HomeMy WebLinkAboutVERIZON WIRELESS (2555 S. SHIELDS ST.), WTF - PDP/FDP - FDP130001 - DECISION - MINUTES/NOTES (3)1
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Q:\USERS\FORT COLLINS LAND USE\VERIZON WIRELESS\DECISION.DOCX
CITY OF FORT COLLINS
TYPE 1 ADMINISTRATIVE HEARING
FINDINGS AND DECISION
HEARING DATE: June 5, 2013
PROJECT NAME: Verizon Wireless at 2555 S. Shields Street
CASE NUMBER: FDP #130001
APPLICANT: Verizon Wireless
3131 South Vaughn Way
Aurora, CO 80014
OWNER: Raintree Investments LLC
760 Whalers Way, Unit A200
Fort Collins, CO 80525
HEARING OFFICER: Kendra L. Carberry
PROJECT DESCRIPTION: This is a request for the construction of new wireless
telecommunication equipment at 2555 South Shields Street. The site is located northwest of the
intersection of West Drake Road and South Shields Street west of the existing Raintree Athletic
Club building. The proposed telecommunications equipment consists of a new equipment shelter
and 15 panel antennae hidden inside a screening enclosure designed to match the color and
materials of the existing building. The screening enclosure will be located on the roof over the
building’s loading dock.
SUMMARY OF DECISION: Approved.
ZONE DISTRICT: Neighborhood Commercial (N-C)
HEARING: The Hearing Officer opened the hearing at approximately 5:00 p.m. on June 5, 2013,
in Conference Room A, 281 North College Avenue, Fort Collins, Colorado.
EVIDENCE: During the hearing, the Hearing Officer accepted the following evidence:
(1) Planning Department Staff Report; and (2) application, plans, maps and other supporting
documents submitted by the applicant (the Land Use Code, the Comprehensive Plan and the
formally promulgated polices of the City are all considered part of the record considered by the
Hearing Officer).
TESTIMONY: The following persons testified at the hearing:
From the City: Ryan Mounce
From the Applicant: Irene Cooke
From the Public: None
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FINDINGS
1. Evidence presented to the Hearing Officer established the fact that the hearing was
properly posted, legal notices mailed and notice published.
2. The PDP/FDP complies with all applicable General Development Standards contained in
Article 3 of the Land Use Code.
a. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.5.1(B), Architectural Character, because
the equipment shelter and screening enclosure will feature a compatible architectural
character with the existing building and retail shopping center through the use of similar
colors, materials, textures and brick patterns.
b. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.5.1(C), Building Size, Height, Bulk, Mass,
Scale, because: the equipment shelter is in a recessed area north of the loading dock,
behind an existing angled brick wall; its overall size, bulk, mass and scale are consistent
with similar projections or recessed areas throughout the shopping complex; the existing
landscaping will hide the shelter from most viewing angles; the screening enclosure is on
the canopy roof over the loading dock beginning at 16’ in height and rising to 38’, which is
3’ 9” higher than the tallest portion of the existing building’s front parapet wall; the length
of each side of the enclosure is 15’, similar in scale to the wall and parapet segment
articulations used throughout the existing structure; and the equipment shelter is 12’6” in
height, similar to the existing building and buildings in the multifamily development
located to the west that feature maximum building heights of 40’.
c. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.5.1(D), Privacy Considerations, because:
the new equipment shelter and antenna screening enclosure are not designed for habitation,
and technicians will be on-site only as needed; and both structures will be screened by
mature, existing landscaping.
d. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.5.1(E), Building Materials, because: the
equipment shelter will be brick and stucco, to match the colors of the existing building and
shopping complex; the screening enclosure will be constructed of fiberglass bricks with
texture, color, and visual appearance to match the brick of the existing building and
shopping complex; and both the equipment shelter and screening enclosure continue the
visual theme of banded, vertical brick rows for additional architectural detail and interest.
e. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.5.1(I), Outdoor Storage Areas/Mechanical
Equipment, because the new cable tray and condenser units, to be located on the roof of
the equipment shelter, will be painted to match the existing building color, situated away
from the edge of the roof, and screened by roof elements and mature, existing landscaping.
f. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(A) & (B), Location and Co-location,
because the applicant, though unable to testify about the details of such attempts,
apparently submitted documentation of good-faith attempts to co-locate with existing
facilities in the vicinity without success, and the staff report reflects this.
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g. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(C)(1), Setbacks, because the it does
not include a tower or monopole, so it meets the setback requirements.
h. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(C)(3), Wireless Telecommunication
Equipment, because the equipment is of the same color, material and texture of the
building to which it will be mounted; the height of the antennae is less than 15’ over the
height of the building and located as far from the edge of the canopy roof as possible; and
the roof-mounted antennae are screened with the use of a square screening enclosure to
match the existing building.
i. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(4), Landscaping, because the
equipment shelter and screening enclosure will be screened by mature, existing conifer
trees located to the north, south and west.
j. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(8), Color, because the roof equipment
will be painted to match the color of the existing building, and the equipment shelter and
screening enclosure will match the color and textures of the existing building.
k. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(9), Lighting, because the equipment
shelter will have one high pressure sodium light source that is down-directional with sharp
cut-off luminaries.
l. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(10), Interference, because the
equipment will not interfere with other types of electronics or wireless providers.
m. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(11), Access Roadways, because the
property takes access from a driveway off Raintree Drive and the driveway is capable of
meeting the needs of response equipment for Poudre Fire Authority.
n. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 3.8.13(15), Stealth Technology, because the
wireless antennae will be hidden inside a screening enclosure that will mimic the scale,
shape, color and texture of the existing building.
3. The PDP/FDP complies with all applicable standards contained in Article 4 of the Land
Use Code for the N-C zone district.
a. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 4.23(B)(2)(e), Permitted Uses, because the
proposed wireless antennae, which are mounted on an existing building or structure that is
used for some other purpose, is classified as wireless telecommunications equipment, a
permitted Type 1 use in the N-C zone district subject to administrative review and public
hearing.
b. The PDP/FDP complies with Section 4.23(E)(2)(d), Building Height, because the
antenna screening enclosure reaches a height of 38 feet, which is below the maximum.
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DECISION
Based on the foregoing findings, the Hearing Officer hereby enters the following rulings:
1. The PDP/FDP is approved as submitted.
DATED this 17th day of June, 2013.
_____________________________________
Kendra L. Carberry
Hearing Officer