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2017-04-11 PC Agenda Packet PLANNING COMMISSION MEETING Tuesday, April 11, 2017 7:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER - ROLL CALL – ADOPT AGENDA 2. MINUTES February 14, 2017 Planning Commission Meeting (pages 1-3) 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS a. Public Hearing to Consider a Request from Verizon for a Conditional Use Permit to Construct a 90 Foot Tall Telecommunications Tower at 6575 LaBeaux Avenue NE (pages 4-20) The applicant has requested that this application be withdrawn from the agenda. Since publication and notices have gone out, we request that the Planning Commission meet to hear public testimony and take formal action to continue the public hearing until May (per the applicant’s request). 4. OTHER BUSINESS a. None. 5. ADJOURNMENT Page 1 ALBERTVILLE PLANNING COMMISSION TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2017 DRAFT MINUTES ALBERTVILLE CITY HALL 7:00 PM 1. CALL TO ORDER – ROLL CALL – ADOPT AGENDA Vice Chair Edgren called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Becker conducted roll call. Present: Commissioners Edgren, Barthel, Brempell and Wegner. Absent: Chair Klecker and Commissioners Dominick and Council Liaison Hudson. Others Present: City Planner Alan Brixius, Building Permit Technician Maeghan Becker, and Keith Franklin with Franklin Outdoor Advertising. Motioned by Brempell, seconded by Barthel, to approve the agenda. Ayes: Edgren, Barthel, Brempell, and Wegner. Nays: None. Absent: Klecker, Dominick, and Hudson. MOTION DECLARED CARRIED. 2. MINUTES Motioned by Brempell, seconded by Barthel, to approve the November 8, 2016 Planning Commission meeting minutes. Ayes: Edgren, Barthel, Brempell, and Wegner. Nays: None. Absent: Klecker, Dominick, and Hudson. MOTION DECLARED CARRIED. 3. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. None. 4. OTHER BUSINESS A. Consider a Variance Request for Reduced Setbacks and Billboard Heights for Property at 11438 County Road 37 NE Franklin Outdoor Advertising is proposing to move the current billboard at 6045 Large Avenue NE to 11438 County Road 37 NE. Franklin Outdoor is requesting variances from the Sign Code Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 2 Regular Meeting of February 14, 2017 required setbacks and height due to some practical difficulties specific to the new location site that prevents the reasonable use of the property. Brixius went on to inform of the issues and analysis. Variance Criteria. Franklin Outdoor Advertising is requesting a variance for the following setbacks: The proposed site is zoned B-3, Highway Commercial District which has the following setbacks: Front yard (South), required 35 feet, and proposed two feet. Rear yard (North), required 20 feet, and proposed two feet. Side yard (East/West), required 20 feet, and proposed 160/190 feet. Sign Height and Setback Variance request. The maximum height of any billboard shall be 30 feet from the ground, and Franklin Outdoor Advertising is requesting a reduced setback and a sign height of 35 feet. In 2011, the State changed regulations for the consideration of a variance. The Planning Commission and City Council will review the following criteria and make a decision. 1. The property owner proposes to use the property in a reasonable manner not permitted by the Zoning Ordinance. 2. The plight of the property owner is due to circumstances unique to the property and not created by the property owner. 3. The variance will not alter the essential character of the locality. 4. The variance will not impair an adequate supply of light or air to adjacent property. 5. The variance will not unreasonably increase traffic congestion on public streets. 6. The variance will not diminish property values. 7. The variance will not violate the intent and purpose of the Comprehensive Plan. 8. Literal interpretation of the provisions of this ordinance would deprive the applicant of rights commonly enjoyed by other properties in the same district under the terms of this ordinance, or deny the applicant the ability to put the property in question to a reasonable use. 9. Granting the variance requested will not confer on the applicant any special privilege that is denied by this ordinance to other lands, structures, or buildings in the same district. Brixius presented the February 9, 2017 planning report and offered the following findings in support of the requested variance. 1. The site is zoned B-3 which allows billboards as a permitted use within this district. 2. The proposed variance would be consistent with the Albertville Comprehensive plan in that the billboard location would not interfere with the future commercial development of the lot. 3. The billboard meets the 1,000 foot spacing between billboards on the same side of the freeway. 4. The height variance is need to provide visual clearance over existing and future buildings. Planning Commission Meeting Minutes Page 3 Regular Meeting of February 14, 2017 5. The practical difficulty with in locating on the lot is due to the unique physical configuration of the lot that limits the buildable area of the property. This difficulty was not created by the property owner, rather it is a result in the right of way acquisition for the Co Rd 37 alignment. 6. The variance will not change the commercial character of the area. 7. The variance and use will not increase traffic congestion on adjoining streets nor will burden the city utility infrastructure. 