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HomeMy WebLinkAboutWIRELESS TELECOM. EQUIP. (SPRINT PCS) AT DMA PLAZA - PDP/FDP - 21-97 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PROJECT NARRATIVESprint PCS Background Information Personal Communication Services PCS (Personal Communication Services) is the name that has been given to the band of radio spectrum located between 1850 and 1990 MHz. PCS enables the next generation of wireless telecommunications including familiar technologies such as mobile phones, paging, and wireless fax as well as new innovations such as wireless PBX, wireless LAN, and mobile data. The Sprint PCS network uses a digital technology as opposed to the analog technology. The advantages are higher voice quality, increased privacy, and a significant increase in call capacity. Unlike major broadcasting systems which operate at very high power in an attempt to reach as many people as possible, PCS facilities operate at a very low power in an attempt to limit the signal to the small area it is intended to cover. The repeated use of the same channels increases the number of telephone calls that can be handled by the system. The PCS systems use a lightweight, multi -function, portable telephone. This telephone will offer a number of features such as call screening, call waiting, voice mail, and text paging. Sprint PCS's goal is to integrate mobile services with fixed communication networks by combining local, long distance and wireless services. Sprint PCS Site Selection Process To ensure development of a community -compatible network, Sprint PCS engaged in an innovative "pre - design" process. Traditionally, development of communication networks have been driven by Radio Frequency (RF) Engineering. Engineers determined where the network needed sites regardless of zoning, community and strategic planning needs. Sprint PCS has retained the services of SBA of Denver for the acquisition and planning of PCS sites in Colorado. Their innovative, community -friendly approach, utilizes the existing zoning to form the basis for the design of the network. The first step was to identify favorable zoning districts which allow or encourage PCS facilities. Second, an inventory was completed of all existing structures that were community -friendly and realistic from a structural standpoint. RF Engineers first utilized existing structures located within favorable zone districts then considered new monopoles to fill-in required coverage areas. Through this process, Sprint PCS is able to build a network that provides maximum coverage while stressing co -location and thereby, minimizing the impact on the community. The need for a site is governed by capacity and coverage requirements for the specific geographic area to be served. PCS facilities operate at a lower power and a higher frequency than cellular, and therefore, rely more on line -of -sight coverage. Line -of -sight is the ability of radio waves to have a clear unobstructed path, free of trees, buildings, or signs, to a PCS phone. The Sprint PCS system requires a customer to be communicating with two sites at any given time to reduce dropped calls, therefore, sites need to be within close proximity of one another. Although, coverage will extend beyond major traffic corridors, locating sites along these corridors is preferred due to the high volume of users. However, coverage needs are not limited to those corridors and often extend beyond these areas. Capacity requirements for a PCS system are governed by the number of customers using a given site. When the number of customers increases beyond the capacity of one site then an additional site will be needed to help alleviate the increased capacity. The selection of a specific site in a target area or "search" area is determined by the following factors: local topographic and geographic factors (RF design location), ability to mitigate the site's visual impact, compatibility with existing land uses, agreeable local zoning, and the ability to negotiate a mutually beneficial lease with a property owner. Because all the sites in the network function together, the location of one site affects the coverage area surrounding that particular site as well as the coverage areas of all adjacent network sites. Integrating the proposed PCS facility into the network will ensure that Sprint PCS is able to meet its commitment to the public to provide the highest quality of uninterrupted wireless service. 10 Proiect Summary Sprint PCS proposes to place a wireless telecommunication site on the DMA Plaza Retirement building located at 300 Remington Street in Fort Collins. This site will consist of antennas needed to transmit and receive signals for digital wireless communication. Sprint PCS is leasing a 310 square foot area for equipment. The proposed lease area will be developed with five equipment cabinets and nine digital antennas flush mounted to the penthouse and rooftop's stair access located on the roof of the building. The equipment cabinets will be enclosed within a 7-foot high screen designed to be architecturally compatible with the existing building. Visual Impact and Screening Placing the proposed antennas on an existing structure will mitigate the visual impact that a freestanding facility could have on the City of Fort Collins. With the proposed screening, and the flush mounted antennas the potential visual impact of this proposal is further reduced. The proposed BTS equipment will be located immediately north of the existing penthouse. The BTS equipment will be enclosed with a solid equipment screen that will match the color and general appearance of the penthouse. The north facing antenna sector (00 azimuth) will be flush mounted to the rooftop's stair access on . the north side of the building and painted to match. The southeast and southwest facing antenna sectors (1200 and 2400 respectively), will be flush mounted to the penthouse and painted to match. The proposal is further mitigated by the fact that the surrounding land use is mostly commercial. This structure is in an area of tall buildings and dense land use; therefore, it would be difficult for this proposal, even without a screening design, to attract visual attention from the public. The proposed screening will provide architectural compatibility without compromising the functional use of the proposed site. Comollance With Ordinance This City of Fort Collins has developed very precise design requirements for wireless telecommunication equipment. This proposal clearly meets the objectives and intent of the City of Fort Collins Land Use Code, Article 3, Section 8.13, Standards (C), paragraph (3); ...[E]equipment shall be the same color as the building or structure to which or onto which such equipment is mounted. ...[E]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 buildings design, color, and material. Conclusion The design of the proposed Sprint PCS site incorporates screening elements which will reduce the proposal's potential visual impact and meets the aesthetic intent of the City of Fort Collins Ordinance as it pertains to Wireless Telecommunication Equipment. As proposed, this design goes to great lengths to meet the degree of architectural compatibility that is desired, therefore, Sprint PCS requests administrative approval of this request. SPRINT PCS Administrative Wireless Telecommunications Services Equipment Review City of Fort Collins DMA Plaza Retirement Site Project Contacts Applicant: Sprint PCS 4700 South Syracuse Street, Suite 600 Denver, CO 80237 (303) 488.9396 Contact: Jill Jelinek Owner: DMA Plaza, Inc. 300 Remington Street Fort Collins, CO 80524 (970) 493-7727 Contact: Cathy Sanfort Project Development Information Legal: Location: Ownership: Space under lease: Lessee: Zoning: Land Use: Portion of Lots 9,10,1 300 Remington Street DMA Plaza, Inc. 310 SF Sprint PCS D Elderly care facility Agent: SBA of Denver, Inc. 7600 E. Arapahoe Rd., Ste. 210 Englewood, CO 80112 (303) 770-3830 X334 Contact: Nathan Foster Architect/Engineer: URS Greiner 1099 18th Street Suite. 700 Denver, CO 80202 (303) 296-9700 Contact: Jack Bartels 1, 8E 12, Blk 133, City of Fort Collins Antennas: To adequately transmit and receive Sprint PCS's digital signal 9 antennas are required. The dimension of each antenna is approximately 6"w x 4"d x 60"h. The antennas will be mounted to the penthouse and rooftop's stair access without exceeding the height and painted the same color. Equipment: Five equipment cabinets contain all of the PCS equipment necessary to run the communication site including radio transceivers, batteries, cooling fans and an interior monitoring system. Each PCS cabinet is approximately 60"h x 30"w x 30"d, and will be enclosed by the proposed equipment screen.