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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFTC OLD TOWN, WTE (VERIZON) - BASIC DEVELOPMENT REVIEW - BDR180018 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESPLANNING OBJECTIVES VERIZON WIRELESS FTC OLD TOWN DEVELOPMENT REVIEW FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATION SITE PROJECT INFORMATION Applicant Information: Verizon Wireless (VAW) LLC, d/b/a/ Verizon Wireless, 3131 South Vaughn Way, Aurora, CO 80014 Representative: Jennifer Daniels, Leasing and Zoning Consultant, Centerline Solutions, 16360 Table Mountain Pkwy, Golden, CO 80403; (303) 993-3293 x1216 Land Owner Information: Poudre River Public Library District, 301 E. Olive St., Fort Collins, CO 80524; Contact – Mark Huber (970) 221-6662 Engineering Firm Preparing Site Plan: Aero Solutions, LLC. 5555 Central Avenue #100, Boulder, CO, 80301; (720) 304-6882 Address of Project: 201 Peterson St. PLANNING OBJECTIVES Verizon Wireless proposes to develop a new telecommunications site, “Verizon Wireless FTC Old Town,” at 201 Peterson St. centrally located on the existing building’s roof. The purpose of this site is to provide improved 4G-LTE voice and data capacity for Verizon Wireless customers in the area. The proposed site will be part of a continuous telecommunications network serving the greater Fort Collins area. Verizon Wireless has recently developed 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 explosive growth of data usage from “smartphones” and similar devices has made it necessary to increase data capacity in densely populated areas. The proposed facility will address the need for additional capacity for the area around the Old Town Library. The proposed site will include a total of one (1) tri sector mount with (4) antennas per sector. The custom mount will be surrounded by (4) screen walls made of RF transparent material that will blend in with the building’s existing architecture. Equipment associated with the antenna will be located on a platform in the center of the roof and will not be visible from ground level. The following pages provide detail regarding compliance with the City’s zoning requirements for Wireless Telecommunication Sites. LAND USE CODE 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. • FTC Old Town: The proposed design calls for the antenna to be placed within a square concealment shroud. This property does not contain any dwelling units. (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. • FTC Old Town: Verizon Wireless will not act to exclude or attempt to exclude any other competitor from using the property for the location of future 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. • FTC Old Town: Not applicable – tower not being proposed. (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. • FTC Old Town: The proposed telecommunication facility is consistent with the architectural style of the existing building. The antenna within the shroud will be completely concealed from view and the proposed concealment will be harmonious with the sites existing architecture. Photo-simulations of the proposed installation have been provided. (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. • FTC Old Town: Not applicable – Proposed site will increase the height of the building roof by (12) feet (1) inch. Associated equipment will be placed within a square concealment shroud painted to match the existing building. (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. • FTC Old Town: All equipment to be located on the roof. (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. • FTC Old Town: No Fencing is proposed. (6) Berming. Berms shall be considered as an acceptable screening device. Berms shall feature slopes that allow mowing, irrigation and maintenance. • FTC Old Town: No berming is proposed. (7) Irrigation. Landscaping and berming shall be equipped with automatic irrigation systems meeting the water conservation standards of the city. FTC Old Town: No landscaping or berming is proposed; hence, no irrigation is required. (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. • FTC Old Town: Square concealment shroud will be painted to match the existing 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. • FTC Old Town: No security lighting is proposed for this facility. (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. • FTC Old Town: The Verizon Wireless telecommunications site will not interfere with other electronic devices. (11) Access Roadways. Access roads must be capable of supporting all of the emergency response equipment of the Poudre Fire Authority. • FTC Old Town: No new access roads are proposed at this site. (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. • FTC Old Town: 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. • FTC Old Town: The proposed wireless telecommunication equipment is not located near an airport or within a 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. • FTC Old Town: The subject property is not a 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. • FTC Old Town: The proposed concealment shroud will be painted to match the existing building.