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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7253-C Staff AnalysisJanuary 19, 2006 ITEM NO.: 12 FILE NO.: Z -7253-C NAME: Verizon Wireless — Tower Use Permit LOCATION: 2416 West 16th Street OWNER/APPLICANT: Little Rock School District/Verizon Wireless PROPOSAL: A tower use permit is requested to allow for placement of a wireless communication facility on this R-4 zoned property. 1. SITE LOCATION: The proposed WCF is to be located within the confines of Quigley Stadium, on the Central High School campus. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The applicant proposes to place antennae on one of the existing light standards which are located around the perimeter of the football stadium. The equipment will be placed beneath the stands, within the 8 -foot tall wall that surrounds the stadium. Staff believes this is a good stealth design that will have no effect on the neighborhood or school campus. The National Park Service has no objections to the proposal. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet of the site who could be identified and the Central High Neighborhood Association were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the WCF will be via an existing gate off of West 16th Street. An access easement will be extended through the gate to the WCF site. The WCF is located in the area that is currently paved, providing adequate parking for any technician visiting the site. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS' The WCF requirements for screening and landscaping include an 8 -foot tall screening fence around the compound and a 6 -foot wide landscape strip surrounding the screening fence. The applicant proposes to enclose the lease area with an 8 -foot tall brick. wall to match the existing building it is adjacent to. The WCF is located in an area that is asphalt paved. Both the applicant and the Little Rock School District are requesting a deferral of the landscape requirements. Staff supports the deferral. January 19, 2006 ITEM NO.: 12 Cont. FILE NO.: Z -7253-C 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No Comments. 6. UTILITY, FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer service not required for this project. Entergy: No Comments received. CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: No objection. Fire Department: No Comments. County Planning: No Comments. CATA: The site is not located on a CATA bus route. A bus route is located 4 blocks to the north, along West 12th Street. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (DECEMBER 22, 2005) The applicant was present. Staff presented the item and noted there was no additional information needed. There were no other comments from other reviewing agencies. The committee complemented the applicant on the design of the WCF; using the existing light standard. The committee determined there were no other issues and forwarded the item to the full Commission. STAFF ANALYSIS: Verizon Wireless is requesting approval of a Tower Use Permit to allow for construction of a wireless communication facility (WCF) on the Central High School property located at 2416 West 16th Street. Verizon proposes to place an antennae array on an existing, 105 -foot tall light standard which is located on the east side of Quigley Football Stadium. The equipment is to be placed within a 600 square foot lease area at the base of the fight standard. The stadium is enclosed by an 8 -foot tall wall. The equipment for the WCF will be located within the walled area, behind the east bleachers. The site of the WCF compound is asphalt paved. The WCF compound will be enclosed by an 8 -foot tall brick wall to match an existing building it is adjacent to. Access to the WCF site will be via an existing gate onto the stadium property off of West 16th Street. The WCF site 2 January 19, 2006 ITEM NO.: 12 (Cont.) FILE NO.: Z -7253-C is located 200+ feet from the south property line and 400+ feet from the north property line. The Equivalent Isotropically Radiated Power (EIRP) for this installation is 890 watts or less. The FCC rule permits up to 1,640 watts EIRP for this type of installation. A tower use permit is required because the site will not have the 6 -foot wide landscape strip surrounding the WCF compound. The compound is located on an asphalt paved area, within the walled compound surrounding the football stadium. Verizon and LRSD are requesting a deferral of the landscape requirement. Staff supports the deferral. The Central High School campus is a National Historic Site. The National Park Service has no objection to this proposal. To staff's knowledge, there are no outstanding issues. This is a good example of using existing elements to fit a WCF into an area without having an impact on nearby properties. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Tower Use Permit. Staff recommends approval of a deferral of the landscape requirements until a "major change in circumstances" as defined by Section 36-593(c)(6)(b) of the Code. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JANUARY 19, 2006) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval, including the deferral of the landscape requirements as noted in the "Staff Recommendation" above. There was no further discussion. The item was placed on the Consent Agenda and approved as recommended by staff. The vote was 10 ayes, 0 noes and 1 absent. 3