HomeMy WebLinkAboutFTC ADVANCED AUTO PARTS - BDR190002 - SUBMITTAL DOCUMENTS - ROUND 1 - PLANNING OBJECTIVESLRK CONSULTING ON BEHALF OF VERIZON WIRELESS
January 31, 2019
Wireless‐Telecommunications Equipment (Co‐location) BDR Review: Planning Objectives
FTC Advance Autoparts SC located at 1023 N College Ave, Parcel ID# 9702450001
OVERVIEW:
My client, Verizon Wireless, wishes to submit an application for Wireless‐Telecommunications
Equipment that will be located on top of a one‐story building along North College Avenue and north
of downtown. The installation of this new equipment will provide critical 4G‐LTE voice and data
services to a location with increasingly higher pedestrian and vehicular traffic providing an immediate
benefit to the general public, drivers along College Avenue, emergency services, residents, and
businesses. Verizon has identified a building capable of co‐location that will create service
improvements without the need for any additional, free standing structures in the immediate area.
COVERAGE VS CAPACITY:
Coverage and/or capacity deficiencies are the two main drivers that prompt the need for a new
wireless communications facility (WCF). Most WCF provide a mixture of both capacity and coverage
for the benefit of the end user that are needed because of distance from existing sites, issues with
terrain, poor in‐building coverage, or a general increase in user demand for data services.
Coverage describes the existence or lack of wireless service in an area. The request for improved
service often comes from Verizon’s customers or emergency services personnel that have no service
or poor service. Coverage used to refer to the ability to make or place a call in vehicles, however, as
usage patterns have shifted, coverage is now determined based on whether or not sufficient WCF
exist to provide a reliable signal inside of buildings and residential areas, as well. Historically, when
wireless was still in its infancy, coverage was the primary means to measure the effectiveness of the
network in a given area.
Coverage is best shown via coverage maps. RF engineers use tools that take into account terrain,
vegetation, building types, and WCF specifics to model the existing coverage and prediction what we
expect to see with the addition of a proposed WCF. Coverage also changes depending on which
frequencies are used. Most phones today use 3G at 800 MHZ or 4G at 700 MHz spectrum which are
considered low frequencies. Low frequencies can travel further distances than then the higher 1900
MHz and 2100 MHz frequencies now being employed due to increased capacity demands. Operating
at higher frequencies makes it necessary for carriers to install substantially more wireless facilities to
achieve the same coverage as one tower operating on the lower frequencies.
Capacity, on the other hand, is the metric used to determine if sufficient wireless resources exist and
is now the primary means to measure how a community’s wireless needs are being addressed. “Five
bars” no longer means guaranteed coverage and capacity because each WCF has a limited amount of
resources to handle voice calls, data connections and data volume. When these limits are reached
LRK CONSULTING ON BEHALF OF VERIZON WIRELESS
and the WCF becomes overloaded (meaning there is more demand than signal to service it), the user
experience quickly degrades preventing customers from making/receiving calls or getting applications
to run. A WCF short on capacity could also make internet connections time out or delay information
to emergency response personnel. Neither of these issues are ideal for any type of user.
Capacity is the amount of resources that a WCF has to service customer demand. Verizon utilizes
sophisticated programs and customer feedback to monitor current usage trends and to forecast
future needs. Because it takes an average of 2‐3 years to complete a WCF, we have to start the
process of adding a new WCF several years in advance of when the WCF will be needed, although in
most cases, we can already see the affects of over demand in certain areas. A good capacity WCF
needs to be in the center of a user population, which insures that traffic is evenly distributed around
the WCF. A typical WCF is configured into three sectors (like a pie cut into three pieces), with each
slice (sector) having 33% of the WCF resources. If one sector is under‐utilized, it’s resources can not
necessarily be diverted to another sector. Therefore, optimal performance is only obtained when all
three sectors have an even traffic distribution.
WIRELESS DATA GROWTH:
Each year Verizon sees large increases in how much data its customers need. As the resolution of the
pictures we send increases, the quality of the video we watch improves and the complexity of the
applications grow, we commonly see tremendous growth year‐over‐year.
Machine to Machine communications will also increase the data burden on wireless networks, as
over the next five (5) years more and more services that improve our safety and make our lives easier
will be available over the wireless infrastructure , such as:
‐ Cars that notify 911 when an airbag deploys.
‐ “Driverless” cars needing traffic data and maps to reach your destination quickly
‐ Medical monitors that will alert us should a loved one neglect taking their prescription drugs.
‐ Home alarms that notify you when your child arrives home from school.
‐ Smart street lights that notify the city when they are not working.
‐ City garbage cans that let people know when they need to be emptied.
‐ Tracking watches will aid in finding lost Alzheimer patients.
‐ City parking meters that can detect cars that have overstayed or did not pay
SITE OBJECTIVE:
The primary objective of this project is to improve capacity along College Avenue for drivers in and
out of Downtown Fort Collins as well as the many different businesses that call this neighborhood
home. Verizon’s engineering data shows that this area is experiencing 4G data overloads. The closest
existing wireless facilities need to have some of the area it covers moved onto another site to allow it
to keep performing well. This site does a great job of moving commercial traffic onto a more
localized site, better able to serve the neighborhood. It’s similar to creating new interstate exits
where one did not previously exist. Once the exit is created, a certain number of drivers will avoid
going to the exits that are further out of the way leading to decreased congestion at those exits.
