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Home My WebLink AboutWIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION EQUIPMENT, T-MOBILE UPRR/PRPA C0-LOCATE - PDP - 27-03 - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORTWireless Telecommunication Equipment, T-Mobile, UPRR/PHPA Co -locate, . File #27-03 October 9, 2003 Type 1 Hearing Page 5 D. Staff finds that the antennae array proposed to be mounted to the top of the pole does not employ stealth technology to the extent reasonably f-e�as required. E. Staff finds that the antennae array proposed to be mounted to the top of the pole is not compatible when considered in the context of the viewshed of motorists driving on Harmony Road. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends denial of Wireless Telecommunication Equipment, T-Mobile, UPRR/PRPA Co -locate, File #27-03 Wireless Telecommunication Equipment, T-Mobile, UPRR/PnPA Co -locate, File #27-03 October 9, 2003 Type 1 Hearing Page 4 A. Co -location [3.8.13(B)]: The request is for "equipment" to be attached to an existing structure whose primary use is for suspending electrical lines. B. Fencing, Landscaping & Berming [3.8.13(C)(4),(5)&(6)]: The cabinet equipment is proposed to be screened behind a 6 foot high solid cedar fence, and will have shrubs between the enclosure and Harmony Road to act as additional screening. C. Lighting [3.8.18(C)(9)]: There will be no additional security lighting associated with the pole or base equipment. The area of the site is somewhat illuminated already because of its proximity to street illumination already in place along Harmony Road. - , D. Stealth Technology 3.8.13(C)(15) DThe proposed antennae array does not, to the extent reasona y feasible, employ "stealth technology," as required. 5. The physical characteristics of the proposed co -located antennae array are not compatible with the character of the community when considered in the context of the viewshed o Harmony Road. The proposed antennae array is in direct line of sight of motorists driving both east and west on Harmony Road, and would therefore draw attention to the pole. Staff has advised the applicant that any of the next several poles to the south of the proposed pole would be adequate for co -location from a project compatibility standpoint because they are not in direct sight of motorists on Harmony Road. 6. `_ > Findings of -Fact and Conclusion: In reviewing the Wireless Telecommunication Equipment, T-Mobile, UPRR/PRPA Co -locate, File #27-03, Staff makes the following findings of fact: A. The request is defined as "wireless telecommunications equipment." B. Wireless telecommunications equipment is permitted in the H-C, Harmony Corridor, Zone District, subject to administrative, Type 1, review. C. Staff finds that the proposed ground -mounted equipment and enclosure meet the applicable design standards. Wireless Telecommunication Equipment, T-Mobile, UPRR/PHPA Co -locate, File #27-03 October 9, 2003 Type 1 Hearing Page 3 T-Mobile approached the City in April 2003 to construct a free standing mono- pole proposed to be located southeast of the current proposed co -location site. The applicant contends (see exhibit D) that a representative of T-Mobile was instructed by Bob Barkeen (City Planner in the Fort Collins Current Planning Department) to "co -locate on the existing PRPA pole" rather than to build a new free standing mono -pole. In talking with Bob Barkeen, he contends that while it is true that he encouraged T-Mobile to co -locate on an existing PRPA pole, he specifically recommended a different pole that is being proposed. The pole that Bob Barkeen contends he recommended is just southwest across the tracks from the existing -movie theater. 2. Definition 1`51.21: "Wireless. telecommunications equipment' is defined in Article 5 as "as any equipment used to provide wireless telecommunication services, but which is not affixed to or contained within a wireless telecommunication facility (monopole or tower), but is -instead affixed to or mounted on an existing building or structure (or substantially similar replacement structure) that is used for some other purpose." "Extent reasonably -feasible" is defined in Article 5 as "under the circumstances,. reasonable efforts have been undertaken to comply with the regulation, that the costs of compliance clearly outweigh the potential benefits to the public or would unreasonably burden the proposed project, and reasonable steps have been undertaken to minimize any potential harm or adverse impacts resulting from noncompliance with -the regulation.' 