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Home My WebLink AboutZ-4289-A Staff AnalysisJuly 2, 2015 ITEM NO.: 4 FILE NO.: Z -4289-A NAME: Branch Communications Cellular — Tower Use Permit LOCATION: 9300 Geyer Springs Road OWNER/APPLICANT. The Great River Region of the Christian Church/ Branch Communications PROPOSAL: A tower use permit is requested to allow for construction of a wireless communication facility containing a 150 foot tall monopole tower and associated ground equipment on this R-2 zoned church property. SITE LOCATION: The WCF site is located on the rear portion of this church property. The church is located on the west side of Geyer Springs Road, south of Baseline, across from McClellan High School. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The property is located within an area of Geyer Springs Road that contains several institutional uses; including the large high school and 4-5 churches. A residential neighborhood extends to the west. The WCF site is located on the rear portion of the church property. The monopole tower is 150 feet from the nearest property occupied by a single family residence. Mature trees are located along the west and north perimeters of this portion of the church property which will aid in screening the tower from the residences. Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located within 200 feet of the property and the SWLR United for Progress, Santa Monica, Allendale and OUR Neighborhood Associations. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the WCF site will be via an access easement through the church parking lot. No new driveways or curb cuts to the street are proposed. The WCF site and church parking lot will provide all needed parking for the WCF. July 2, 2015 ITEM NO.: 4 [Cont. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: FILE NO.: Z -4289-A Landscaping and screening are to comply with the provisions of Chapter 36, Article XII, Section 36 — 593 as follow: (1) All existing and new WCF shall be screened and landscaped as follows: (a) All WCF subject to this section shall contain a permanent six-foot landscape strip parallel with all sides of the primary use area and outside of the opaque fence but within the lease area, except for a space for ingress and egress to the primary use area. (b) An eight -foot opaque fence shall be constructed, finished side facing outward, around the primary use area to provide screening and a background for required landscaping within the six-foot landscape strip. (c) The opaque fence shall also satisfy the security fence shall also satisfy the security fence requirement of subsection (f). The landscape strip on each side of the primary use area shall be planted with two (2) trees of a two-inch caliper which will grow to a spacing of fifteen (15) feet which will grow to a minimum twenty (20) feet in height at maturity. Each landscape strip shall also be planted with evergreen shrubs of thirty (30) inches height at planting, with a maximum spacing of forty-eight (48) inches on center and which will grow to a minimum height of sixty (60) inches at maturity. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. Geyer Springs Rd is classified on the Master Street Plan as a minor arterial. A dedication of right-of-way 45 feet from centerline will be required. 2. A special Grading Permit for Flood Hazard Areas will be required per Sec. 8-283 prior to construction. 3. A grading permit in accordance with section 29-186 (c) & (d) will be required prior to any land clearing or grading activities at the site. Other than residential subdivisions, site grading and drainage plans must be submitted and approved prior to the start of construction. 4. The proposed site appears to be within the 100 year floodplain. The minimum Finish Floor elevation for any improvements of 274 ft. or higher is required to be shown on plat and grading plans. 4 July 2, 2015 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont. FELE NO.: Z -4289-A 5. In accordance with Section 31-176, floodway areas must be shown as floodway easements or be dedicated to the public. In addition, a 25 foot wide drainage and access easement is required adjacent to the floodway boundary. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available to this project. Entergy: Entergy does not object to this proposal. A three phase power line exists on the north side of the property and single phase power lines exist on the east and west side of the property. Care should be used in erecting the tower so that proper clearances are maintained from the energized power lines. Contact Entergy in advance regarding future service requirements and additional facilities location(s) as this r)roiect proceeds. Centerpoint Energy: No comment received. AT&T: No comment received. Central Arkansas Water: No Objection. Fire Department: No comments. Building Codes: Project is subject to full commercial plan review approval prior to issuance of a building permit. For information on submittal requirements and the review process, contact a commercial plans examiner: Structural Plan/Calculations required. Mark Alderfer at 501.371.4875; malderfer-littlerock.org. County Planning: No comments. CATA: The site is not located on a CATA bus route. The nearest route is located along Baseline Road, to the north. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (JUNE 10, 2015) Kayla Kramer of Branch Communications was present. Staff presented the item and noted that the proposed WCF complied with all aspects of the code with the exception of the setback from an R-2 zoned lot to the south. It was noted that the lot in question was also owned by the church and was occupied by a church office building, not a residence. 3 July 2, 2015 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z -4289-A Staff noted there was an existing cellular tower at 9425 Geyer Springs. However, the applicant stated a structural analysis completed on this tower returned failing results. Public Works Comments were discussed. Ms. Kramer stated the plan would be modified to indicate the proper finished floor elevation as required. Staff discussed the need for floodway, drainage and access easements for the floodway. Ms. Kramer stated she would work with the property owner to address those issues. Other agency comments were noted. The Committee determined there were no other issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSI Branch Communications is requesting approval of a Tower Use Permit to allow for construction of a wireless communication facility (WCF) on this R-2 zoned church property. The WCF is to be located within a 40'X 40' lease area on the rear portion of the property, behind the church building. Access will be through the church parking lot via an access easement. The WCF site will consist of a 150' tall monopole cellular tower and associated ground equipment. The WCF site will be enclosed by an 8' tall, wood screening fence. The required 6' wide landscape strip will be installed around all perimeters of the site. The cellular tower will be designed to accommodate T -Mobile and up to three additional carriers. A statement allowing those colocations has been provided. A statement of effective radiated power (ERP) compliance with Federal Communication Commission standards has been provided. This proposed WCF is in fairly close proximity to another cell tower located at 9425 Geyer Springs, on the McClellan High School campus. Branch Communications has provided a structural analysis report on that tower showing the tower to have insufficient structural capacity to accommodate an additional carrier. This proposed WCF site complies with all provisions of the code with one exception. The tower is setback less than 150 feet from an R-2 lot to the south. The tower is set at 99 feet from that property. The property in question, although R-2, is owned by this same church and contains a church office building, not a residence. E! July 2, 2015 ITEM NO.: 4 (Cont. The church property and proposed WCF site are separated from the residences to the west and north by Little Fourche Creek and matures trees. The tall trees will help to provide visual screening of the tower. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. Prior to submittal for building permit, the plans will need to be revised to indicate proper finished floor elevation. Right-of-way and floodway easements will also need to be dedicated prior to building permit submittal. No bill of assurance is required for TUP submittals. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested TUP subject to compliance with the comments and condition outlined in Sections 4, 5 and 6 of the agenda staff report. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JULY 2, 2015) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval as outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved, including all staff comments and conditions. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. 5