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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCINGULAR, TAFT HILL & ELIZABETH (CEDARWOOD PLAZA) WTF - PDP - 31-03A - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTCingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan - #31-03A (Type I - Administrative Review) March 6, 2006 Page 5 FINDINGS OF FACT / CONCLUSIONS After reviewing the Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan (#31-03A), 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 4.19 of the Land Use Code, NC —Neighborhood Commercial District. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan (#31- 03A). ATTACHMENTS: Zoning exhibit Neighborhood Meeting Notes from February 8, 2006 Documentation of good faith effort to co -locate with existing facilities Full sized plan set Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan - #31-03A (Type I - Administrative Review) March 6, 2006 Page 4 outside corners of the fence to prevent vehicle collisions at night; 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 adjacent service drive aisle is capable of supporting emergency response equipment of the Poudre Fire Authority; 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 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. A mimic structure was not feasible but this design has been used successfully elsewhere in Fort Collins. Staff and the neighbors present at the neighborhood meeting concurred that this design was acceptable. 4. Article 4 — Districts Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial District, subject to an Administrative Hearing. Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan - #31-03A (Type I - Administrative Review) March 6, 2006 Page 3 3. Article 3 — General Development Standards A. 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 NC —Neighborhood Commercial District. There are no existing wireless telecommunication facilities existing on site. The Applicant made a good faith effort to co -locate with existing facilities in the vicinity with no success. Documentation of this effort is attached. 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 residential property line to the south by 47 feet. Therefore the maximum allowable height is 47 feet, which is proposed; b. Wireless Telecommunication Facilities: The proposed monopole will be painted desert tan per staff's recommendation in order to minimize visual impacts. The equipment at the ground level will be screened by a six-foot cedarfence; c. Wireless Telecommunication Equipment: As noted above, the monopole will be painted desert tan to minimize visual impacts; d. Landscaping and Fencing: Due the location of the antennas and equipment in an existing service drive aisle, no landscaping or screening is proposed. A six-foot solid cedar fence is proposed to enclose the ground equipment; e. Color. The proposed monopole will be painted desert tan to minimize visual impacts; f. Lighting: There will be no lighting associated with this project. There will be reflective tape on the bollards at the Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan - #31-03A (Type I - Administrative Review) March 6, 2006 Page 2 COMMENTS 1. Background The surrounding zoning and land used are as follows N: NC —Neighborhood Commercial District (existing Cedarwood Shopping Center with MMN—Medium Density Mixed -use Neighborhood District (existing Campus -oriented multifamily projects) beyond; E: NC —Neighborhood Commercial District (existing Farmers Table Restaurant) with RL—Low Density Residential District (existing residential neighborhoods) beyond; S: RL—Low Density Residential District (existing residential neighborhoods); W: RL—Low Density Residential District (existing residential neighborhoods). The Applicant initially submitted plans proposing a 50-foot monopole with a triangular antenna array configuration. Staff worked with the Applicant to revise the proposal to incorporate stealth technology. Staff also recommended exploring alternative locations that would have less impact on an existing residential neighborhood. The Applicant made a good faith effort to secure a different site that would work for their needs and were unsuccessful. They also revised the plans to incorporate a monopole with a more stealth sheath configuration. A neighborhood meeting was not required for this project but the Applicant agreed to hold one on February 8, 2006 to solicit neighborhood feedback. The neighborhood members in attendance generally appreciated the attention to stealth design and did not voice any strong opinions in opposition to this proposal. Notes from the meeting are attached. 2. Article 2 — Administration The Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan complies with the applicable requirements of the Land Use Code, specifically the procedural requirements located in Division 2.2 — Common Development Review Procedures for Development Applications; and Division 2.4 — Project Development Plan. ITEM NO. I 1 MEETING DATE 3'G Olo STAFF _A"W City of Fort Collins HEARING OFFICER STAFF REPORT PROJECT: Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan - #31-03A (Type I - Administrative Review) APPLICANT: Mike Matzko Matzko Consulting P. O. Box 3600 Avon, CO 81620 OWNER: Robert Perry and Associates 6500 S. Quebec St. Suite 300 Englewood, CO 80111 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: The Cingular Taft and Elizabeth (Cedarwood Plaza) Wireless Telecommunication Facility, Project Development Plan is a proposal to locate a wireless telecommunication facility at 1015 S. Taft Hill Road. This is a request to install a 50-foot tall wireless monopole on the southeast of the Cedarwood Plaza building in the service drive aisle, behind the Farmer's Table restaurant. The site is located south of Elizabeth Street and west of Taft Hill Road. There are currently no other wireless antennas or equipment pads at this site. The property is zoned NC — Neighborhood Commercial District. RECOMMENDATION: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: Wireless telecommunication facilities are permitted in the Neighborhood Commercial District, subject to an Administrative Hearing. This Project Development Plan (PDP) complies with the applicable Administrative and General Development standards and the Zone District standards of the NC — Neighborhood Commercial District. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO.80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT