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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7334 Staff AnalysisJanuary 9, 2003 ITEM NO.: 11 NAME: LOCATION: OWNER/APPLICANT: NO.: Z-7 T -Mobile Tower Use Permit 31001-30 R & W Properties/T-Mobile c/o Site Excell PROPOSAL: A tower use permit is requested to allow for construction of a 150 foot tall monopole tower on this 1-2 zoned property. A waiver of the WCF landscape requirements is requested. ORDINANCE DESIGN STANDARDS: 1. SITE LOCATION: The property fronts onto the west side of 1-30, 4 blocks south of Roosevelt Road. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The proposed tower site is located in the gravel covered parking lot/storage area of an industrial property. The industrial building, additional industrial properties and the old railroad biddle yards are located to the south. The 1-30 right-of-way is adjacent to the east. The interstate is elevated several feet above the subject property. Single family homes are located to the north and a multiple building housing project is adjacent to the west. The site is visible from the west and is somewhat visible through some trees from the north. The applicant proposes to install the required 8 foot wood fence around the lease area. With proper screening, the use should be compatible with the neighborhood. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the SWLR United for Progress and Community Outreach Neighborhood Associations were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the tower site is gained through the existing driveway and parking lot of the Ozark Equipment Company. There is more than adequate space on the site to accommodate the vehicle of any technicians visiting the site. January 9, 2003 ITEM NO.: 11 (Cont. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: WCF landscaping and screening requirements apply. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: No Comments. 6. UTILITY FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: FILE NO.: Z-7334 Wastewater: Sewer main extension required with easements if service is required for project. Entergy: No Comments received. Reliant: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: There is an existing 2 -inch water main in this vicinity. It needs to be located to determine whether there is a conflict. If no one is served off this main, it could be abandoned. If it needs to be relocated, that work would be done at the developer's expense. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. County Planning: No Comments received. CATA: No Comments received. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (DECEMBER 12, 2002) Chris Villines was present, representing the application. Staff briefly described the proposed tower, noting that a letter agreeing to allow collocation of two additional wireless providers needed to be provided. The proposed tower location was briefly discussed. Commissioner Faust asked why the applicant was requesting a landscape waiver. Mr. Villines explained that the tower location was within an outdoor storage area, and the property owner needed to use as much of the area as possible. 2 January 9, 2003 ITEM NO.: 11 Cont. FILE NO.: Z-7334 There being no further issues for discussion, the Committee forwarded the application to the full Commission for resolution. STAFF ANALYSIS: The 1-2 zoned tract located at 3100 1-30 is occupied by Ozark Equipment Company. The property contains an industrial building and paved and unpaved parking and storage areas. The site is enclosed by a chain-link fence topped with barbed wire. The site is located near the dead-end of the Frontage Road on the west side of 1-30. The interstate elevation is several feet above the elevation of the subject property. The bid, railroad biddle yard is located one tract to the south of the site. T -Mobile, a wireless communication company, proposes to construct a wireless communication facility (WCF) in a lease area on the industrial site. The WCF will consist of a 150 foot tall monopole tower and associated equipment cabinets. The WCF conforms to code regarding height and setbacks. T -Mobile proposes to enclose the WCF site with the required, 8 foot tall, wood privacy fence. Since the lease area is located in the gravel covered parking/storage lot of this industrial use, T -Mobile is requesting a deferral of the requirement to install the required landscape strip around the perimeter of the WCF lease area. It is this landscape deferral that creates the need for the tower use permit. Staff is supportive of the requested tower use permit. The WCF is proposed to be located on an industrial tract adjacent to an elevated interstate and near a railroad yard. Although the base of the tower site is somewhat visible from the residential properties located to the north and west, the WCF is over 150 feet from each of those perimeters. The WCF is proposed to be located within the gravel covered parking/storage lot and the wood fence should provide adequate screening of the base of the WCF site without requiring the loss of additional parking/storage space. On December 20, 2002, the applicant submitted a letter addressing an issue raised at Subdivision Committee. The monopole tower will be designed to accommodate at least two additional wireless carriers. Staff supports a deferral of the landscaping and screening until such time as a "major change in circumstance" as defined in Section 36-593(c)(6) of the Code. Section 36-593(c)(6) states a "major change in circumstance" means that: (1) the area within 200 feet of the boundaries of the WCF tower site has developed to the point that there is a virtually unobstructed view of the tower site from any adjoining occupiable residential structure or from public property or right-of-way, and K January 9, 2003 ITEM NO.. 11 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z-7334 (2) the City has received a complaint from the owner of an occupiable structure located within 200 feet of the tower site that the site has insufficient landscaping or screening in place; and (3) the City has requested that the parties resolve the issue by agreeing to certain screening or landscaping requirements consistent with LRC §36- 593 which can be granted administratively by the Director of Planning and Development, but no agreement has been reached, or sufficient additional space around the site has been acquired to meet the landscaping, setback and screening requirements of LRC §36-593. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the Tower Use Permit. Staff recommends approval of a deferral of the landscape requirements on all 4 perimeters of the WCF lease site until such time as a "major change in circumstance" as defined in Section 36-593(c)(6) of the Code. PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JANUARY 9, 2003) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item with a recommendation of approval. The applicant offered no additional comments. The Chairman placed the item before the Commission for inclusion within the Consent Agenda for approval as recommended by staff. A motion to that effect was made. The motion passed by a vote of 10 ayes, 0 nays and 1 absent. The application was approved. 4