8. The practical difficulties associated with this zoning variance are unique to this specific lot and do not confer any special privileges that are denied to other properties. Based on the preceding evaluation and findings, staff recommends approval of the variance request allowing a two foot setback from the north and south property lines for a billboard on parcel PID 101-014-003060 and a billboard height not to exceed 35 feet with the conditions listed on page 9-10 of the February 9, 2017 planning report. Barthel questioned the expansion on Co Rd 37 NE or I-94, and if this site would be affected by that expansion. To date, City Staff does not believe that this site would be affected by the expansion. Brempell brought up the zoning of the site and questioned the future development plans for the parcel and surrounding areas. Brixius responded that the he foresees the billboard only being usable with Don’s Auto and not a standalone site. Motioned by Barthel, seconded by Brempell, to approve a Variance Request for Reduced Setbacks and Billboard Heights for Property at 11438 County Road 37 NE. Ayes: Edgren, Barthel, Brempell, and Wegner. Nays: None. Absent: Klecker, Dominick, and Hudson. MOTION DECLARED CARRIED. 5. ADJOURNMENT Motioned by Barthel, seconded by Wegner, to adjourn the meeting at 7:19pm. Ayes: Edgren, Barthel, Brempell, and Wegner. Nays: None. Absent: Klecker, Dominick, and Hudson. MOTION DECLARED CARRIED. Respectfully submitted, ___________________________________ Maeghan M. Becker, Building Permit Technician 4 PLANNING REPORT TO: Adam Nafstad FROM: Alan Brixius DATE: April 6, 2017 RE: Albertville – Verizon Cell Tower Conditional Use Permit FILE NO: 163.06 – 17.02 BACKGROUND Verizon has submitted an application for a conditional use permit and site plan review for a new cell phone tower on property located at 6575 LaBeaux Avenue NE in the City of Albertville. The site is zoned I-1, Limited Industrial. Within the I-1 Zoning District, personal wireless service towers are allowed by conditional use permit. The site is 2.5 acres in area and is currently occupied by an industrial building. The site is adjacent to B-2A zoning to the north; B-2A zoning to the east; I-1 zoning to the south; and I-1 zoning to the west. Telecommunication towers are allowed in the I-1 Zoning District, provided they meet the standards of Chapter 2500 of the Albertville Zoning Ordinance. The applicant seeks to build a 90 foot tall personal wireless service tower along with support equipment on the property. The Albertville Zoning Ordinance promotes the co- location of antennas onto existing towers or support structures, and requires the tower applicant to identify and demonstrate that existing facilities do not fill the service needs of the area. In the following pages, the information provided by the applicant has been evaluated against the Albertville City Code standards. The applicant’s information explains that the need for the new tower is needed to provide some service relief to existing towers. Increasing use of cellular devices within the service area are beginning to overburden existing towers, reducing data speeds and decreasing the level of service. The applicant’s Exhibit B illustrates the greatest demand sites that they are attempting to address. The applicant has provided additional mapping showing how service areas will be improved. 5 Attached for reference: Exhibit A: Applicant Letter Dated March 8, 2017 Exhibit B: Areas of Heavy Usage Exhibit C: Applicant Letter Dated March 23, 2017 Exhibit D: Service Levels Without Proposed Tower Exhibit E: Service Levels With Proposed Tower Exhibit F: Service Levels Using Otsego Water Tower Exhibit G: Service Levels Using ATT Tower Exhibit H: Tower Height Exhibit I: Site Plan Exhibit J: Enlarged Site Plan Exhibit K: Utility Plan Exhibit L: Survey ISSUES AND ANALYSIS City Code. Chapters 2500 and 490 apply to telecommunication towers and the processing of conditional use permits. The following analysis evaluates the Verizon application against these criteria. Chapter 2500, Section 2500.4.B, Antenna Tower 1. A proposal for a new commercial wireless telecommunication service tower shall not be approved unless it can be demonstrated that the telecommunications equipment planned for the proposed tower cannot be accommodated on an existing or approved tower or building within a one mile search radius (1/2 mile search radius for towers under 120 feet in height and/or 1/4 mile search radius for towers under 80 feet in height) of the proposed tower due to one or more of the following reasons: Upon receipt of the initial application, City staff identified an existing antenna tower and the Otsego water tower, which are located within one mile of the proposed tower location and offer opportunity for co-location of antennas. The applicant was directed to evaluate these existing sites as part of the tower application to determine if they addressed the target area needs. The applicant has provided this information as Exhibits C through G. Exhibit D illustrates the areas of concern with no new tower. The areas of concern # 1 is the Towne Lakes/Hunters Pass neighborhood and extending north along County Road 19 into Otsego. In these areas of concern, services range from good (red) with the majority of the area at fair (green) and poor (blue). Areas of concern # 2 is south of I-94, extending from County Road 19 east through the County Road 37 interchange and into St. Michael. This area ranges from good (red) to fair (green) service levels. 