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HomeMy WebLinkAboutROLLAND MOORE CLEARWIRE WTF - PDP - 24-10 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESI'IaOPW" El) 1'.Lk WINE CI IMI'V UNIT ML 1 i \\.\ ............ ♦-\\�\ elq ilPOSED CLE4RWIREOMPOUND 1' ` %I � V (10) Interference. Wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment shall operate in such a manner so as not to cause interference with other electronics such as radios, televisions or computers. Response: This facility will be designed and operated in accordance with FCC regulations. WiMax and cellular communications typically do not interfere with adjacent electronic devices. However, if any interference is reported to Clearwire, it will conduct testing and make appropriate adjustments to correct the interference. (11) Access Roadways. Access roads must be capable of supporting all of the emergency response equipment of the Poudre Fire Authority. Response: The facility will be adjacent to a paved parking lot in Rolland Moore Park, and will therefore be accessible to vehicles and emergency equipment. (12) Foothills and Hogbacks. Wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment located in or near the foothills bear a special responsibility for mitigating visual disruption. If such a, location is selected, the applicant shall provide computerized, three- dimensional, visual simulation of the facility or equipment and other appropriate graphics to demonstrate the visual impact on the view of the city's foothills and hogbacks. Response: n/a (13) Airports and Flight Paths. Wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment located near airports and flight paths shall obtain the necessary approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration. Response: The proposed tower is the same height and in the same location as the existing tower. (14) Historic Sites and Structures. Wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment shall not be located on any historic site or structure unless permission is first obtained from the city's Landmark Preservation Commission as required by Chapter 14 of the City Code. Response: This site is not within an historic site or district. (15) Stealth Technology. To the extent reasonably feasible, the applicant shall employ "stealth technology" so as to convert the wireless telecommunication facility into wireless telecommunication equipment, as the best method by which to mitigate and/or camouflage visual impacts. Stealth technology consists of, but is not limited to, the use of grain bins, silos or elevators, church steeples, water towers, clock towers, bell towers, false penthouses or other similar "mimic" structures. Such "mimic" structures shall have a contextual relationship to the adjacent area. Response: The proposed facility incorporates a stealth tower design. It replaces an existing ballfield light tower. Should the City so require, the panels could be enclosed within a shroud. Rolland Moore Park Clearwire WTF 4 Planning Objectives (4) Landscaping. Wireless telecommunication facilities and ground -mounted wireless telecommunications equipment may need to be landscaped with landscaping materials that exceed the levels established in Section 3.2.1, due to the unique nature of such facilities. Landscaping may therefore be required to achieve a total screening effect at the base of such facilities or equipment to screen the mechanical characteristics. A heavy emphasis on coniferous plants for year-round screening may be required. If a wireless telecommunication facility or ground -mounted wireless telecommunication equipment has frontage on a public street, street trees shall be planted along the roadway in accordance with the policies of the City Forester. Response: Consistent with the other light towers in the ballfield, no additional landscaping is proposed. (5) Fencing. Chain link fencing shall be unacceptable to screen facilities. Fencing material shall consist of wood, masonry, stucco or other acceptable materials and be opaque. Fencing shall not exceed six (6) feet in height. Response: Because of the context of this site, the enclosure for this facility is proposed as an eight foot high chain link fence, with a fabric mesh applied for screening purposes. Per our discussions with Parks and Planning Departments staff, any other enclosure material would be incompatible with the almost exclusive use of chain link fence on this ballfield. (6) Berming. Berms shall be considered as an acceptable screening device. Berms shall feature slopes that allow mowing, irrigation and maintenance. Response: There is insufficient room at this location for berming. Moreover, berming make landscape maintenance more difficultfor Parks personnel. (7) Irrigation. Landscaping and berming shall be equipped with automatic irrigation systems meeting the water conservation standards of the city. Response: No irrigation required. Any sod damaged by the installation of the tower and equipment will be replaced by Clearwire; the existing ballfield irrigation system already provides coverage to this area. (8) Color. All wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment shall be painted to match as closely as possible the color and texture of the wall, building or surrounding built environment. Muted colors, earth tones and subdued colors shall be used. Response: The tower will be painted to match the others in this ballfield. Equipment will be a neutral color (grey) and screened by a dark fabric mesh. (9) Lighting. The light source for security lighting shall be high pressure sodium and feature down -directional, sharp cut-off luminaries so that there is no spillage of illumination off -site. Light fixtures, whether freestanding or tower -mounted, shall not exceed twenty-two (22) feet in height. Response: No security lighting will be provided on site. Service lighting may be installed, using an approved cut-off luminarire and controlled by a timer. The mounting height would not exceed 8 feet if mounted within the enclosure. This lighting would only be used in the event of technicians