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Planning & Zoning Board <br />December 10, 1997 <br />Page 13 <br />IIIadding antennas to residential dwellings will become a problem as the average home is <br />not high enough to provide the necessary height for effective signal coverage. <br />• <br />• <br />Mr. Dunn then asked about adjoining properties, one desirous of a tower and the other <br />opposed to such a structure. Mr. Brixius explained that within a rural residential district, <br />a tower would not be permitted. However, an antenna could be attached to an existing <br />building/structure. <br />Mr. Johnson asked if Mr. Brixius had a sense for the maximum number of antennas <br />and/or towers required to service our area. Mr. Brixius said that he does not, as service is <br />based in large part upon demand. At this point, demand is an unknown. <br />Mr. Johnson also asked if there is an upper limit to the height of an antenna. Mr. Brixius <br />explained that 150 foot to 200 foot towers are desirable to the industry. However, <br />restriction of the tower /antenna height reduces the service area. <br />Chair Schaps asked about a telecommunications study. Mr. Brixius explained that he has <br />requested estimates regarding service from Sprint, but has no conclusive data with respect <br />to proposed service to the Lino Lakes area. <br />Steve Mangold, Regional Real Estate Manager for U.S. West, addressed the issue of the <br />number of poles projected for Lino Lakes. At the present time, U.S. West is tracking 160 <br />sites from Forest Lake to Lakeville, and from Hudson to Lake Minnetonka. The <br />projection for this area is for use of fewer than 50 monopoles. Mr. Mangold stated that <br />U.S. West is exploring three sites within Lino Lakes. Two of those sites are within <br />appropriate zoning, while one is not. Mr. Mangold suggested that an area of <br />approximately one acre be designated a tower district. This site would then accommodate <br />not only U.S. West, but MnDOT's 911 microwave service as well as at least one other <br />tenant. <br />Mr. Dunn asked about shared facilities. Mr. Mangold explained that multiple use <br />agreements exist between U.S. West and Aerial Communications, Sprint, AT &T, and <br />Nextel, among others. <br />Mr. Dunn asked what is being done to make the towers more aesthetically pleasing. Mr. <br />Mangold explained that their towers are constructed by a company that builds street light <br />poles, which are, in his opinion, as attractive as possible. <br />Consultant David VanLancheau explained that the PCS service is based upon a tier <br />system with different providers operating at different heights. He asked that Lino Lakes <br />give consideration to a policy of replacement of existing structures with a 50 percent <br />height increase allowing for location of an antenna without compromising the nature of <br />the structure. Mr. VanLancheau also mentioned the tower district designation, pointing <br />out that construction of a tower would allow for several providers as well as <br />