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Home My WebLink AboutFRENCH FIELD WTE (NEXTEL) - PDP/FDP - 11-97G - REPORTS - RECOMMENDATION/REPORT W/ATTACHMENTSNextel Communications 4643 South Ulster Street, Suite 500, Denver, CO 80237 303 721-3400 FAX 303 721-3419 N WT September 13, 1999 City of Fort Collins Planning Board 281 N. College P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO 80522-0580 RE: Proposed wireless telecommunications facility at Rocky Mountain High School, 1300 W. Swallow Road. Dear Chairman and Members of the Board Nextcl has leased space from the Poudre R-1 School District upon which to locate a wireless telecommunications facility upon one of the football stadium light standards at Rocky Mountain High School. Nextel proposes to locate its antennas on a tower that will be replaced in order to structurally accommodate the school districts future communications needs as well as the Nextel facility. The replacement tower will be increased in height, approximately fifteen feet in order to allow for the necessary separation from the lights on the tower. The primary function of the tower is and will remain lighting for the football field, and the increase will help to eliminate safety concerns from the school district's property maintenance department having to avoid and working around the antennas to make repairs o the lights. The Nextel ground mounted equipment building will be constructed adjacent to the existing equipment / snack bar at the foot ball stadium and will be painted to match he existing colors and texture. In addition, the additional fifteen feet (15') of height for the proposed site will have no significant increased visual impact on the community and surrounding properties. Nextel will comply with all conditions of approval and will work with the city of Fort Collins and the School District to ensure that the design of the proposed project is consistent with the existing architecture. Nextel has been authorized by the Federal Communications Commission to construct and operate the first multi- purpose enhanced specialized mobile radio system (ESMR) in the United States. The proposed facility would be an integral part of the system design for the area. Once constructed, the facility will be unmanned, with no noise, smoke, odors or waste generated. Nextel's unique truly digital system, which provides service to local businesses as well as the general public, is an excellent alternative to regular cellular telephones. Nextel's service provides superior voice quality, no cloning, no roaming charges anywhere in the country and the option to use telephone service, radio dispatch, alphanumeric paging and voicemail from the same handset. If there are any questions or concerns that I can address please do not hesitate to call me at any time. I can be reached at (303) 359-0013. Sincerely, Justin obi `n Cc: Ted Shepard — City of Fort Collins, Senior Planner OLMI� t RAN m M wl.N iI101ws1 RAN in MA w..N N�IAw�r •' ■� WI/ATION AOIRN Y AT wN..N AtA w.n.N acre RAfl MA m N.YpINO mm.mww CSAI ff N .NOCrEL �• WRIAR/I�f Nn�aN.rr�r i'w".:N = ...��.r.�w. ' eoa ww Nl�m A�AN NMNININM ACO r French Field — Rocky Mountain High School, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, P.D.P. File # 11-97G April 20, 2000 P&Z Meeting Page 4 5. Neighborhood Compatibility: The primary compatibility issue typically raised during the review process of telecommunications requests is radio interference. In response, the frequency of wireless telecommunications equipment is between 1850 and 1950 megahertz which is substantially separated from the frequencies used by other electronic devices such as radios, t.v.'s, computers and garage door openers. Since the installation of numerous wireless telecommunications equipment, Staff has not received one complaint from surrounding residents regarding electronic interference. 6. Findings of Fact and Conclusion: In reviewing the request for wireless telecommunications equipment as a co - location on the French Field light fixture, Staff makes the following finding of facts: A. The request is defined as "wireless telecommunications equipment." B. Wireless telecommunications equipment is permitted in the R-L, Low Density Residential, Zone District, subject to review by the Planning and Zoning Board. C. The installation, including the ground -mounted equipment, meets the applicable design standards. D. The installation of the equipment is compatible with the neighborhood and will not cause interference with other electronic equipment that is typically found in a residential neighborhood. