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HomeMy WebLinkAbout~Master - Special Use Permit for Cell Tower at 310 SE 16th StreetCITY OF AMES, IOWA i :i•'! i 1 rB ... 17 CITY CLERK CITY OF AMES, IOWA IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF PATHWAY CASE NO. 16-09 SOLUTIONS, LLC FOR A SPECIAL USE PERMIT, § 29.1503, AMES MUNICIPAL GEOCODE NO. 1 09-14-201-015 CODE, TO CONSTRUCT AND OPERATE A CELLUAR COMMUNICATIONS DECISION & ORDER TOWER ON THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 310 SE 161h STREET. FACTS Pathway Solutions LLC, seeks approval to construct a new monopole cell tower on the property located at 310 Southeast 16th Street to accommodate future wireless communications carriers. The property is owned by Flummerfelt Properties, LLC and is zoned Highway Oriented Commercial (HOC). The new tower and associated equipment shelter would be located in a lease area approximately 63 feet north of the southern boundary of the property and 63 feet west of the eastern boundary of the property. The subject property abuts Southeast 16th Street on the north. Across Southeast 16th Street further north is located a mobile home park. To the west are various low scale commercial uses, to the east is a single low scale commercial use followed by agricultural uses and to the south is vacant wooded land bordered by an auto dealership. The site is located near the Highway 30 and Duff Avenue interchange which is an identified gateway location in the Ames Land Use Policy Plan. The proposed tower will be visible in all directions of this location. The property at 310 Southeast 16th Street, is 262.25 feet wide, 280 feet deep along the west property line, 280 feet deep along the east property line, and includes approximately 1.69 acres (73,430 square feet). The property has access from the south side of Southeast 16th Street. The property is currently a gravel parking area that is used for the temporary parking of mobile homes. There is also existing trees on the south and east portions of the site. The applicant proposes to lease a 3,500 square foot portion of the property in the southeast section of the property as the site for construction of the proposed 120-foot tall cell tower and associated ground equipment structure. The diameter of the pole is approximately 5 feet with a taper as it rises. The tower features a 5 foot high lighting rod that extends from the top of the monopole for an overall height of 125 feet. The cell tower is a monopole with 4 antenna arrays sections mounted in three directional sectors. Each array is proposed to extend out approximately 6 feet from the side of the monopole for a total of 12' -6" across each directional sector with four antenna panels mounted in each directional sector of the array. The four individual arrays are planned to be mounted between 90 feet and 120 feet above the ground. There is antenna space for future carriers shown on the diagram as proposed. The monopole is proposed to be constructed of gray galvanized steel. The tower is designed to house the required cabling within the tower. There has been no diagram or simulation of the structure and its visibility from the surrounding area provided to staff, specifically to the east or west along Highway 30 within one - quarter to one-half mile. A 6-foot high wood privacy fence is proposed to identify the extent of the lease area and for security of the facilities. Rock is proposed to cover the ground inside the fence of the lease area. Maintenance vehicles visiting the site would park on an asphalt parking space to be constructed outside the fence and outside of the lease area to the immediate north abutting the access and utility easement from Southeast 16th Street. A future generator is proposed shortly after any construction. The required site improvements include landscaping between the parking area and the property line abutting Southeast 16th Street along the north side of the property as well as installation of sidewalk within the right-of-way along Southeast 16th Street as required in Chapter 22.31. The applicant has stated there are no plans to remove any existing trees or vegetation on the site. The elevation for the project shows the pole with the 12'-6" directional array sections, however there has been no diagram or simulation of the structure and its visibility from the surrounding area, specifically to the east or west along Highway 30 within one -quarter to one-half mile. The staff report stated that staff was unable to determine the aesthetic impact on the surrounding area of the array design in regards to harmoniousness with the surrounding area and its effect on a gateway entry point into Ames. A flush mount design would minimize the view of the array from the surrounding area and guarantee a more harmonious appearance of the antenna. Matt Kundert with applicant Pathways Solutions, LLC made a presentation about the history of the company's attempts to locate cell towers in Ames, and noted that the Iowa Cell Siting Act, Chapter 8C of the Iowa Code, prohibits cities from determining the type of cell tower used. Mr. Kundert emphasized that two cellular companies were prepared to use the tower, and that the tower could accommodate four arrays. Mike Flummerfelt, whose company Flummerfelt Properties, LLC owns the property, spoke in favor of the cell tower. DECISION The Board considers the facts as listed above, and the standards in Ames Municipal Code section 29.1503(4)(a) and (c), and the provisions of the Iowa Cell Siting Act, specifically Iowa Code section 8C.3(3), and determines that the application meets the standards and therefore that the Special Use Permit shall be granted. WHEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED that the applicant is GRANTED, section 29.1503 of the Ames Municipal Code, to construct and operate a cellular communications tower on the property located at 310 SE 16th Street. 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 9th day of November, 2016. Heidi Petersen Secretary to the Board SKA-y-ffb Chair Y