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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2900 S COLLEGE AVE AT&T - PDP210007 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 3 - LUC REQUIREMENTSStatement of Compliance with Fort Collins Code The Application Meets the Fort Collins Code Requirements Applicable to Wireless Facilities in Section 3.8.13 Below we provide an analysis and explanation of how this facility meets the requirements of the Fort Collins Land Use code. AT&T’s response to each code provision is in blue italicized font. 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. Applicant Response: AT&T is proposing to install a rooftop antenna facility on a commercial building located in the General Commercial (GC) 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 or equipment owners or lessees or employees thereof, and applicants for the approval of plans for the installation of such facilities or equipment, shall cooperate in good faith to achieve co-location of wireless telecommunication facilities and equipment. Any application for the approval of a plan for the installation of wireless telecommunication facilities or equipment shall include documentation of the applicant's good faith efforts toward such cooperation. Applicant Response: AT&T acknowledges the above provision and will not act to exclude any other wireless carrier from utilizing this location. (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. Applicant Response: This Setback standard is not applicable as AT&T is not proposing a freestanding facility or monopole. (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. Applicant Response: AT&T has proposed multiple designs to address this requirement and the currently proposed design utilizing screen walls to camouflage the antennas is consistent with the building architecture. Any design must be structurally sound to be feasible and, in this case, this is the best aesthetic design available given the technical service needs and the structural limitations of the building. AT&T is camouflaging the antennas with a screen wall designed to match as closely as possible the color and character of the 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. Applicant Response: AT&T is proposing screen walls to match the color of the existing building. 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. Applicant Response: The code allows rooftop antennas to extend up to 15 feet over the height of the roof. AT&T is proposing a design consistent with the above criterion. The antennas and screen wall do not extend more than 15 feet above the rooftop. AT&T has provided documentation to explain that the antennas must be as close as possible to the edge of the roof in order to function. A site will not function on the rooftop if setback too far from the edge as line of sight is required for basic functionality. If the signal isn’t high enough to clear the roof, then the signal gets projected mainly on the rooftop which makes for an inefficient site that will not be approved or built. For proper signal propagation, the height of the site must be increased at least two feet for every foot the antenna is setback from the edge of the roof. Placing an antenna too far from the edge results in dead areas and service gaps and it also renders the remaining rooftop essentially unusable for other maintenance or utility purposes. AT&T has provided an email from RF Engineer Julius Delacruz that provides a detailed explanation of where the antennas on this particular rooftop need to be in order to function. Requiring the antennas to be set back from the edge of the roof would only serve to maintain a service prohibition with respect to this area. See Attachment 7, Analysis From Julius Delacruz. 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. Such equipment shall, to the maximum extend feasible, also feature the smallest and most discreet components that the technology will allow so as to have the least possible impact on the architectural character and overall aesthetics of the building or structure. Applicant Response: This provision is not applicable as AT&T is not proposing wall mounted antennas. 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. Applicant Response: AT&T is proposing to screen all equipment to the greatest extent feasible. Multiple design options have been evaluated. Any design must be technically and structurally feasible. (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. Applicant Response: AT&T is not proposing ground-mounted facilities that would require landscaping. Existing landscaping will not be impacted by the installation of this facility. 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. Applicant Response: AT&T is not proposing ground-mounted facilities that would require landscaping. Existing landscaping will not be impacted by the installation of this facility. (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. Applicant Response: AT&T is not proposing fencing. (6) Berming. Berms shall be considered as an acceptable screening device. Berms shall feature slopes that allow mowing, irrigation and maintenance. Applicant Response: AT&T is not proposing ground mounted facilities or berming. (7) Irrigation. Landscaping and berming shall be equipped with automatic irrigation systems meeting the water conservation standards of the city. Applicant Response: No irrigation is necessary. (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. Applicant Response: AT&T is proposing to match the color and texture of the building. (9) Lighting. The light source for security lighting shall comply with the requirements of Section 3.2.4. Light fixtures, whether freestanding or tower-mounted, shall not exceed twenty-two (22) feet in height. Applicant Response: AT&T acknowledges the above requirement and will comply with the lighting requirements. (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. Applicant Response: AT&T operates within its specific FCC licensed frequencies. (11) Access Roadways. Access roads must be capable of supporting all of the emergency response equipment of the Poudre Fire Authority. Applicant Response: No new access roads are being proposed. (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. Applicant Response: This provision is not applicable. (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. Applicant Response: AT&T will obtain all required FAA clearances. (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. Applicant Response: The subject structure is not historic. (15) Stealth Technology. To the extent reasonably feasible, the applicant shall employ "stealth technology" so as to convert the wireless telecommunication facility 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. Applicant Response: AT&T is proposing stealth technology. (D) The regulations contained in this Section shall not apply to the installation, operation, maintenance, or upgrade of a small cell facility by a telecommunications provider principally located within a public highway as the terms small cell facility, telecommunications provider, and public highway are defined in Section 38-5.5-102, C.R.S. The regulation of such activities is addressed in Chapter 23 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. Applicant Response: This facility is not a small cell.