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of French Field — Rocky Mountain High School, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, P.D.P., File #11-97G French Field — Rocky Mountain High School, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, P.D.P. File # 11-97G April 20, 2000 P&Z Meeting Page 3 4. Compliance with Applicable Standards [3.8.131: 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 (Article Three, page 151). The applicable standards are discussed below. A. Co -location [3.8.13(B)]: The Nextel Communications request is for "equipment' to be attached to an existing structure whose primary use is for ballfield lighting. A note has been attached to the plans stating that the owners or lessees shall not act to exclude any other wireless telecommunication provider from using the same existing structure. B. Color [3.8.13(C)(3)]: The existing pole is galvanized which matches the other poles. C. Fencing [3.8.13(C)(5)]: The area around the ground -mounted equipment will be fenced with a nine foot high chainlink enclosure. Since the site is public and accessible, the use of chainlink allows the enclosure to be as maintenance -free and vandal -free as possible. The co -location of the equipment is on an existing light fixture and, therefore, the use of solid enclosure is not required. Solid fencing is only required for free-standing monopoles. D. Lighting [3.8.18(C)(9)]: There will be no security lighting associated with light fixture or base equipment. French Field — Rocky Mountain High School, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, P.D.P. File # 11-97G April 20, 2000 P&Z Meeting Page 2 COMMENTS: Background: The surrounding zoning and land uses are as follows N: MMN; Existing multifamily housing (Collins West Apartments), S: RL; Existing Rocky Mountain High School buildings, school parking lots, Swallow Road, E: RL; Existing Rocky Mountain High School recreation fields, school tennis courts school parking lots, Shields Street, W: RL; Existing French Field (football field and running track) with existing bleachers, MMN; existing multifamily housing, The Rocky Mountain High School campus includes buildings, parking lots and athletic fields, tennis courts. French Field is located on the north side of Rocky Mountain High School within the school's campus area. French Field is a lighted playing field with bleachers and a concessions building, and is the primary track and football field for home games for all three Fort Collins high schools. This would be the second location of Wireless Telecommunication Equipment to be located at French Field. The first is located on the west side of French Field, and was approved June 4, 1997. 2. Definition f5.1.21: The Land Use Code defines "wireless telecommunications equipment" 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. 3. Zoning K31: The entire high school campus is zoned R-L, Low Density Residential. In this zone district, wireless telecommunications equipment is a permitted use, subject to review by the Planning and Zoning Board. ITEM NO. 7 MEETING DATF(i 20 00 STAFF Troy Jones Citv of Fort Collins PLANNING AND ZONING BOARD STAFF REPORT PROJECT: French Field — Rocky Mountain High School, Wireless Telecommunications Equipment, P.D.P., File #11-97G APPLICANT: Nextel Communications C/o of Justin Robinson 4643 South Ulster Street, Suite 500 Denver, CO 80237 OWNER: Poudre School District C/o Mr. Ron Daggett 2407 LaPorte Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80521 PROJECT DESCRIPTION: Request to mount wireless telecommunications equipment as a co -location on an existing ballfield light fixture at French Field on the grounds of Rocky Mountain High School. The light fixture is the center light fixture on the east side of French Field. The height of the existing lattice tower is approximately 115 feet. The antenna array would be placed above the lights. There would be nine antennas arranged in three arrays of three. The property is zoned R-L, Low Density Residential. RECOMMENDATION: Approval EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: The ballfield light fixtures are existing. The request to co -locate wireless telecommunications equipment in the R-L zone must be reviewed by the P & Z Board. A new equipment shelter is proposed adjacent to the existing concessions building secured by a 9 foot high chain link fence to match existing fence. Because of the low frequencies, there will be no electronic interference with typical electronic appliances found in a residential neighborhood. COMMUNITY PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES 281 N. College Ave. P.O. Box 580 Fort Collins, CO80522-0580 (970) 221-6750 PLANNING DEPARTMENT