LRK CONSULTING ON BEHALF OF VERIZON WIRELESS
DESIGN:
Specifically, my client proposes the installation of the following equipment:
(1) antenna, (2) remote radio heads (RRHs), (1) diplexer, and (1) over‐voltage protection unit
(OVPs) mounted to a non‐penetrating sled mount (all items painted gray) located 15’ west of
the building’s east roof edge and 15’ north of the building’s south roof edge.
Screening for the mounted antenna was initially proposed per the wireless code. However, it
was recommended that for this particular building and location that screening would
ultimately create unnecessary visual impact. By ditching the screening, painting the
equipment gray, and setting back from the building’s edge as far as possible, the final design
better meets the intent of the screening and setback requirements in a equally or better way.
The top height of the antenna will be at 30’, while the existing parapet is at 21’ for total
additional height of 9’ above the roof. Verizon is only able to reduce the overall height of the
structure as they move closer to the south and east roof edges due to antenna shadowing.
(1) equipment cabinet and (1) utility meter wall mounted to the existing wall of the CMU trash
enclosure. Both items are to be painted to match the existing enclosure.
(1) 2’ x 3’ utility fiber vault standard in most public right‐of‐way located near the trash
enclosure and installed in existing landscaping bed. Any new fiber installed in the public right‐
of‐way to be permitted and installed directly by the local exchange carriers separately.
(2) existing bushes in the trash enclosure landscape bed to be removed and (1) replaced after
installation of vault in the same landscape bed. No other existing vegetation to be removed or
disturbed on the property as a result of this utility installation as depicted in landscape sheet.
New underground cabling from the wall mounted equipment cabinet to the west wall of the
building, then up the building wall in conduit painted to match the existing building. Several
pipes currently follow a similar method on the north wall of the building. The west side of the
building is the least visible to the general public since it faces the alley way.
New hybrid cabling routed along rooftop on rooftop sleepers from roof access location to the
proposed sled mounted equipment.
New secured and caged access ladder mounted to the west facing wall of the building (alley
side) and painted to match the wall to which it is mounted on. Caged ladder is proposed for
general safety of Verizon contractors as well as the owner’s separate contractors, which could
include roofers, HVAC technicians, and cable providers.
New traffic mats along rooftop from roof access location to proposed rooftop equipment.
LRK CONSULTING ON BEHALF OF VERIZON WIRELESS
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN & WIRELESS CODE:
In accordance with the Communications and Technology section of the City Comprehensive Plan, this
new wireless equipment will provide citizens access to high‐quality, reliable wireless service in a part
of the city that faces significant coverage and capacity demands. Access to this improved service will
continue to be a critical component for community interactions as well as economic growth now that
4G‐LTE has become widely utilized and as the nation begins to transition into 5G capabilities that will
usher in new smart city technologies. This private investment is a critical step towards maintaining
the city’s wireless capabilities, which has quickly become the number one priority for most cohorts.
Furthermore, this design carefully took into consideration and meets the standards as outlined in
Paragraph C Standards of Chapter 3.8.13 of the Municipal Code. Specifically, the proposed design
does not exceed the height allowance, utilizes existing building colors, and maintains setbacks from
the roof edge as far as technical possible. While the sled mounted antenna is not screened, the
proposed equipment will be painted gray, like most rooftop mechanical equipment, and has a 15’
separation from the south and east roof edges. There is also a significant reduction in overall surface
area impacted by avoiding screening.
SUMMARY:
Verizon wishes to submit an application for Wireless‐Telecommunications Equipment that will be
located on top of a one‐story building along North College Avenue and north of downtown. Verizon
has issued this project based on capacity projections, actual use, and existing site thresholds. Once
this project is completed, the installation of this new equipment will provide critical 4G‐LTE voice and
data services for the local businesses, traveling public, and emergency responders in the vicinity.
The co‐location of this equipment on the Advance Auto building is a great way to avoid any new
freestanding structures and improve wireless services in the area. As previously noted, the facility will
help to offload users from other existing facilities improving service in the immediate area as well as
the rest of Fort Collins. This particular location proposes a non‐penetrating sled mount with a
mounted antenna and radio equipment all painted gray and setback from the building’s roof edge as
far as technically possible. I anticipate that this proposed design will not have a great deal of visual
impact as the general public does not notice such small equipment, and when they do, they typically
assume it is general mechanical equipment that would be expected on buildings city‐wide. I look
forward to working with your department as Verizon Wireless continues to invest in reliable, fast, and
strong wireless services in Fort Collins now and in the future.
Sincerely,
Ryan Sagar
Senior Site Acquisition Consultant, LRK Consulting LLC
350 S Jackson St, Unit 127, Denver, CO 80209
mrsagar45@gmail.com | 219‐477‐0099