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STAFF REPORT DATE: February 17, 1998 TO: Planning Commission Members FROM: Kim Moore-Sykes, Management Assistant ITEM: 98-04 US West Request for Conditional Use Permit for the Installation of a Wireless Antenna. BACKGROUND. Scott Hoelscher, Site Administrator for US West-Wireless, has applied for a Conditional Use Permit for the installation of a 75-foot Personal'Communications Services (PCS) monopole antenna and base station equipment cabinet at 2801 - 37' Avenue NE, which is owned by Ken Solie of Village.Properties. The property is zoned Light Industrial and the proposed antenna and accessory base station equipment is an allowable permitted use in this District. Mr. Hoelscher is proposing to install a 75-foot monopole antenna, which is as tall as Section 1160, Subd. 2 of the City Ordinance allows. The City Ordinance states that the setbacks for the Light Industrial District are 15 feet in the rear yard and 15 feet for the sideyard. Mr. Hoelscher is proposing to install the monopole antenna 15 feet from the rear property line, 143.6 feet from the existing building and several hundred feet from the east property line. The proposed monopole antenna will also be screened from view by the wooded area to the east. For safety considerations, fencing will be provided around the proposed antenna and base equipment station cabinet. Minnesota Statutes and City Ordinances require-that the following conditions be satisfied before a Conditional Use Permit may be authorized. The first condition to be met is that the proposed use is one that is specifically listed for the zoning district in which it is to be located. Section 1160.06, Subd.-2, allows for the installation of towers and antennas in the Light Industrial Zoning District. The second condition is that the proposed use will not be detrimental to the health, safety, or general welfare of persons residing or working in the vicinity or injurious to property values or improvements to the vicinity. Mr. Hoelscher has provided information indicating that wireless radio transmissions are very safe and pose no health risk. Accordingly, the transmissions are the same as digital low power two-way radio. The maximum output for a PCS cellular transmitting antenna is 40 watts. As a comparison, he cited the power output of television and radio station transmitting towers can range from 50,000 watts to one million watts. Because the Federal Communications Commission tightly controls the frequency spectrum, the wireless transmissions will also not affect home radio and television receptions.