6 Exhibit E illustrates the effectiveness of the proposed tower location, demonstrating good to fair service levels for all of the concern areas. Exhibit F illustrates the use of the water tower site. This location expands the good (red) service levels into areas of concern #1 along County Road 19, but fades to fair service levels moving east. The water tower site does not improve service levels in areas of concern #2. Exhibit G illustrates the co-location of the antenna on an existing ATT tower at 6450 63rd Street. The applicant’s service level information indicates that this tower location provides good service levels throughout Albertville and both north and east into Otsego. Areas of concern #1 service levels do fade to a fair service level traveling north along County Road 19. The ATT site provides better levels of coverage in areas of concern #2 than the proposed tower site, with a good level of service over most of Albertville and larger areas of St. Michael. Unless other reasons are provided that make it impractical to locate on existing structures or towers, it appears that the existing ATT tower provides a location that addresses the areas of concern presented by the applicant. CONSTRUCTION PLANS The applicant has provided a site plan and construction drawings for the site at 6575 LaBeaux Avenue NE. In review of the plans, we make the following comments. Zoning. The subject site is zoned I-1, Limited Industrial. Within the I-1 District, personal wireless service towers are allowed by conditional use permit. The site is 2.5 acres in area and 330 feet in width, exceeding the I-1 District standards. Setbacks. The following table illustrates that the proposed structure will meet the required setbacks: Required Proposed Compliant Front Yard – East 35 feet 100 feet Yes Side Yard – North 10 feet 95 feet Yes Side Yard – South 10 feet 98 feet Yes Rear Yard – West 20 feet 45 feet Yes The Zoning Ordinance requires the tower to be set back a distance equal to the tower height when adjacent to a residential structure. This property does not abut any residential properties. The proposed tower location meets all I-1 District principal building setbacks and maintains a setback greater than the tower height from all buildings on adjoining properties. 7 Access. Access to the tower will be provided through the existing parking lot on the site. Tower Design. The applicant is proposing a monopole design that will be 90 feet in height. This design compiles with Albertville’s standards. The tower will be required to meet all Building and Electrical Codes and receive a building permit. Fencing. The tower base and all support equipment will be surrounded by a fence with a gate on the west side of the site. A fence detail must be provided illustrating fence height and construction materials. All ground equipment shall be stored and secured in cabinets. This meets ordinance requirements. Landscaping. The Zoning Ordinance requires all ground level equipment to be screened from view of street rights-of-way. The proposed site already has some in-place coniferous tree plantings on the north and west side of the site. The applicant is proposing to add five Black Hills Spruce on the east side of the tower area. In review of the landscaping, if approved, the trees must be a minimum of six feet in height. If approved, we also recommend four additional trees to be planted in a staggered row (for a total of nine trees). CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION The application for a new telecommunication tower is intended to provide improved cellular service to Albertville and Otsego residents in response to the growing use of cell phones, tablets, and Wi-Fi hot spots. In this regard, the Planning Commission and City Council may consider one of the following measures: MOTION TO DENY the conditional use for a telecommunication tower at 6575 LaBeaux Avenue NE based on the following findings: A. The Albertville Zoning Ordinance prohibits the approval of a new tower if other structures or towers are available to accommodate the proposed service area. B. The applicant’s service area analysis demonstrates that the Otsego water tower and the ATT tower location provides alternative sites for an antenna. C. The applicant’s service area analysis demonstrates that the ATT site provides full good coverage to all of Albertville and portions of Otsego and St. Michael. The ATT site provides more expanded coverage for areas of concern #2 as identified by the applicant. MOTION TO APPROVE the conditional use permit for a tower at 6575 LaBeaux Avenue NE with the following findings and conditions: 8 Findings: A. The proposed tower is needed to improve cellular service in Albertville and surrounding communities. B. The applicant has provided information that demonstrates that it is impractical to locate their equipment upon existing structures or towers. C. The proposed tower location is located to address high cellular use locations to relieve the loads on existing systems. Conditions: If approval is given, staff recommends that the following conditions be placed on the conditional use permit: 1. The applicant must pursue a building permit for tower design and meet all Building and Electrical Codes. 