that (1) a fall
zone letter be provided by the applicant; and (2) the facility be redesigned from an unconcealed monopo le to a
concealed monopine. No appeal was filed against the decision within the required 14 -day timeframe, and the
decision was made final on February 18, 2022. T-Mobile submitted Final Development Plan (FDP)
documentation to the City on March 23, 2022, and the project was deemed complete and routed for staff
review on April 1, 2022. At the time of that routing it was estimated that final approval would be granted within
10 weeks at which point T-Mobile will be allowed to file for building permits and begin construction.
Due to the conditions of approval, the time needed for the redesign, and the time needed for construction after
final plan approval, T-Mobile is requesting that the current authorization for the COW be extended past June 7 ,
2022 . Staff is supportive of the request due to T-Mobile’s diligent and timely pursuit of final plan approval. To
date, no public comments or complaints have been received regarding the temporary facility.
Agenda Item 14
Item # 14 Page 2
Staff recommends placing an expiration date of December 1, 202 2, for the temporary facility which aligns with
the estimated completion date as outlined in T-Mobile’s request.
PUBLIC OUTREACH
A mailed notice regarding the proposal and the Council date to review the Ordinance will be sent to all property
owners of record with 800 feet of the site. That notice was mailed on April 19, 2022, two weeks before the
Council Regular meetingn on May 3, 2022.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Temporary Cell on Wheels Permit Extension Request (PDF)
2. Ordinance No. 167, 2021 (PDF)
1400 Opus Place, Suite 600, Downers Grove, IL 60515
www.t-mobile.com
Page 1 of 2
April 4, 2022
Mr. Will Lindsey
Associate City Planner
Planning, Development, Transportation
City of Fort Collins
281 N College Avenue
Fort Collins, CO 80524
RE: T-Mobile Temporary Cell on Wheels Extension Request
1800 E Harmony Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80528
Dear Mr. Lindsey:
I write on behalf of T-Mobile to request an extension of Ordinance No 167, 2021, approved on
second reading on December 21, 2021, for T-Mobile to maintain and operate a temporary cell on
wheels (COW) at 1800 E Harmony Rd, Fort Collins, CO 80528. Pursuant to Section 4 of the
ordinance, permit renewal options sunset on June 7, 2022. Despite working diligently on our new
facility at 4518 Innovation Drive (“Permanent Facility”), the new site will not be operational by
June 7. We have outlined the development to date and the anticipated permitting and construction
timelines below to support this extension.
Development to Date at Permanent Facility
This temporary wireless communications facility remedies a gap in service while T-Mobile
pursues a permanent site at 4518 Innovation Drive. T-Mobile has been working diligently to bring
the new permanent site on air. Our partner vendor Vertical Bridge has been in discussions with the
staff of Fort Collins (the “City”) regarding the design and permitting process. A hearing was held
on January 24. The hearing officer’s determination was released on February 4 with the
determination clearing fully on February 18. The determination approved the wireless facility at
the new location with two conditions: 1). A fall zone letter, and 2). A redesign from a monopole
to a monopine. The fall zone letter and new structural drawings to match the approved monopine
design were ordered immediately and were completed on March 14. Construction drawings
utilizing the new structural design changes were ordered and delivered to The City along with
other documentation necessary for the Final Development Plan (FDP) on March 23. We received
notification from the City that the FDP is routing internally on April 1.
Next Steps at Permanent Facility
Pending no weather or unforeseen delays, T-Mobile remains committed to finalizing construction
within 6 months of all City permits. All items required for the FDP have been submitted. We
received notification from the City that the FDP is routing internally on April 1.
If a third round of comments on the FDP is not needed, we anticipate the timeline below for the
construction of the tower, addition of T-Mobile equipment, and integration with the network. All
dates below are estimates.
ATTACHMENT 1
1400 Opus Place, Suite 600, Downers Grove, IL 60515
www.t-mobile.com
Page 2 of 2
• 4/1/22: T-Mobile received confirmation from the City the FDP has been initially
reviewed and is routing internally.
• 4/27/22: Scheduled first staff meeting to discuss departmental reviews and comments.
• 6/15/22: Our target date to have all necessary permits and be cleared for construction
given the following assumptions:
o ~10 weeks for FDP to complete (based on 2 rounds of comments/review);
o The building permit application will be filed once the first round of comments are
complete. We assume it will be issued just after the FDP clears.
• 7/31/22: Estimated date for tower construction nearing completion. Due to the nature of
this stealth design and its narrow location on the property, this will be a very technical
build.
• 8/1/22: T-Mobile begins installing T-Mobile equipment to the tower.
• 9/30/22: Estimated date for T-Mobile construction being completed.