performing emergency repairs after sundown. Rolland Moore Park Clearwire WTF 3 Planning Objectives (C) Standards. (1) Setbacks. With respect to a wireless telecommunication facility that is a tower or a monopole, the setback of the facility from the property lines shall be one (1) foot for every foot of height. However, to the extent that it can be demonstrated that the structure will collapse rather than topple, this requirement can be waived by the Director. In addition, the setbacks for ground -mounted wireless telecommunication equipment shall be governed by the setback criteria established in Articles 3 and/or 4. Response: The proposed tower will replace the existing tower, in the same location. No setbacks will be encroached upon. (2) Wireless Telecommunication Facilities. Whether manned or unmanned, wireless telecommunication facilities shall be consistent with the architectural style of the surrounding architectural environment (planned or existing) considering exterior materials, roof form, scale, mass, color, texture and character. Such facilities shall also be compatible with the surrounding natural environment considering land forms, topography, and other natural features. If such facility is an accessory use to an existing use, the facility shall be constructed out of materials that are equal to or better than the materials of the principal use. Response: The proposed base facility will consist of a 2 ' x 3 ' by 5-112' radio cabinet mounted on a metal equipment platform. This will be enclosed within a chain link fence to match the existing ballfield fence, and covered with a fabric mesh for screening. The top of the enclosure will be of chain link fence as well, to discourage unauthorized entry. (3) Wireless Telecommunication Equipment. Wireless telecommunication equipment shall be of the same color as the building or structure to which or on which such equipment is mounted. Whenever a wireless telecommunication antenna is attached to a building roof, the height of the antenna shall not be more than fifteen (15) feet over the height of the building. All wireless telecommunication equipment shall be located as far from the edge of the roof as possible. Even if the building is constructed at or above the building height limitations contained in Section 3.8.17, the additional fifteen (15) feet is permissible. Whenever wireless telecommunication equipment is mounted to the wall of a building or structure, the equipment shall be mounted in a configuration as flush to the wall as technically possible and shall not project above the wall on which it is mounted. Such equipment shall, to the maximum extend feasible, also feature the smallest and most discreet components that the technology will allow so as to have the least possible impact on the architectural; haracter and overall aesthetics of the building or structure. Roof- and ground -mounted wireless telecommunication equipment shall be screened by parapet walls or screen walls in a manner compatible with the building's design, color and material. Response: This will be a freestanding facility, but will mimic adjacent light towers. The fencing for the enclosure will be similar to that used for the ballfield. The tower will be painted to match adjacent towers. Rolland Moore Park Clearwire WTF 2 Planning Objectives Rolland Moore Park Clearwire Wireless Telecom Facility Clearwire Site CO-DEN1010 Planning Objectives The planning objectives for the proposed wireless telecommunications facility are based upon the found in Article 3, supplemental regulations, of the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code. 3.8.13 Wireless Telecommunication (A) Location. Subject to the requirements of paragraph (B) of this Section, wireless telecommunication equipment may be attached to or mounted on any existing building or structure (or substantially similar replacement structure) located in any zone district of the city. Wireless telecommunication equipment shall not, however, be permitted to be attached to or mounted on any residential building containing four (4) or fewer dwelling units. Response: Clearwire proposes replacing an existing balUtteld light pole with a pole of similar height, of approximately 26" diameter in order to accommodate the increased load of antennas and cabling. (B) Co -location. No wireless telecommunication facility or equipment owner or lessee or employee thereof shall act to exclude or attempt to exclude any other wireless telecommunication provider from using the same building, structure or location. Wireless telecommunication facility or equipment owners or lessees or employees thereof, and applicants for the approval of plans for the installation of such facilities or equipment, shall cooperate in good faith to achieve co -location of wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment. Any application for the approval of a plan for the installation of wireless telecommunication facilities or equipment shall include documentation of the applicant's good faith efforts toward such cooperation. Response: The proposed tower will accommodate one additional carrier. Since the City will own the tower, any carrier wishing to collocate on this tower would have to lease both tower and ground space from the City. In determining a suitable location for any of its facilities, Clearwire always seeks opportunities to collocate on existing WTFs. Broadband wireless internet (WIMAA), although similar to cellular technology, uses lower powered, smaller footprint facilities. Clearwire is targeting primarily residential neighborhoods for this portion of its network deployment in Fort Collins. For that reason, comparatively small changes in location can result in a site not meeting network objectives. No facilities in this area were available for collocation. The closest tower is approximately '/_2 mile to the south. While it has the space available for Clearwire, it does not meet the location criterium for this facility. Clearwire may well pursue collocation on this facility as it develops infill sites in subsequent phases of its network deployment.