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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPC 02.28.19Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of Thursday, February 28, 2019 Chair Kleissler called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. PRESENT: Arcand, Derr, Fry, Kleissler, Luchsinger, Mulvihill, Tjemlund. ABSENT: Lessard. STAFF: Rachel Juba, Community Development Director Emily Weber, Community Development Assistant Approval of Minutes for the Planning Commission Meeting of January 24, 2018 Commissioner Derr made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Tjernlund, to approve minutes for the meeting of January 24, 2018. All Ayes. Motion carried. Public Hearing — Amendments to Right-of-way and Telecommunications Ordinance to Regulate Small Wireless Facilities Weber provided background on the Right-of-way (ROW) and Telecommunications Ordinances and why amendments need to be made. The City's public ROW is the area along City streets and is usually ten feet from the edge of the road. The City has a ROW ordinance so they can properly manage the public ROW and any ROW user, including the small wireless facility providers. A small wireless facility is a newer technology that is a complimentary piece of equipment to traditional cell towers and provides additional cellular data coverage for wireless carriers. Facilities are small enough to be mounted on existing structures such as light poles and power lines, which are often found in the public ROW. The antenna and all exposed elements of the small wireless facility can fit within an enclosure of no more than six cubic feet. Small wireless facilities work in a network meaning multiple facilities are needed within a two mile radius and are usually placed in a line, often how you see utility poles. Weber stated that staff made revisions to the ROW ordinance that requires a permit for anyone wanting to install a wireless support structure or to collocate a small wireless facility in the ROW. No permit is necessary to conduct routine maintenance of a small wireless facility or to replace a facility of the same size and design. Weber also went through the conditions that will apply to small wireless facility permits. Staff recommended approval of the proposed text amendments to the City Code and recommended opening a public hearing to take any and all comments. Commissioner Fry asked for clarification on what kind of control the City has over the installation of new wireless support structures and stated his concern with the amount of structures that could potentially be installed. Weber responded by stating the height limitations and design guidelines for new wireless support structures as well as stating that the City can impose reasonable separation requirements between new structures and existing structures in the ROW. Juba went on to clarify that the State Statute limits what Cities can and cannot do, making the regulations for small wireless facilities limited. Chair Kleissler opened the public hearing at 7:15pm Chair Kleissler closed the public hearing at 7:15pm. Planning Commission February 28, 2019 Page 2 Chair Kleissler opened the discussion with the commissioners and staff. Commissioner Derr opened the discussion by addressing how utilities are accounted for with small wireless facilities in use. Weber clarified that utility companies will provide electricity to the small wireless facilities and that should additional electric transmission boxes be required the City could require screeing. Juba also stated that the fees seen in the amendments to the right-of-way ordinance were set by State Statute. Commissioner Arcand then followed by asking if there was a calculated projection for future costs also set by the State and Juba responded that there is not. Commissioner Luchsinger asked if the City has received any requests or permits for small wireless facilities. Juba stated that the City has not received any applications however, Verizon Wireless is interested in meeting with the City of Hugo to inquire about the use of small wireless facilities. Chair Kleissler asked if staff had compared the proposed ordinance amendments to surrounding cities. Weber responded by saying that the ordinance amendments are very similar to neighboring communities and that the application fees are similar as well. Commissioner Derr wanted clarification on abandoned facilities and Weber stated that abandoned facilities are the responsibility of the applicant shall a facility be out of service for a continuous period of six months. The collocation agreement will provide specific requirements for facilities not in use. As a follow up, Chair Kleisser asked how the City will know whether or not a facility is in use and to that Juba responded that the City will have to use its best judgement or to call the company to determine whether or not a facility is in use. Commissioner Fry commented that the applicants will be paying for collocation, which is a way to determine facilities in use. Luchsinger made motion to approve the amendments to Right-of-way and Telecommunications Ordinance to regulate small wireless facilities. Derr seconded. All ayes. Motion carried. Adjournment There is no Planning Commission meeting March 14, 2019 and the next meeting will be on March 28, 2019. Commissioner Arcand made a motion, Commissioner Fry seconded, to adjourn at 7:26 pm. All Ayes. Motion carried. Respectfully Submitted, Emily Weber, Community Development Assistant