• 10/15/22 or 12/1/22: Site is integrated and live on the T-Mobile network and temporary
COW is no longer needed.
o Note: A significant portion of the timeline depends on the delivery of power and
fiber, both of which are contracted with outside parties. While we make every
effort, we are not always able to expedite this part of the process. In order to bring
the site on air as soon as possible, we will be exploring the use of microwave
backhaul. If we are able to utilize a microwave, our hope is to have the site on air
in October. However, if this is not technically feasible due to the monopine design
or other issues, we anticipate all fiber and telco to be delivered in time to turn the
site on air around December 1, 2022.
T-Mobile will work with Vertical Bridge to complete as much work concurrently as possible. We
will continue to work expeditiously and will provide regular updates to the City on the status as
the construction progresses.
As demonstrated by the information above and the communication with the city, T-Mobile has
worked diligently towards construction of the new wireless telecommunication facility at 4518
Innovation Drive. T-Mobile respectfully requests an extension of Ordinance No 167 for the
temporary COW on Harmony Road until our permanent site is operational. We appreciate our
continued partnership in ensuring the residents, businesses, visitors and first responders of Fort
Collins remain connected while our permanent location is constructed. Please contact me if you
have any questions or require further information.
Sincerely,
Lauren Neill
Senior Siting Advocacy Manager
Lauren.neill2@t-mobile.com
ATTACHMENT 2COPY
COPY
COPY
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ORDINANCE NO. 055, 2022
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION OF THE TEMPORARY EXCEPTION TO THE LAND
USE CODE TO ALLOW T-MOBILE TO PLACE A TEMPORARY WIRELESS
TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY AT 1800 EAST HARMONY ROAD TO
REPLACE LOST WIRELESS SERVICE COVERAGE
WHEREAS, T-Mobile maintains a network of wireless telecommunication facilities and
equipment within the City to provide wireless service; and
WHEREAS, on May 14, 2021, T-Mobile was required to remove certain wireless
equipment from the Platte River Power Authority infrastructure which resulted in a loss of T-
Mobile wireless service coverage in a portion of south Fort Collins and deprived T-Mobile users
in that area of an important means of communication and access to information; and
WHEREAS, to allow for wireless service in the affected area until T-Mobile could
construct a permanent wireless facility at 4518 Innovation Drive, City Council adopted
Ordinance No. 167, 2021, on December 21, 2021, authorizing a temporary exception to the Land
Use Code to allow T-Mobile to place a temporary wireless telecommunication facility,
commonly known as a cell-on-wheels or COW, at 1800 East Harmony Road through the end of
March 31, 2022, with monthly extensions granted by the Director of Community Development
and Neighborhood Services through June 7, 2022; and
WHEREAS, due to unanticipated delays related to the development process, the
permanent wireless facility at 4518 Innovation Drive will not be operational by June 7, 2022; and
WHEREAS, City staff estimates that approval of the final development plan for the
permanent wireless facility will occur in mid-June at which time T-Mobile can apply for building
permits and begin construction; and
WHEREAS, T-Mobile anticipates that the permanent wireless facility at 4518 Innovation
Drive will be constructed and operating within six months of the granting of all necessary City
approvals and has requested an extension of the authorization for the COW; and
WHEREAS, the City has received no complaints nor experienced any issues regarding T-
Mobile’s COW at 1800 East Harmony Road and City staff supports the extension request due to
T-Mobile’s diligent and timely pursuit of final development plan approval for its permanent
wireless facility; and
WHEREAS, the Land Use Code does not allow the placement of temporary wireless
facilities such as COWs and in order for T-Mobile to do so, City Council must grant an
exception to the Land Use Code; and
WHEREAS, City Council finds that authorizing an extension of the COW at 1800 East
Harmony Road through the end of December 1, 2022, in order to temporarily replace the lost
-2-
service coverage, and no more, subject to revocation at Council’s will, is in the best interests of
the citizens of Fort Collins.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
FORT COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That the City Council hereby makes any and all determinations and
findings contained in the recitals set forth above.
Section 2. That the City Council extends the authorization for T-Mobile to
temporarily maintain the COW with the same terms and requirements set forth in Ordinance No.
167, 2021, through the end of December 1, 2022, with the exception that the requirement set
forth in Ordinance No 167, 2021, that T-Mobile request extensions from the Director through
June 7, 2022, be eliminated.
Introduced, considered favorably on first reading, and ordered published this 3rd day of
May, A.D. 2022, and to be presented for final passage on the 17th day of May, A.D. 2022.
____________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading on this 17th day of May, A.D. 2022.
____________________________________
Mayor
ATTEST:
_____________________________
City Clerk