02-03-2009 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES FEBRUARY 3, 2009 4 draft findings. CMS provided its report to the City on Monday afternoon (February 2nd) that in its opinion the need for this facility, the height and the location had not been justified as required in the City’s ordinances to minimize adverse visual effects of towers, antennae or accessory equipment. The report and draft resolutions were made available to the Council at the meeting. Pat Conlin, FMHC representative, sent an email refuting CMS claims stating the information provided from Richard Comi, CMS, did not reflect the amount of information or specifics that have been provided to City staff and the Council through the application review period. Mark Holm, T-Mobile, 8000 W. 78th St., Edina, stated the 110-foot tower compromise proposal is as low as it can go to cover the entire Lake Jane area. A 90-foot tower would not work. T-Mobile could design the tower for additional canisters to hold additional carriers. Joe Kiesling, 9359 Jane Road N., said he was in favor of the tower because the cell phone coverage is terrible. He pointed out there are other cell phone towers along Hwy 36 from Hilton Trail to Lake Elmo Avenue that are not noticeable now because they have been there for a while. Justin Bloyer, 8881 Jane Road N., spoke in favor of the tower. Tom Mechelke, 9090 Jane Road N., agreed with the CMS recommendation. Chris Cunningham, 9385 Lake Jane Trail, said she live in a dead zone and has to run to the end of her driveway to pickup a call. She asked the Council to approve the application. Jim Blackford, 9765 45th Street N., stated the City is not against cell phone towers, but the City needs them in the right places with the right designs so they don’t impair views in the City. Council Members DeLapp, Emmons and Smith agreed that the visual aesthetics of a 125- foot tower was a high priority. They wanted to understand what the true needs are and wanted documentaton of those needs. Mayor Johnston stated he thought the City has taken the aesthetic argument to an illogical extreme and had talked to residents who believed that the modified design is perfectly acceptable. The modified design was a 110-foot monopole design that T-Mobile was willing to construct as a compromise. He had a problem with the City taking a business arrangement away from a resident. Mayor Johnston voiced his objections to the hiring of the consulting firm, CMS.