3. Zoning r4.191: The proposed site is zoned Harmony Corridor _(HC). In the HC zone district, wireless telecommunications_equipment is a permitted use, subject to type 1 review. 4. Compliance with Applicable Wireless Telecommunication Standards 3.8.13 : The Land Use Code requires that a request for wireless telecommunications equipment comply with a prescribed set of standards as outlined in Section 3.8.13. The applicable standards are discussed below. Wireless Telecommunication Equipment, T-Mobile; UPRR/PHPA Co -locate, File #27-03 October 9, 2003 Type 1 Hearing Page 2 COMMENTS: 1. Background: The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows: N: HC; Harmony Road, Golden Meadows Business Park; S: HC; existing Oakridge Business Park; E: HC; existing Harmony Village including retail, warehouses, restaurants, a multi -screen movie theater, a bank; W: HC; existing Oakridge Business Park. The Platte River Power Authority owns high voltage overhead power lines that run along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks extending two miles to the north and a mile and a half south.of this site. This is the fourth request to locate wireless telecommunication equipment on one of the Platte River Power Authority power lines poles. Two were approved on power poles adjacent to Drake Road (see exhibits B & C) , and one was approved approximately a mile and a half north of this proposed site adjacent to the Union Pacific Railroad tracks. The two power pole co -locates along Drake Road were processed at similar times, so both were approved before either were installed. During the development review of these two Drake Road co -locates, City staff had thought that because the power lines were utilitarian in nature, it would make sense to co -locate another utility onto the poles. What wasn't anticipated during the development review of the two Drake Road sites was that the installation of such antennae arrays onto power. poles would greatly draw visual attention to the specific poles with such arrays, as viewed by motorists driving toward the co -locate array. Staff concluded after the installation of the Drake Road co -locates that such a co -locate on a power pole in the future would be considered incompatible with the urban form when it is in the viewshed of traffic on a heavily traveled roadway. Such a co -locate is, however, entirely compatible with the city's urban form when it is not within the.viewshed of traffic on a heavily traveled roadway. The recently approved pole co -locate that is further north along the Union Pacific Railroad tracks from the proposed site is located away from a heavily traveled roadway, and was considered therefore compatible. At the time the two Drake Road power pole co -locates were submitted for development review, the City had no specific requirement that stealth technology be employed. Partially as a result of staff's conclusions about the incompatibility the two Drake Road co -locates, a new subsection on stealth technology was added to the Wireless Tele-communication Section [3.8.13] of the Land Use Code in December of 2001. ITEM NO. 1 of 1 MEETING DATE 10/912003 STAFF ..Troy Jones Citv of Fort Collins HEARING OFFICER STAFF REPORT PROJECT: Wireless Telecommunication Equipment, T-Mobile, UPRR/PRPA Co -locate, File #27-03 APPLICANT: T-Mobile C/o of Chris Stryker 2323 Delgany Street Denver, CO 80216 OWNER: Union Pacific Raiload & Platte River Power Authority 201 W. Union 2000 E. Horsetooth Road La Salle, Co 80645 Fort Collins, CO 80525 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Request to mount wireless telecommunications equipment as a co -location on an existing power pole. The height of the existing power pole is approximately 100 feet tall. A 10' pole extension is proposed to be mounted to the existing pole. The antenna array would be mounted on this pole extension. A new ground mounted equipment shelter is proposed just south of the existing power pole. The property is zoned H - C, Harmony Corridor. RECOMMENDATION: Denial EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The request is defined as "wireless telecommunications equipment." The request to co -locate Wireless telecommunications equipment in the H - C zone is subject to a Type 1 review. The ground -mounted equipment, meets the applicable design standards, however, the proposed antennae array does not, to the extent reasonably feasible, employ"stealth technology," nor are the physical characteristics of the proposed co -located antennae array compatible when considered in conjunction within the context of the viewshed of Harmony Road. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT