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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVERIZON WTF AT 1052 W. VINE DR. - PDP - PDP120025 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVEStechnology 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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The proposed Verizon Wireless monopine will be designed to adequately conceal the wireless antennas. Applicant has worked with Staff to ensure that the design of the site, including stealth tree, screening and landscaping, will be acceptable. be provided at the administrative hearing. We will also provide a sample of a resin "branch" at the hearing. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: One light is proposed at this site and it will comply with the lighting standard. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The Verizon Wireless telecommunications site shall pose no interference issues with other electronics. (11) Access Roadways. Access roads must be capable of supporting all of the emergency response equipment of the Poudre Fire Authority. • Verizon Wireless Response: The proposed Verizon Wireless driveway design will meet the needs of all emergency response equipment for Poudre Fire Authority. Site plans show a turn -around that meets these standards. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: Foothills or Hogbacks are not an issue for this site. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The proposed wireless telecommunication equipment is not located near an airport or flight path. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The subject property is not an historic site or structure. (15). Stealth Technology: To the extent reasonably feasible, the applicant shall employ "stealth technology" so as to convert the wireless telecommunication into wireless telecommunication equipment, as the best method by which to mitigate and/or camouflage visual impacts. Stealth • Verizon Wireless Response: This provision does not apply because equipment is not being mounted onto a building. Antennas on the proposed monopine will exactly match the color of the needles on the "tree." (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: A landscaping plan has been submitted with this application. Elevations showing the landscaping at various stages: planting, 3 years and 20 years, are also included. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: A six foot (6') wood fence is proposed to screen the equipment shelter at this site. (6) Berming. Berms shall be considered as an acceptable screening device. Berms shall feature slopes that allow mowing, irrigation and maintenance. • Verizon Wireless Response: No berming is proposed. (7) Irrigation. Landscaping and berming shall be equipped with automatic irrigation systems meeting the water conservation standards of the city. Verizon Wireless Response: Due to current use and future plans for this property, no automatic irrigation is proposed for the landscaping. Verizon Wireless proposes to contract with a local landscaping firm to ensure that plants are properly attended at all times. We believe that this will promote the general purpose of the irrigation standard equally well or better than an automatic irrigation system. Contracting with a landscaping firm will not only ensure consistent professional attention to the plantings, it will also ensure that planting warranty requirements are met. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The facade of the Verizon Wireless equipment shelter will be earth tone pebble -textured concrete material. A sample of the facade material will for at least two (2) additional carriers to collocate on this structure at sufficient height to be commercially feasible. (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The proposed 75' monopine will be set back from the nearest property lines more than the 1:1 requirement at the two closest points: First, the setback from the west property line (Shields Street) will be approximately one hundred forty one feet (141'). Second, the set back from the south property line will be approximately eighty seven feet (87'). (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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The proposed Verizon Wireless site includes a stealth monopine with antennas concealed among the fabricated resin branches. The equipment shelter will be screened with a six foot (6') wood fence and the fence will be further screened with landscaping, including six evergreen trees. (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. 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. The proposed site will include the monopine structure, enclosed behind a six ft. (6') high wood fence, with a 12' x 26' prefabricated equipment shelter that will contain electronic equipment and a diesel generator for emergency power. Extensive landscaping has been included outside the wood fence to simulate a "grove" of trees. Elevations of this landscaping show the anticipated growth at various intervals: at planting, at three (3) years and at twenty (20) years. At the site being proposed in this application, a total of twelve (12) panel antennas are required to provide the desired service. A complete array, that is, three (3) sectors of multiple antennas, is required due to the fact that Verizon Wireless is licensed for a number of different frequencies and services. In February, 2012, Verizon Wireless made a presentation to Planning and Zoning Staff to explain the need for a complete array of antennas. A copy of that presentation is included in this application package. Collocation inside a canister tower has three serious limitations: first, the narrow diameter restricts the number of antennas that can fit within the canister; second, antennas that do not fit at the top level of the canister must be placed at successively lower levels, limiting the range of broadcasting; and third, the narrow canister diameter limits the adjustments that are required to focus signals in the desired direction to optimize coverage. It would be physically impossible to fit the proposed twelve (12) antennas inside a canister tower at a height sufficient for adequate operations. The Applicant appreciates the fact that the City has recognized the limitations of the canister design and has agreed to consider a monopine as a viable application of "stealth" technology for this site. RESPONSE TO SECTION 3.8.13 — REQUIREMENTS FOR WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION 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. • Verizon Wireless Response: The proposed design calls for a stealth monopine with antennas concealed among the fabricated resin branches. The equipment shelter will be screened with a six foot (6') wood fence and the fence will be further screened with landscaping, including six evergreen trees. (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 owners or lessees or employees thereof shall cooperate in good faith to achieve co -location of wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment with other wireless telecommunication providers. • Verizon Wireless Response: Verizon Wireless will not act to exclude or attempt to exclude any other competitor from using the subject stealth monopine for the location of other antennas or telecommunication equipment. There is sufficient space PROJECT INFORMATION Applicant Information: Verizon Wireless, 3131 South Vaughn Way, Aurora, CO 80014 Representative: Irene Cooke, Leasing and Zoning Consultant, Closser Consulting LLC, P 0 Box 423, Tabernash, CO 80478; (970) 531-0831 Land Owner Information: Michael Rein, Dorothy Rein and Donald Rein, 4029 Highlands West Drive, Fort Collins, CO 80526; (970) 484-7913 Engineering firm preparing Site Plan: Charles Steckley Architecture, Inc.; 5935 South Zang Street, Suite 280, Littleton, CO 80127; (303) 932-9974 Name of proiect: Verizon Wireless FTC Fat Tire Address of Project: 1052 West Vine Drive PLANNING OBJECTIVE Verizon Wireless proposes to develop a new telecommunications site, "FTC Fat Tire" at 1052 West Vine Drive on property currently in use by the offices of Apex Roofing Co. The purpose of this site is to provide coverage and capacity for wireless service in the vicinity of Shields Street and Vine Drive. The proposed site will be part of continuous telecommunications network serving the greater Fort Collins area. Verizon Wireless is currently proposing several sites within the City of Fort Collins and a approval of this application will allow Verizon Wireless to meet its federally mandated obligations under the license granted by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) pursuant to the Telecommunications Act of 1996. Opportunities for collocation in this neighborhood are severely limited, due to the densely residential nature of the area. There are no commercial buildings or multi -family structures of sufficient height available for placement of rooftop or fa4ade mounted antennas. Verizon Wireless attempted to collocate with T-Mobile on a canister tower ("Animal House") at 1108 W. Vine Drive, a site that was approved in 2011. The T-Mobile tower was approved with insufficient height to be commercially feasible for collocation by a second carrier. In fact, although this tower was approved more than a year ago, it has not been built and there is no information available as to when construction might begin. Verizon Wireless proposes to install a stealth "monopine" communications tower. This structure will be designed to mimic a Ponderosa Pine, one of the approved species discussed in pre -application meetings with Lindsay Ex, Environmental Planning. Photosimulations and a 3D rendering included with this application illustrate how antennas will be concealed with simulated branches. Also included in the application package are photos of actual existing sites with monopine structures similar to the one being proposed.