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Planning Commission Regular Meeting Minutes • February 17, 1998 Page 6 1 Chair Bergstrom commented that US West must have researched the elevations in the area. 2 Ms. Moore-Sykes stated the applicant informed her that the City of St. Anthony is considered to 3 be one of the highest parts of the metropolitan area. 4 Commissioner Horst asked if the antenna was a permitted use in the commercial district. 5 Commissioner Makowske stated that according to City Code in regard to towers and antennas, 6 there is one set of restrictions for residential areas and another for all other districts. 7 Ken Solie owns the proposed location and has agreed to lease the proposed site to US West. 8 Commissioner Horst stated that aside from the obvious appearance issue, the antenna will simply 9 be used to transmit PCS phone calls. He noted a condition can be included in the approval that 10 the transmission will not interfere with any broadcast transmission including, but not limited to, 11 satellite transmission and reception. 12 Commissioner Makowske stated one concern, although he doubted it would be present at 40 13 watts, was noise "buzzing". He noted there will be a fence installed but questioned if there 0 would be a hazard of children climbing the antenna or getting at the equipment. 15 Ms. Moore-Sykes stated she had questioned the applicant in regard to potential vandalism. He 16 explained that the equipment is enclosed in a protective casing, the receiver is up quite high on 17 the pole, and the pole is very smooth. He was not concerned with vandalism, especially with the 18 installation of the fence. 19 Commissioner Horst noted that this is the trend of the future. The more antennas that are 20 installed, the better the reception will be. He did not however, see how this would help police 21 and fire transmissions. 22 Commissioner Delmonico stated there is a debate between PCS systems and Analog systems. 23 The theory is that the PCS systems require many little, less powerful antennas and the Analog 24 system requires less, more powerful antennas. He noted there is a "dead spot" of transmission in 25 the City on the PCS system. All ambulances talk with the hospitals on a PCS system and the 26 City of Minneapolis Police Department is switching from Analog to PCS system as it cannot be 27 monitored. 28 Commissioner Horst commented that it somewhat bothered him that a US West representative 29 was not present but US West had submitted a comprehensive information packet. Motion by Commissioner Horst to recommend approval of a conditional use permit for a PCS 41 wireless antenna for U.S. West conditioned that it is never shown that it interferes with 32 telephone, television or radio transmission including, but not limited to, satellite transmission.