Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-6042-H Staff AnalysisMarch 15, 2012 ITEM NO.: 6 FILE NO.: Z -6042-H NAME: American Tower Corp./Cricket Tower Use Permit LOCATION: 10700 Colonel Glenn Road OWNER/APPLICANT: Central Arkansas Water/American Tower Corp. PROPOSAL: A revision to a previously approved Tower Use Permit is requested to allow the existing cellular tower on this R-2 zoned utility site to be increased in height from 130 feet to 144 feet. 2. 3 SITE LOCATION: The tower is located adjacent to a Central Arkansas Water tank, north of Colonel Glenn Road, just east of 1-430. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The tower is located on a Central Arkansas Water Tank site overlooking the Colonel Glenn entrance ramp onto 1-430. The area around the tower is wooded and currently undeveloped. A strip commercial center, restaurants and the Clear Channel Metroplex and broadcasting studios are located on Colonel Glenn Road; south of the site. Allowing the minor increase in tower height will have no effect on the surrounding uses. Notice of the public hearing was sent to all owners of properties located within 200 feet of the site and the John Barrow Neighborhood Associations. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the site is via a gravel service driveway off of Colonel Glenn Road. The driveway provides access to the CAW parent tract which contains a CAW water tank and two cell towers. There is sufficient parking and driveway space to accommodate service of the tower and water tank. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: No comments, a deferral of landscape and screening requirements was previously approved until a "major change in circumstance" as defined by the Code. The proposed change in tower height is not a major change in circumstance. March 15, 2012 ITEM NO.: 6(Cont.)FILE NO.: Z -6042-H 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No Comments. 6. UTILITY; FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer not required for this project. Entergy: Easement will be required for new electrical service. Centerpoint Energy: No comment received. AT&T (SBC): No comment received. Water: No Objections — All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional water meter(s) are required. A Capital Investment Charge based on the size of meter connection(s) will apply to this project in addition to normal charges. This fee will apply to all connections including metered connections off the private fire system. The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine whether additional public and/or private fire hydrant(s) will be required. If additional fire hydrant(s) are required, they will be installed at the Developer's expense. Please submit plans for water facilities and/or fire protection system to Central Arkansas Water for review. Plan revisions may be required after additional review. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for installation of water facilities and/or fire service. Approval of plans by the Arkansas Department of Health Engineering Division and Little Rock Fire Department is required. Due to the nature of this facility, installation of an approved reduced pressure zone backflow preventer assembly (RPZ) is required on the domestic water service. This assembly must be installed prior to the first point of use. Central Arkansas Water (CAW) requires that upon installation of the RPZA, successful tests of the assembly must be completed by a Certified Assembly Tester licensed by the State of Arkansas and approved by CAW. The test results must be sent to CAW's Cross Connection Section within ten (10) days of installation and annually K March 15, 2012 ITEM NO.: 6 Cont. FILE NO_: Z -6042-H thereafter. Contact the Cross Connection Section at 377-1226 if you would like to discuss backflow prevention requirements for this project. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: Not on a CATA bus route. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (FEBRUARY 22, 2012) Jerry Feathers was present representing American Tower. Staff presented the item and stated there were no outstanding issues. Mr. Feathers stated there would be no change to the tower compound or lease area, just an increase in tower height to accommodate another carrier. The Committee determined there were no issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: A tower use permit is requested to allow the height of this existing cellular tower to be increased from 130 feet to 144 feet to accommodate an additional carrier. The tower was approved as a conditional use permit on October 31, 1995, prior to adoption of the Ordinance criteria for Wireless Communication Facilities (January 20, 1998). There are currently two carriers with antennae on the tower and equipment within the lease area. The tower and associated equipment are located in a 40'X 60' fenced lease area that is itself located in a 2.5 acre Central Arkansas Water tract. The CAW property is fenced and contains a large tank and two cellular towers. On December 20, 1999, an amendment to the Code was approved