2. The applicant receive a fence permit and must submit a fence detail of fence height and materials, 3. The applicant provide a revised landscaping plan showing a staggered row of nine Black Hills Spruce at the east side of the tower site. All trees shall be six feet in height or greater. c: Kim Olson Maeghan Becker Paul Heins Mike Couri Rob Viera, applicant Exhibit A 9 Exhibit B 10 MIN Albertville RF Coverage Study 03-23-2017 Nithya Jaipuriyar, RF Engineer, Verizon Wireless Verizon Wireless is currently searching for a location to build a new cell site in your city to expand and improve our wireless network. The project’s name is MIN Albertville. The purpose of this letter is to explain what the intention of this new site is as well as clarifying why the water tank and the ATT tower colocation do not fulfill our needs. The following maps will demonstrate the need for a new tower located in Albertville, MN. Two measurements will be considered: The Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP), which is a measure of the strength of the signal level received by a device, and the Best Server distribution, which is a map that shows the geographic areas served by a certain cell sector. A new site, such as the proposed, has two goals: The first is to improve the RSRP in the area, especially in a certain target area such as a neighborhoods or busy highways. The second goal is to balance the load between the existing sites and proposed site, so that if a proposed site experiences a lot of traffic, that traffic will be able to be divided among the existing and proposed sites to increase the speed and reliability for those customers. RSRP RSRP is measured in dBm, and we see three general levels of RSRP: Good RSRP, which means that customers will be able to establish and maintain reliable connections both indoors and outdoors, is greater than -75 dBm. Fair RSRP, which means that there will likely be reliable connections outdoors but performance may suffer indoors, is between -75 dBm and -85 dBm. Poor RSRP, which means that signal exists but the reliability and performance will be compromised, is between -85 dBm and -95 dBm. If RSRP is measured below -95 dBm, that is generally considered to be a non-existent signal, with no connection or reliability likely. The four maps on the following pages show the RSRP in the area surrounding the proposed site. The first map shows the existing RSRP (excluding the simulated effect of the proposed tower), the second map shows the proposed RSRP (including the simulated effect of the proposed tower), the third map shows the RSRP (including the simulated effect of the ATT tower colocation) and the fourth map shows the RSRP (including the simulated effect of the water tank) Exhibit C 11 Existing RSRP Coverage (Excluding Simulated Effect of Proposed Tower) The above map shows the existing RSRP coverage of the area surrounding the proposed site. Areas with Good RSRP are shown in red, areas with Fair RSRP are shown in green, and areas with poor RSRP are shown in blue. As can be seen from the above map, the area immediately surrounding the proposed site (area of concern) has mostly Fair RSRP, with several pockets of Poor RSRP. This area includes the mainly travelled Labeaux Ave going north and the developing residential area north of I-94 and east of Labeaux Ave. As previously mentioned, Fair to Poor RSRP coverage will have likely reliability issues, especially for customers indoors, or in vehicles along Labeaux Ave going north. Area of concern Exhibit D 12 Proposed RSRP Coverage (Including Simulated Effect of Proposed Tower) The above map shows the proposed RSRP coverage of the area surrounding the proposed site. Areas with Good RSRP are shown in red, areas with Fair RSRP are shown in green, and areas with poor RSRP are shown in blue. As can be seen from the above map, the proposed RSRP level shows significant improvement, especially on Labeaux Ave going north and the developing residential area north of I-94 and east of Labeaux Ave. Residents that live in this area will experience much higher reliability with the addition of the proposed tower. Area of concern Exhibit E 13 RSRP Coverage (Including Simulated Effect of Water Tank) The above map shows the RSRP coverage of the area surrounding the proposed Water Tank. Areas with Good RSRP are shown in red, areas with Fair RSRP are shown in green, and areas with poor RSRP are shown in blue. As can be seen from the above map, the RSRP level shows marginal improvement south of 1-94 and some improvement in the residential area north of I-94 and east of Labeaux Ave but when compared to the proposed tower location the coverage is lacking with this water tower colocation. The proposed tower location is still the best to improve coverage along in the area of concerns. Best Server Coverage The following maps show Best Server coverage. It is important for all sites in the Verizon network to have a manageable amount of traffic; if a site is experiencing too much traffic, then a new site is needed to offload a portion of that traffic which will increase the speeds experienced by users in the area served by the overloaded site. The four maps on the following pages show the Best Server coverage in the area surrounding the proposed site. The first map shows the existing Best Server coverage (excluding the simulated effect of the proposed tower), the second map shows the proposed Best Server coverage (including the simulated effect of the proposed tower), the third map shows the Best Server coverage (including the simulated effect of the ATT tower colocation) and the fourth map shows the Best Server coverage (including the simulated effect of the water tank) Area of concern Exhibit F 14 RSRP Coverage (Including Simulated Effect of ATT Tower Colocation) The above map shows the RSRP coverage of the area surrounding the proposed ATT Tower Colocation. Areas with Good RSRP are shown in red, areas with Fair RSRP are shown in green, and areas with poor RSRP are shown in blue. As can be seen from the above map, the RSRP level shows some improvement, south of I-94 and going north on Labeaux Ave but when compared to the proposed tower location the coverage is lacking with this ATT Tower colocation in the residential area area north of I-94 and east of Labeaux Ave. Area of concern Exhibit G 15 Exhibit H16 Exhibit I17 Exhibit J18 Exhibit K19 Exhibit L20