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Home My WebLink AboutT-MOBILE WTF, 1108 W. VINE DR. - PDP - PDP110013 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTT-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, PDP September 26, 2011 The PDP meets the applicable Development Standards as follows: FINDINGS OF FACT / CONCLUSIONS: After reviewing the T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan - #110013, staff makes the following findings of fact and conclusions: 1. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable administrative standards contained within Article 2 of the Land Use Code. 2. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable General Development Standards contained in Article 3 of the Land Use Code. 3. The Project Development Plan complies with all applicable district standards of Section 4.24 of the Land Use Code, C-L—Limited Commercial District. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunications Facility, Project Development Plan - #PDP110013 with the condition of additional coniferous tree landscaping at the base to further mitigate visual impacts along West Vine Drive. ATTACHMENTS: ■ Vicinity Map ■ Plan set • Site photographs ■ Photo -simulations ■ Sherwin Williams color chip — SW7064 Passive • Letter from Barbara Adams, adjacent affected property owner and photos T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, PDP September 26, 2011 visual impact from West Vine Drive. Staff recommends planting coniferous trees at the base to provide additional year round screening. e. Fencing: A six-foot solid timber fence is proposed to enclose the ground equipment; f. Lighting: No additional lighting is proposed on the monopole nor the ground equipment; g. Interference: The proposed facility will not interfere with other types of electronics or wireless providers. If there are problems, the Applicant will be responsible for repairing the equipment; h. Access Roadways: The property takes access off of West Vine Drive and adequate access is provided; i. Foothills and Hogbacks: This proposal is not in or near the foothills; j. Airports and Flight Paths: The proposed monopole is not located near an airport or within a flight path; k. Historic Sites and Structures: The proposed equipment is not located on a historic structure, nor is the site located within a historic district; and I. Stealth Technology. The facility is designed with a stealth sheath cover for the array which is much less visually intrusive than traditional triangular antenna arrays. The proposed design has been used successfully elsewhere in Fort Collins. 4. Article 4 — Districts A. Division 4.24 of the Land Use Code, C-L, Limited Commercial Zone District Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the Limited Commercial Zone District subject to an administrative (Type 1) review and hearing. 5 T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, PDP September 26, 2011 zone district and incorporates stealth technology so that it is not much more obtrusive than a light pole or other utility pole. v. Land Use Transition: This proposal may be considered to represent a significantly different visual character than the adjacent uses. Given that a gradual transition is not possible, the development plan shall, to the maximum extent feasible, achieve compatibility through adhering with the rest of the standards of this section, including color and operational standards, which this project has provided for as described below. B. Section 3.8.13, Wireless Telecommunication 1) Location and Co -location [Section 3.8.13 (A) and (B)—The wireless telecommunication equipment is proposed to be ground mounted within the LC —Limited Commercial District. The Applicant made a good faith effort to co -locate with existing facilities in the vicinity with no success. If approved, the Applicant may not prevent future telecommunication carriers from further co -locating upon this structure. 2) Standards [Section 3.8.13 (C)]— a. Setbacks: The applicant has provided an engineering letter certifying that the monopole will collapse, rather than topple. In the event of failure, the point of collapse will be entirely on the property. b. Wireless Telecommunication Facilities: The proposed monopole will be painted a neutral "passive" color, in order to minimize visual impacts. The equipment at the ground level will be screened by a six-foot timber fence as well as landscaping. As proposed, the additional landscaping consists of four (4) blue oat grasses along the northwest corner of the property. Staff is recommending additional landscaping; c. Wireless Telecommunication Equipment. As noted above, the monopole will be painted a neutral color to minimize visual impacts; d. Landscaping: The applicant is proposing four (4) blue oat grasses to the west of the enclosed electrical ground facility. Additional landscaping at the base of the equipment is recommended due the 4 T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, PDP September 26, 2011 The T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, Project Development Plan, complies with the applicable requirements of the Land Use Code, including those located in Division 3, General Standards. A. Section 3.5.1 Building and Project Compatibility 1) Purpose [Section 3.5.1 (A)] —The purpose of the building standards section is to ensure that the physical and operational characteristics of proposed buildings and uses are compatible when considered within the context of the surrounding area. This proposal meets the compatibility standards as noted below. 