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HomeMy WebLinkAboutVERIZON WIRELESS (2555 S. SHIELDS ST.), WTF - PDP/FDP - FDP130001 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESPROJECT INFORMATION Applicant Information: Verizon Wireless (VAW) LLC, d/b/a Verizon Wireless, 3131 South Vaughn Way, Aurora, CO 80014 Representative: Irene Cooke, Leasing and Zoning Consultant, Closser Consulting LLC, P O Box 423, Tabernash, CO 80478; (970) 531-0831 Land Owner Information: Raintree Investments LLC, 760 Whalers Way Unit A200, Fort Collins, CO 80525: Mitch Morgan, (970) 484-2090 Engineering Firm Preparing Site Plan: TowerCom Technologies LLC, 10278 Rustic Redwood Lane, Highlands Ranch, CO 80128: Steve Haag, (303) 683-3194 Name of Project: Verizon Wireless FTC Wolf Pup Address of Project: 2555 S. Shields Street PLANNING OBJECTIVE Verizon Wireless proposes to develop a new telecommunications site, “FTC Wolf Pup” at 2555 S. Shields Street at the Raintree Athletic Club. The purpose of this site is to provide coverage and capacity for wireless service in the general vicinity of Drake Road and Shields Street. 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 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. The photosimulation and site plans included with this application illustrate how antennas will be concealed in a stealth design on the roof of the Raintree Athletic Club. Electronic equipment will be concealed in a shelter to be located in the loading dock area at the rear of the existing building; the shelter will have a brick and stucco façade to match the façade of the existing building. 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 wireless telecommunication equipment to be located on the roof of the existing Raintree Athletic Club. This site is in the Neighborhood Commercial Zone District. (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 proposed site for the location of other antennas or telecommunication equipment. (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: Not applicable. (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 antennas concealed behind a fiberglass screen manufactured to match the brick of the existing building façade. Electronic equipment will be housed in a shelter located in the existing loading dock area; it will have a stucco and brick façade to match the existing building. (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.  Verizon Wireless Response: Antenna height will not exceed fifteen (15) feet over the height of the tallest point on building. All equipment will be either screened by screen walls or painted to match the existing trim on the building. Notes on Sheets Z2 and Z4 provide detail of the paint color that will be used to match the existing building trim. (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: No landscaping is proposed at this site. (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: No fencing is proposed 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: No landscaping or irrigation is proposed. (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: All facilities and equipment at this site will be painted to match the existing colors at the Raintree Athletic Club. Notes on Sheets Z2 and Z4 provide detail of the paint color that will be used to match the existing building trim. Verizon Wireless has obtained the paint formula for the existing trim so that an exact match can be made. The elevated cable tray, “doghouse,” conduit and other equipment will be painted this color. The antenna screen will be manufactured to match the color and texture of the existing brick façade of the building. The equipment shelter will have a brick and stucco façade to match the existing brick façade of the building. (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 requirements of all emergency response equipment for Poudre Fire Authority. (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 technology 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 site employs stealth technology to mitigate visual impacts. Antennas will be concealed behind a fiberglass screen manufactured to match the color and texture of the brick on the existing building façade. Electronic equipment will be housed in a shelter located in the existing loading dock area; it will have a brick and stucco façade to match the existing building.