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Home My WebLink AboutEDORA PARK CLEARWIRE WTF - PDP - 25-10 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTEdora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan, #25-10 December 2, 2010 Administrative Hearing Page 7 ■ Plan set ■ Site photographs ■ Photo -simulations ■ Hearing Posting Exhibit 7 Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan, #25-10 December 2, 2010 Administrative Hearing Page 6 poles found around the ball field. The proposed design has been used successfully elsewhere in Fort Collins. 4. Article 4 — Districts A. Division 4.23 of the LUC, Public Open Lands Zone District Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the Public Open Lands District subject to an administrative (Type 1) review and hearing. The PDP meets the applicable Development Standards as follows: Section 4.23(E) (1)(a) Overall Plan. The applicant has demonstrated that the development plan contributes to the existing development in the surrounding area in terms of facility siting and character, and site design. FINDINGS OF FACT / CONCLUSIONS After reviewing the Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunications Facility, Project Development Plan - #25-10, 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 4.23 of the Land Use Code, POL—Public Open Lands District. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunications Facility, Project Development Plan - #25-10. ATTACHMENTS: - ■ Vicinity/Zoning/Ariel Map C. Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan, #25-10 December 2, 2010 Administrative Hearing Page 5 match existing context of a chain link fence around the ball field. A similar technique was successfully used at City Park; c. Landscaping: No additional landscaping or screening at the base of the equipment is required due the location of the ground equipment adjacent to a service drive aisle and the context of a ballfield. d. Fencing: An 8' chain link fence with cover is proposed to enclose the ground equipment. This is acceptable due to the existing context of the ballfield and adjacent chainlink fence. A different fencing material and/or dropping the fence to 6' may have more of a visual impact that what is proposed; e. Lighting: Proposed lighting is mounted at 75' on top of pole and matches existing stadium lighting and height; f. 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; g. Access Roadways: The adjacent service drive aisle is capable of supporting emergency response equipment of the Poudre Fire . Authority; h. Foothills and Hogbacks: This proposal is not in or near the foothills; i. Airports and Flight Paths: The proposed monopole is not located near an airport or within a flight path; j. Historic Sites and Structures: The proposed equipment is not located on a historic structure, nor is the site located within a historic district; and k. Stealth Technology. The facility is designed with a stealth shroud cover for the array which is much less visually intrusive than traditional triangular antenna arrays. Additionally, lights of similar quality were added on the structure in order to mimic other light 5 Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan, #25-10 December 2, 2010 Administrative Hearing Page 4 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 adjacent single family residences, it is compatible with them in that it incorporates stealth technology so that it is not any more obtrusive than the existing light 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 POL—Public Open Lands 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 proposed monopole will be set back from the existing property line by more than 75 feet. The total height of the proposed facility is 75 feet. A future co -location may be placed on this facility, assuming it meets all other standards. b. Wireless Telecommunication Facilities: The proposed monopole will be painted to match existing ball field lights in order to minimize visual impacts. The equipment at the ground level will be screened by a chain link fence enclosure with an interior mesh screening to 4 Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan, #25-10 December 2, 2010 Administrative Hearing Page 3 2. Article 2 — Administration Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunications Facility, 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 The Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, 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 monopole will be painted to match the existing ball field light poles in order to 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 monopole is proposed to be located adjacent to the outfield fence of the west baseball field, replacing and existing 75' monopole. Views will not be impacted from this project. ii. Light and Shadow: The proposed tower is approximately one foot in diameter and 75' feet tall. Shadows cast from this structure are not 3 Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan, #25-10 December 2, 2010 Administrative Hearing Page 2 with the applicable Administrative and General Development standards and the Zone District standards of the P-O-L, Public Open Lands District. COMMENTS: 1. Background The surrounding zoning and existing land uses are as follows: N: RL—Low Density Residential District (existing residential neighborhoods); E: MMN— Medium Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood District (existing residential neighborhoods); S: RL—Low Density Residential District (existing residential neighborhoods) W: MMN— Medium Density Mixed -Use Neighborhood District (existing residential neighborhoods) and NC -Neighborhood Commercial District Historically, the property was annexed into the City in 1967 as part of the Second Edora Park Annexation Annexation. Early on in the process, the applicant made a good faith effort to co -locate the facility on an existing wireless telecommunication facility within a half mile radius. In determining a suitable location for the facility, Clearwire's network objective and technology demands were addressed. Broadband wireless internet (WIMAX), although similar to cellular technology, uses lower -powered, smaller footprint facilities. Clearwire is targeting primarily residential neighborhoods for this portion of its network deployment. Fort that reason, comparatively small changes in location radius can result in a site not meeting network objectives. The proposed wireless facility is a monopole with a stealth "shroud" configuration over the antenna array. The staff review meeting was held on October 6, 2010. Clearwire took future co -location opportunities into consideration, as illustrated by the projects siting, pole construction and design. They have also 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. `A PROJECT: Edora Park Clearwire Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan, #25-10 (Type I —Administrative Review) APPLICANT: Clearwire, LLC 4400 Carillion Point Kirkland, WA 98033 LAND OWNER: City of Fort Collins 300 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 APPLICANT'S Michael Matzko CONSULTANT: Matzko Consulting P.O. Box 3600 Avon, CO 81620 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for the construction of a new seventy-five (75') foot wireless telecommunication pole and ground equipment at Edora Park, adjacent to the outfield fence of the west baseball field. Edora Park is located north of East Stuart Street and west of Welch Street. The proposed structure will replace an existing light pole and will look similar to the existing ball field light pole with a slight increase in diameter. This project also includes a proposal for an eight (8') foot high chain link fence enclosure outside the perimeter of the ball field with an interior mesh screening. This site is zoned P-O-L, Public Open Lands, and Wireless Telecommunication Facilities are permitted, subject to an administrative (Type 1) review and public hearing (Land Use Code, Section 4.23(13)(2)(e)3.). RECOMMENDATION: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the Public Open Lands District, subject to an administrative hearing. This Project Development Plan (PDP) complies