HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit to allow a portable cellular tower at 1325 South 4th StreetCH'Y OF AMES, IOWA
ZO IN I TV G UB OA R 1) 0 F A DJ U S'FM E N'r
IN T I I E Al ATTER. 0 FTI I V
APPLICATION OF IOWA RSA 10, I-A,C,
FOR A SPECIAL LJSF P111011T, §§ 29.1307
AND 29.1503, AMES MUNICIPAL CODE"
TO ALLOW A PORTABLE. CELLIJLAR
IDWER ONTHE PROPERTY IMAM)
AT 1325 14)UM FOUICHI s,rR!I?I'
FACTS
CITY OF AI/F-S IOWA
CASENO. 15-15
GEO CODE NO. 09-10-250-010
DfX1SION & ORDER
lie pRiperty at US address is a tract of undeveloped land immediately cao of Squaw (ATk and
abutting the north side of South Fourth Street. It is zoned -A- (AgricAurraly Ilk location sits
ocnel-Lilly to the cast of the Iowa State University Milton coliseum and Jac], Trice AMA]
MaTurn cmnplex. In past years, because this she is (Ten ground and is a short dkinnice to the.
northeast ol'Jacb; 'Trice stadium, it has been used IN overflow vehicular parl�hig oil football
weekends. Those same Ibo-tball crowds put extraordinary demands on the cellular telephone
network, cvllicll generally provides good coverage in the city. lie major cellular con-iniunication
providers arc aware of this phenomenon and, in the past have brought in adthdomal equipmem to
SUppIelmCIlt the existing} network during the football season. ']'his is done with portable trailer -
borne towers, called cells -on -wheels or -(,0Ws- in the industry. These have been placed ill
areas near die Stadil-1111 just prior to the beginning of the fbothaU season nind have USLUdly been oil
ISU property. This year, ISU W not he able to reach agrecinent with all providers, Icadirig,
them to search Or Normative sites. The tower siting contractor working for Verizon ,vas one of
those searching for a location, and, identified this she as a desirable location for a (A)W. Since
this is a privately owned she, a Special Use Pernih, for a cellular C01111111,11liCatiOR facility is I)Cul"
sought for the cornpany to locate its (2()VV there tfirOUgh the duration of the f'ootball season.
ITA equipment will include a pricurnmically operated tower that rises to a height of 28 lect. It
is bare aluniinual, finish and will not be supported by guy wires. Its t),.isc is a trailer that also
conadris the associated electronic equipment A the tower, and there arc electrical distribUtiOn
lines in the area that will provide the power RY the (A)MA The trailer will be parked at a fixed
location lbr the scamni and it will be surroundal by a six foot tall wooden fence, with gates. The
trader's location will be 125 1'ect from the nearest pnipcirty line and will be accessed by a gravel
Me. Ile applicant searched the vicinity Or a suitable tall structure for collocation, but As
search did not yield anything suitable. This tower will not itself support collocation. The
proposed tower has been dacmiked to pose no haawd to air navigation. Ilk applicant has been
approved a special use peni,iit lor this particular use and location in 2012 a 20 13.
DE(ASION
Ile Board has heard and considered the evidence concerning this application in light of the
standards applicable to all Special LJsc Permits as well Lis those applicable to Cellular
cornlllullicatioll facilities. In this instance, the need for this SUppleincrit"ll tower is evident. 'file
Opportunities for Collocation have been researched without success, but this proposed We is wt
near any other development, meets the setback rCLWUCMCMS and will be in place only for the
duration of the football Season. The tower will be fenced. 'rhc toNver does not create any need
l'or public ilffl-aISOUCUWC and should M be disturbing as N is quite distant From inhabited
structures. In lion of the explanation thm this will be temporary. the Board will adopt the
1-111(finos of facts and grant this permit hosed on the approved site plan with conditions to assure it
is not disruptive and that it does not becorne a permanent lixture without mectirt'g additional
requirements.
ORDER
WHEREFORIO IT IS ()IMERFI) that the applicant is GRANTED a Sliccial Use Perniii.
sections 211307 and 211503 of the Ai-nes Municipal Code, to allow a Portable ("ellular
Communications A= subject to the following condhions:
K Ile required landscaping and paving be deferred until May 1, 2016, provided that the
applicant submits an engineer's cminime of probable cost of improvements that satisfies
the City*s development standards, and submits finwichd security in a form aICCCI)tab]C to
the City for that arnoura, Said SCCUAIY VVOLdd be valid until dM"M LWon by the City or
returned to the applicant; and
2. The use of'the erner.gency (generator on the cell tower he limited only to emergencies and
not be routinely tested due to the nearby residential neighborhood.
Any person desiring to appeal this decision to a court of record niny do) so within 30 days after
the filing, of this decision.
Done this I 2th day, ofAugoust, 2015.
I'Ain Win
Secretary to the Board
Mattliew Koehler
Vice Mr
12-