06-26-1996 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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Several towers scattered around the City, or concentrated in a few small areas, could have an undesirable aesthetic impact on the community, whereas only a few are often considered to be acceptable. Some solutions to the aesthetic concern have been to require location on existing structures, such as tall buildings or water towers, and to construct towers in a more aesthetically acceptable form. Other methods of regulation have included a more restrictive height limitation, or a less burdensome administrative process for tower location in industrial districts. For Little Canada, the only current structures tall enough to support antennae of the height requested are the current cellular towers and the City's water tower. It may be possible to require certain aesthetic enhancements for new towers, such as a painted, single pole design instead of the steel lattice tower as proposed. Restricting tower size to a lower height would also be possible. Our understanding is that smaller towers would result in the need for more tower sites to provide the same amount of coverage. In order to manage the issue of several future tower requests, staff is aware of only two possible options at this time. One would be to require that tower owners allow for the leasing of antenna co- locations on the same tower to other users. The second would be for the City to provide leased tower locations as a control on the total number of tower sites. Apart from the aesthetic concerns, the proposed site on the Donovan property would appear to be acceptable from a and use standpoint. The area surrounding the proposed site is exclusively industrial, and there appears to be little interference with utilization of the site by the industrial owner. Two primary issues are not addressed in the applicant's proposal is that of the possible effect on the neighboring property to the east. In the (presumably) unlikely event of a collapse of the tower, it should be shown that the neighboring property would be safe from probable damage. Otherwise, a revised site location which can demonstrate no impact on surrounding lands, as well as continued efficient use of the proposed site, would be required. The second issue is that of the ground equipment. This equipment should be screened from view of surrounding property and public rights of way. The site plan should be modified to illustrate this screening. In conclusion, we recommend approval of the Donovan Construction site for a Conditional Use Permit for a 151 foot high cellular tower, contingent on the following conditions: 1. The tower construction is changed to a painted, single pole design. 2. The Owner of the property and the tower permit other essential service providers leased use of the tower, under City approval of a Conditional Use Permit. Page 70