HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit to install exterior-mounted antennas on the existing U.S. Cellular Tower at 106 South Dakota AvenueL---
OCT 3 1 2014 `` f
CITY OF AMES, IOWA L
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMEN
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF IOWA WIRELESS SERVICES, LLC,
FOR AN AMENDED SPECIAL USE CASE NO. 14-22
PERMIT, § 29.1503(4)(a), AMES
MUNICIPAL CODE, TO INSTALL GEOCODE NO.09-08-101-010
EXTERIOR -MOUNTED ANTENNAS ON
THE EXISTING U.S. CELLULAR TOWER DECISION & ORDER
AT 106 SOUTH DAKOTA AVENUE,
AMES, IOWA
FACTS
The property at 106 South Dakota Avenue is owned by the Ames Women's Club. U.S. Cellular
leases a 50 foot by 50 foot area of the property, on which is located a U.S. Cellular cell tower.
The cell tower is a monopole and is a "stealth tower," meaning that the antennas are located on
the interior of the tower. Iowa Wireless Services, LLC, is requesting approval of an amendment
to the current Special Use Permit to install external antennas on the existing pole. A Special Use
Permit for the construction of the existing tower was approved in 2003. The monopole and
existing ground equipment of U.S. Cellular are located on the east side of the Ames Women's
Club building, north of the parking lot. The property is zoned "RIT' (Residential High Density).
The existing equipment area is surrounded by an eight -foot tall wood -board fence at the
boundaries of the leased area. The fence encloses, screens and secures the equipment shelter and
the base of the existing monopole and equipment, as well as any new mounted equipment.
Columnar Arborvitae, spaced at approximately eight feet on -center, was planted outside the
leased area next to the fence.
Iowa Wireless is proposing to add new equipment for the site that will occupy an area in the
middle of the existing leased area measuring approximately 13 feet by 10.75 feet.
The existing monopole is located as follows in accordance with required setbacks of the zoning
code:
o 88 feet from the north right of way line;
o 60 feet from the east property line;
o 168 feet from the south property line; and,
o 137 feet from the west property line.
There are four locations for cellular equipment to be mounted on the interior of the existing
monopole. U.S. Cellular occupies the top three cellular equipment locations (115 feet, 105 feet
and 95 feet) and Verizon occupies the lowest location (85 feet) on the monopole. With the four
interior mounting locations filled, Iowa Wireless is proposing to mount three (3) 4G antennas to
the exterior of the tower at an elevation of 75 feet. The mounting detail submitted indicates the
antennas will extend off of the tower approximately 25 inches, with the cables running down the
length of the tower attached with steel bands and brackets mounted every 4 feet on center. The
there will be two vertical support poles and the antennas themselves attached to the poles. The
size of the antennas and attachments are approximately 8 feet in height. It is anticipated that one
maintenance visit per month will occur.
Iowa Wireless has noted that the tower cannot be modified to accommodate any additional
interior -mounted antennas due to the material needs for transmission of interior mounted
antennas and that the interior of the monopole is already at capacity with cables from the existing
four mounting locations.
Notification was made to property owners within 200 feet, and no comments were received from
the property owners.
Staff had recommended a condition that the coaxial cable be enclosed within conduit casing on
the outside of the monopole, and that the casing be painted gray to match the surface of the
monopole. After some discussion amongst the Board, staff and the representative for Iowa
Wireless, the Board decided that requiring "conduit casing" was too restrictive and that a
condition of "additional casing" instead would provide flexibility to Iowa Wireless in terms of
the type of casing to be used.
DECISION
The Board considers the standards applicable to special use permits from the provisions of the
zoning ordinance and the specific criteria and design standards for wireless communications
facilities. Having heard the evidence presented about this proposed facility, the board finds that
it meets the general standards for a Special Use Permit in section 29.1503(4)(a) and (b), and
Standards for a Cell Site with Antenna in section 29.1307. In light of the evidence presented and
the findings in the staff report, the Board determines that granting of the amended Special Use
Permit is approved, but with the condition that the coaxial cable on the exterior of the monopole
be enclosed with additional casing and painted gray to match the surface of the monopole.
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is Granted an Amended Special Use
Permit, section 29.1503(4)(a-b) of the Ames Municipal Code, to allow for exterior mounting of
new antennas by Iowa Wireless Services, LLC, on the existing monopole owned by U.S. Cellular
located at 106 South Dakota Avenue, with the following condition:
1. The coaxial cable shall be enclosed within additional casing along the outside of the
monopole and painted gray to match the surface of the monopole.
Any person desiring to appeal this (ICCiSi011 10 Ll COMA of record ji'my clo so within 30 days r11'ter
the fillno oll'this decisloti.
Done this 24th day ofSepterriber, 2014.
a.
k'rin Cain
Secretary to the Board