HomeMy WebLinkAboutA14 CITY OF AMES, IOWA
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF VERIZON WIRELESS FOR A SPECIAL CASE NO. 15-05
USE PERMIT, § 29.1503,AMES
MUNICIPAL CODE, TO OPERATE GEOCODE NO. 09-10-275-000
A WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS
TOWER ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED DECISION & ORDER
AT 600 SOUTH MAPLE AVENUE
FACTS
The applicant, Verizon Wireless, represented by Michael Howley with lnsite RE, Inc., is seeking
to construct a new monopole cell tower on the property located at 600 South Maple Avenue.
The property is zoned "SGA" (Special Government-Airport). This is located within City owned
park land for which the City Council approved a lease on October 9, 2014, subject to approval of
a special use permit. The new tower and associated equipment shelter would be located in a
lease area along the north boundary of the property with an access easement to the South Maple
Avenue right-of-way (see Attachment A: Location Map). The site is in a wooded area and will
require removal of approximately 24 trees. Access is from Maple Street via park access roads.
Access to the lease area is via an existing gravel access road into the woods. As an existing park
access road, it is not required to be paved to serve the proposed monopole. The Verizon
improvements will be within a 33 feet by 59 feet compound. The leased premises are 33 feet by
84 feet, which includes an area for the future inclusion of two additional carriers. Within the
Verizon area will be a 120 foot tall monopole (129 foot with the lightning rod) and an elevated
equipment platform. The pole has an eight-foot diameter at its base. The monopole will be .
8 feet at the base. While the applicant does not indicate a paved parking space on the site plan,
staff is recommending a condition of approval to include updating the site plan to show a 9 foot
by 19 foot parking space to meet zoning requirements. The equipment platform is 17.33 feet by
35.33 feet and will rise 13 feet above ground. There are multiple colunuis supporting the
platfonn. The platform will contain the equipment cabinets and emergency generator inside a
shelter. The shelter provides security and screening for the equipment. Access to the platform is
by stairs on the north side of the platform. A security fence is located along the top of the
platform. Mr. Howley noted that the cell tower was necessary to improve service to customers.
Staff noted that neighboring property owners within 200 feet were notified and no phone calls or
comments were received. Staff recommended approval with two conditions: a) the required
Conditional Use Permit in the Floodway is also approved, and b) the site plan is amended to
include a 9 foot by 19 foot parking space.
DECISION
The Board considers the facts above, and the standards in Ames Municipal Code section
29.1503(4)(a), (c) and (e), as well as the standards for wireless communications facilities in
section 29.1307, and finds that the application meets all of the standards. The Board establishes
the following conditions on its approval: a) that the required Conditional Use Permit in the
Floodway is also approved, and b) that the site plan is amended to include a 9 foot by 19 foot
parking space.
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is GRANTED, section 29.1503 of the
Ames Municipal Code, a Special Use Permit for a wireless communications tower and facilities
on the property located at 600 South Maple Avenue.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record may do so within 30 days after
the filing of this decision.
Done this 24th day of June, 2015.
Erin Cain S lby Ebe
Secretary to the Board Chair
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