2) Color [Section 3.5.1 (F)]—The proposed tower will be painted a neutral shade, Sherwin Williams "Passive", to blend in with the surrounding built enviornment and minimize visual impacts. 3) Building Height Review [Section 3.5.1 (G)]—Special Height Review/Modifications: The section establishes a special review process for buildings or structures which exceed 40 feet in height. The applicant has submitted required photo -simulations which are attached. The proposed wireless facility meets the review standards including: i. Views: The tower is proposed to be located up against the western wall of the storage facility on the rear portion of the lot. Views of the foothills would be from the eastern side of the Animal House building, off of North Shields Street and the monopole would not greatly impact those views. ii. Light and Shadow: The proposed tower is approximately one foot in diameter and 70 feet tall. Shadows cast from this structure are not substantial enough to have an adverse impact on neighboring properties. iii. Privacy: Since the proposed tower is not habitable, no privacy issues will result. iv. Neighborhood Scale: Though the proposed tower is not similar to the mass and scale of the single family residences to the south, it is compatible with them in that it is within the allowable height for the 3 T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, PDP September 26, 2011 1. Background The surrounding zoning and existing land uses are as follows: N: CL—Limited Commercial (existing single family dwelling with stable); E: CL—Limited Commercial (fuel station); S: NCL—Low Density Residential District (existing residential neighborhoods); W: LMN— Low Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood District (existing residential neighborhoods). Historically, the property was annexed into the City in June of 2008 as part of the Shields -Vine Annexation. The property is not platted. Currently, Gallegos Brothers Partnership (of Gallegos Sanitation) owns the property and leases he front office building to the Animal House Shelter and Grooming. Early on in the process, the applicant made a good faith effort to co -locate their facility on an existing AT&T wireless telecommunication facility at City Park to the south, but was unable due to inability to negotiate a lease. The applicant also participated in meetings attempting to coordinate a future co -location on this facility with Verizon Wireless. The proposed wireless facility is a monopole with a stealth sheath configuration. The staff review meeting was held on September 7, 2011. The applicant has submitted a visual analysis, including photo -simulations of the tower, which are attached. The Federal Telecommunications Act of 1996 restricts municipalities' ability to deny telecommunications equipment installations. A municipality may not deny a wireless facility because it does not want such development in the community or because of concerns about negative health consequences from radiation emitted by wireless facilities. Cities can stipulate in which zone districts wireless facilities are permitted. Fort Collins allows wireless telecommunications facilities only in zone districts which are primarily commercial, industrial or in public open lands. 2. Article 2 — Administration T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, Project Development Plan complies with the applicable requirements of the Land Use Code, including the procedural requirements located in Division 2.2 — Common Development Review Procedures for Development Applications, and Division 2.4 — Project Development Plan. 3. Article 3 — General Development Standards 2 City of ort Collins ITEM NO MEETING DATE Rla(alll ISpN STAFF 1 ?p�) HEARING OFFICER PROJECT: T-Mobile Wireless Telecommunication Facility at 1108 West Vine Drive, Project Development Plan, #PDP110013 APPLICANT: T-Mobile 7901 E. Lowery Boulevard, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80230 LAND OWNER: GBP Partnership, LLC 1941 Heath Parkway Fort Collins, CO 80524 APPLICANT'S Steve Warner CONSULTANT: ATECS 7901 E. Lowery Boulevard, Suite 300 Denver, CO 80230 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for the construction of a new 70 foot wireless telecommunication pole and facility in the northwest corner of the Animal House Dog Rescue and Shelter parking lot, adjacent to the west side of storage facility. The site is located north of West Vine Road and west of North Shields Road at 1108 West Vine Drive. The proposed structure will be designed as a monopole with a canister to house antennas at the top and also include a six (6) foot wood screening fence at the base. This site is zoned C-L, Limited Commercial District, and Wireless Telecommunication Facilities are permitted, subject to an administrative (type 1) review and public hearing (Land Use Code, Section 4.24(B)(2)). RECOMMENDATION: Approval with condition EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the C-L, Limited Commercial District, subject to an administrative hearing. The Project Development Plan (PDP) complies with the applicable Administrative and General Development standards and the C-L, Limited Commercial District. Current Planning 281 N College Av PO Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 fcgov.com/currentplanning 970.221.6750