which required the addition of landscaping and screening around the base of each tower site and which required that existing sites be brought into compliance within 2 years. On May 21, 2002, the Code was further amended to allow the Commission to approval a deferral of those requirements until such time as a "major change in circumstance". On June 26, 2003, the Commission approved such a deferral for this site. Allowing the proposed 14 foot height increase for this existing tower is not a major change in circumstance as defined by the Code. 3 March '15, 2012 ITEM NO.: 6 Cont. FILE NO.: Z -6042-H The Code allows a maximum tower height of 150 feet. The tower must be setback from any adjacent residentially zoned property a distance at least equal to the height of the tower. In this case, the site does abut R-2 zoned property, the AHTD owned 1-430 right-of-way. The tower has a setback of approximately 26 feet from the right-of-way containing the north -bound entrance ramp for Colonel Glenn Road onto 1-430. Abutting properties to the north, east and south are zoned 0-2 and C-3. To staff's knowledge, there are no issues. Allowing the minor increase in tower height should have no impact on other properties. Allowing the tower height increase to accommodate an additional carrier is preferable to having to construct an additional tower. There is no bill of assurance for this acreage tract. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the tower use permit subject to compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in Section 6 of the agenda staff report. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (MARCH 15, 2012) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval, subject to compliance with the comments and conditions outlined in the "staff recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the consent agenda and approved as recommended by staff by a vote of 9 ayes, 0 noes, 1 absent and 1 recusing (Rector). 4 SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENTS FEBRUARY 22, 2012 ITEM NO.: 6. AMERICAN TOWER CORP/CRICKET TOWER USE PERMIT — 10700 COLONEL GLENN ROAD Z-6042- Planning_Staff Comments: 1. There is no Bill of Assurance for this acreage tract. Variance/Waivers: • Reduced setback from R-2 zoned AHTD property. Public Works: 1. At time of construction, a grading permit in accordance with Section 29-186 (c) and (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. Utilities and Fire Department/County Planning: Wastewater: Sewer not required for this project. Entergy: Easement will be required for new electrical service. Centerpoint Energy: No comment received. AT&T (SBC): No comment received. Water: No Objections — All Central Arkansas Water requirements in effect at the time of request for water service must be met. Contact Central Arkansas Water if larger and/or additional water meter(s) are required. A Capital Investment Charge based on the size of meter connection(s) will apply to this project in addition to normal charges. This fee will apply to all connections including metered connections off the private fire system. The Little Rock Fire Department needs to evaluate this site to determine whether additional public and/or private fire hydrant(s) will be required. If additional fire hydrant(s) are required, they will be installed at the Developer's expense. Please submit plans for water facilities and/or fire protection system to Central Arkansas Water for review. Plan revisions may be required after additional review. Contact Central Arkansas Water regarding procedures for installation of water facilities and/or fire service. Approval of plans by the Arkansas Department of Health Engineering Division and Little Rock Fire Department is required. Due to the nature of this facility, installation of an approved reduced pressure zone backflow preventer assembly (RPZ) is required on the domestic water service. This assembly must be installed prior to the first point of use. Central Arkansas Water (CAW) requires that upon installation of the RPZA, successful tests of the assembly must be completed by a Certified Assembly Tester licensed by the State of Arkansas and approved by CAW. The test results must be sent to CAW's Cross Connection Section within ten (10) days of installation and annually thereafter. Contact the Cross Connection Section at 377-1226 if you would like to discuss backflow prevention requirements for this project. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. ITEM NO.: 6. CDN'(Z-6042-tD County Planning: No Comments. CATA: Not on a CATA bus route. Planni pg Division: No Comments. Landscape: No Comments. Previous deferral of WCF landscape and screening still valid. Other: Submit responses to staff issues and four (4) copies of a revised site plan (if required) no later than Wednesday February 29, 2012. Required notices are to be sent via certified mail to all owners of properties located within two hundred (200) feet of the site no later than Wednesday February 29, 2012. The City provided notice form must be used. Proof of notice is to be provided to staff no later than March 9, 2012.