HomeMy WebLinkAboutA6 CITY OF AMES, IOWA
ZONING BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION
OF VERIZON WIRELESS FOR A
CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT IN A CASE NO. 15-06
FLOODWAY, § 9.7(3)(e)(2)(a), AMES
MUNICIPAL CODE, TO OPERATE A GEOCODE NO. 09-10-275-000
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TOWER
IN THE FLOODWAY ON THE DECISION & ORDER
PROPERTY LOCATED AT
600 SOUTH MAPLE AVENUE
FACTS
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
site is located along the north edge of the Floodway of Squaw Creek and is zoned "SGA"
(Special-Government/Airport) and Floodway Overlay District. The site is located mostly within
the Floodway Fringe, which has lesser development standards but, because a portion is within
the Floodway, the entire project must meet those Floodway standards. Development within the
Floodway is allowed for a limited number of uses and only if Floodway performance standards
are met. The new tower and associated equipment shelter will 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. 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
equipment platform is supported by multiple columns and is 17.33 feet by 35.33 feet and will
rise 13 feet above ground. 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 will be
located along the top of the platform. At the proposed tower site, the ground elevation is about
888 feet. The base flood elevation (BFE, the water surface level of a flood event having a one
percent chance of occurring in any given year, or 100-year flood event) is 894.6 feet. Therefore,
in a 100-year flood, it is anticipated that the ground will be inundated by 6.6 feet of flood water.
The City of Ames flood plain regulations require elevation or flood proofing to three feet above
BFE for an elevation of 897.6 feet at this location. The bottom of the steel platform upon which
the equipment shelter sits is at 900 feet. This is 5.4 feet above BFE, or 12 feet above the natural
grade. There was evidence that the tower and platform supports are designed to withstand
damage from floods and will not increase base flood elevations.
DECISION
The Board finds that the application for a proposed wireless communication tower meets the
standards for a Conditional Use Permit in section 9.7(3)(e)(2)(a) of the Ames Municipal Code,
including the standards for Wireless Communications Facilities in section 9.4(2) and the
Floodway Performance Standards in section 9.4(3).
ORDER
WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is GRANTED, section 97.3(2)(e)(2)(a) of
the Ames Municipal Code, a Conditional Use Permit to construct a wireless communications
tower in the Floodway on the property 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 Selby e
Secretary to the Board Cha'
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