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Planning Commission Meeting Minutes May 16, 2000 Page 5 • 1 Assistant City Manager Isom reviewed for the Commission that AT&T Wireless Services (AWS) 2 was interested in filing an application for a Conditional Use permit to allow for a new 75-foot cellu- 3 lar monopole to be placed on an industrial zoned property at 2801 37th Avenue NE. Permission has 4 been obtained by the owner of the property,and the AWS monopole would be the second such pole 5 on the property. The first pole is owned by US West Wireless Services (USWW). 6 Isom introduced Julie Townsend, Contractor, AT&T Wireless Services, and invited her to address 7 the Commission. Ms. Townsend stated that AWS is proposing to place a similar structure on the 8 property such as US West has installed. AWS is not able to use the existing USWW structure to co- g locate because AWS needs at least 75 feet for antenna placement. Along with a new monopole, 10 AWS would be constructing an equipment shelter to house the radio cabinets. The shelter is planned 11 to be 12' by 28' and 10' tall and constructed of a material that is acceptable to the City. 12 Bergstrom asked why the two poles couldn't be combined. Ms. Townsend stated that many of the 13 carriers co-locate often; however, negotiations between USWW and AWS had fallen through and 14 the companies were not able to agree on the issue of co-locating poles. 15 Ms. Townsend presented a site map and pointed out several potential locations for the pole. • Bergstorm offered that if the antenna could be tucked behind a building for an aesthetics purpose, that would be the optimal choice. Ms. Townsend inquired of Assistant City Manager Isom if there was an accessory structure setback. Isom stated that he would research the setback requirements and 16 return an answer to her at a later time. 17 Hatch inquired about the possibility of putting the equipment underground. Ms. Townsend re- 18 sponded that such an option had been reviewed by engineers and other professionals,and it had been 19 determined that the equipment could not be placed underground. This is due in part to the harsh 20 Minnesota climate. 21 Thomas mentioned that the issue of antenna placement had been discussed at another Planning 22 Commission meeting, and it was explained at that time that St. Anthony is a desirable place for 23 antennas and towers. Thomas stated his belief that there should be more cooperation between the 24 companies to minimize the number of towers and antennas going up within the community. 25 Ms. Townsend stated that AT&T would be willing to coordinate with another carried in the future, 26 but a taller monopole would have to be installed to accommodate more than one carrier. Tillmann inquired if there was a conditional use permit for the existing pole and what type of con- ditions have been enacted into the permit. Isom stated that there is a conditional use permit; how- ever,the specifics of the permit were unknown. Tillmann wondered if there was a way to nudge US 27 West into reconsidering negotiations with AT&T regarding placement of a monopole. • Bergstrom summarized the issue for Ms.Townsend by stating that the Commission would prefer that the base and accessory building be on the north side and if variances and setbacks were required, 28 then Ms. Townsend would need to meet with Assistant City Manager Isom.