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HomeMy WebLinkAboutZ-7913 Staff AnalysisSeptember 1, 2005 ITEM NO.: 8 FILE NO.: Z-7913 NAME: Verizon Wireless — Tower Use Permit LOCATION: 424 Kirby Road OWNER/APPLICANT: Parkway Place Swim and Racquet Club/ Tracy Wooden and Associates PROPOSAL: A tower use permit is requested to allow for construction of a wireless communication facility with a 120 foot tall support structure on this R-2 zoned property. SITE LOCATION: The proposed tower site is located at the rear of the Parkway Place pool and tennis courts property; on the west side of Kirby Road, south of Oak Meadow. 2. COMPATIBILITY WITH NEIGHBORHOOD: The proposed wireless communication facility complies with all ordinance standards with one exception: The required setback from the R-2 zoned property to the north which is occupied by a Little Rock Fire Department Station. The code allows WCF towers up to 150 feet in height by -right. This tower is proposed at 120 feet. Since the WCF complies with ordinance standards other than for the technical requirement of setback from the Fire Department property and since the tower is less in height than permitted by Code, staff believes the use is compatible with the area. All owners of property located within 200 feet of the site, all residents within 300 feet who could be identified and the Parkway Place Neighborhood Association were notified of this request. 3. ON SITE DRIVES AND PARKING: Access to the site is through the Swim and Racquet Club parking lot, which has a driveway onto Kirby Road. There is space in the parking lot or on the access easement to the WCF site to accommodate the occasional technician who will service the site. 4. SCREENING AND BUFFERS: Compliance with the screening and landscape requirements for WCF's is required. September 1, 2005 ITEM NO.: 8 (Cont. FILE NO.: Z-7913 The plan complies with those requirements; including a 6 -foot wide landscape strip around the site and an 8 -foot tall wood privacy fence enclosing the site. 5. PUBLIC WORKS COMMENTS: 1. 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. Site grading, and drainage plans will need to be submitted and approved prior to the start of construction. 6. UTILITY. FIRE DEPT. AND CATA COMMENTS: Wastewater: Sewer available, not adversely affected. Entergy: No Comments received. CenterPoint Energy: No Comments received. Southwestern Bell: No Comments received. Water: No objection. Fire Department: Approved as submitted. County Planning: No Comments. CATH: No Comments. SUBDIVISION COMMITTEE COMMENT: (AUGUST 11, 2005) The applicant was present. Staff presented the item and noted a tower use permit was needed because of the setback from the adjacent, R-2 zoned property to the north and because the full landscaping strip was not being provided. It was noted that the adjacent, R-2 zoned property was occupied by a LRFD station. The applicant was asked to provide justification for the reduced landscape strip and to show that a reasonable good faith effort was made to find a collocation site. Public Works, Utility and Landscape Comments were noted. The applicant was advised to respond to staff issues by August 17, 2005. The Committee forwarded the item to the full Commission. 2 September 1, 2005 ITEM NO.: 8 (Cont. STAFF ANALYSIS: FILE NO.: Z-7913 The applicant, on behalf of Verizon Wireless, is requesting approval of a Tower Use Permit to allow for installation of a Wireless Communication Facility (WCF) with support structure (tower) on this R-2 zoned property located at 424 Kirby Road. The facility is to be located on the property of the Parkway Place Swim and Racquet Club, west of the parking lot and north of the tennis courts. The facility will be contained in a 50'X 50' lease area. A six foot wide landscaped strip will surround a 38' X 38' compound, which will be enclosed by an 8 foot tall wood privacy fence. The compound will contain the WCF equipment and a 120 foot tall, monopole tower. The tower will be designed utilizing "stealth" technology meaning the antennae arrays will be mounted virtually flush against the tower and not extending out from the tower face; giving the tower more of the appearance of a flagpole. The WCF requires a Tower Use Permit because of one variance from the standards established by the Code for such facilities. The property abuts an R-2 zoned property to the north, which is occupied by a Little Rock Fire Department station. In the case of a WCF with support structure, which is to be placed on property, which abuts a residential property on any side, the support structure (tower) is to be setback a distance at least the height of the support structure. The tower is proposed to be 120 feet in height and the setback of the tower from the abutting R-2 zoned fire station property is 16 feet. Staff is supportive of the requested tower use permit. The applicant has complied with all other ordinance standards required for such facilities. The property to the north, although zoned R-2, is not occupied by a residential use. The tower will be designed to accommodate two additional carriers. The applicant has submitted a statement that other alternatives were researched, including collocation, but no alternatives were found that would allow Verizon to provide coverage in this area. Thus, a new site and tower became necessary. The applicant submitted a revised site plan, showing the required landscape strip on all sides of the WCF site; addressing the issue raised by staff at Subdivision Committee. STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the requested tower use permit, including the reduced setback from the R-2 zoned property to the north subject to compliance with all other provisions established for Wireless Communication Facilities as outlined in Chapter 36, Article XII of the Code. 3 September 1, 2005 ITEM NO.: 8(Cont.) FILE NO.: Z-7913 PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (SEPTEMBER 1, 2005) The applicant was present. There were no objectors present. Staff presented the item and a recommendation of approval, including 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. The vote was 11 ayes, 0 noes and 0 absent. 4