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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCINGULAR, TAFT HILL & ELIZABETH (CEDARWOOD PLAZA) WTF - PDP - 31-03A - REPORTS - WTE / WTF INFORMATIONSite 3025 Site 3025 • A major objective of this site is to provide capacity relief to existing sites in the western Fort Collins area. The site location is specifically designed to meet these capacity relief requirement by providing a certain amount of overlapping coverage. • Will also greatly enhance coverage to areas North and west of the proposed site location. Kev In -Building In -Vehicle ■ Outdoor ® Limited To: Anne Aspen City Planner City of Fort Collins From: Michael Matzko New Cingular Wireless PCS Re: Determination of location of WTF at Cedarwood Plaza This is a brief overview of the process used by New Cingular Wireless PCS for finding a suitable location for the wireless telecommunications facility proposed for Cedarwood Plaza at 1015 South Taft Hill Road, Fort Collins. As the attached coverage map shows, this site near the eastern edge of an area with marginal celluar coverage (indicated in green). In that area, cellular service to Cingular customers is not reliably available in buildings or vehicles. In addition to improving the coverage of Cingular's cellular network, this site will also improve the capacity of the existing network as demand (driven by residential and commercial development) in the area increases. Cellular facilities, particularly in urban areas, are tending toward smaller and relatively low - power facilities, rather than 100+ foot high towers more commonly seen in the past and in rural areas. Coverage areas of urban sites (such as Cedarwood Plaza) are typically in the'h to 3 mile range. Each site must also effectively interact with adjacent sites, allowing a seamless "handoff' from one site to the next as cellular users travel through an area, and managing varying capacity requirements throughout the day. Relatively low power plus factors such as terrain, large buildings, trees, and local government design regulations significantly influence the placement each facility. In the area of Cedarwood Plaza, there are relatively few sites that are physically capable of supporting an effective facility. Alternative sites considered included churches and commercial buildings. In each case, either there was not sufficient land available for the ground -mounted equipment, existing buildings (as in the churches) did not allow sufficient room for the number of antennae required by the facility, the landlord was not willing to commit to a long-term lease. With regard to Cedarwood plaza, the landlord was specific as to the location on the site, and would not allow a rooftop installation. The proposed site is somewhat limited by surrounding trees and the design of the tower; however, given the lack of reasonable alternatives, it represents the best available site to address coverage and capacity needs in Cingular's celluar network. Please feel free to call me at (970) 471-5320 if you have any questions about this matter.