Loading...
PZ - Planning Responses to CUP TAEC Portland 7117 SW Beveland Road Suite 101 Portland, OR 97223 Tel (971) 245-3120 www.taec.net October 23, 2019 City of Meridian – Community Development Attn: Planning Division 33 E. Broadway Ave. Suite 102 Meridian, ID 83642 Re: Planner Questions and Response for Conditional Use Permit Submittal Site Information: Day Wireless 1668 E. Franklin St. Meridian, ID 83642 RESPONSE TO PLANNER INQUIRY DATED 10/23/2019 INQUIRY #1: “You mentioned in your narrative that there are several existing self-support lattice towers nearby the site that appear to be in excess of 100’ tall; could these towers accommodate the proposed equipment? If not, you need to submit documentation demonstrating the proposed towner or antenna can’t be accommodated on an existing or approved tower or structure as noted in UDC 11-4-3-43C.3. https://www.sterlingcodifiers.com/codebook/index.php?book_id=306” RESPONSE: Day Wireless is unable to collocate on any of the existing Self-Support Lattice Towers that appear to be in excess of 100’ due to there being no available mounting space for our equipment at the centerline (height) required for coverage. The Lot Line maps provided within the Conditional Use Application show that Day Wireless’s equipment will need to be placed at a minimum of 120’ in order to continue servicing the populations identified in Nampa, Mora and Mercy. INQUIRY #2: “The proposed tower is required to be designed (structurally & electrically) to accommodate the applicant’s antennas as well as collocation for at least one additional user per UDC 11- 4-3-43C.1; the plans should reflect/note this.” RESPONSE: The proposed tower is designed both structurally and electrically to accommodate a future collocation for at least one additional user. Our drawings have been revised to more clearly depict this standard and are attached to this inquiry response. TAEC Portland 7117 SW Beveland Road Suite 101 Portland, OR 97223 Tel (971) 245-3120 www.taec.net INQUIRY #3: “A letter of intent committing the tower owner and his/her or its successors to allow the shared use of the tower if an additional user agrees in writing to meet reasonable terms & conditions for shared use per UDC 11-4-3-43D.1.” RESPONSE: A letter of intent from Day Wireless committing to allow the shared use of the tower is attached to this inquiry response. INQUIRY #4: “Propagation charts showing existing and proposed transmission coverage at the subject site and within an area large enough to provide an understanding of why the facility needs to be in the chosen location per UDC 11-4-3-43D.2.” RESPONSE: Day Wireless Systems does not solely provide conventional technology for telecommunication services. This proposed facility will specifically be providing paging services for the local area hospitals and first responders. The proposed tower will be housing relocated equipment to maintain existing coverage from (2) existing lattice towers located at the address of 1976 Century Way in Boise. The business at the existing location is being relocated to the proposed site address and the existing towers there no longer serve as a viable option for Day Wireless’s equipment. INQUIRY #5: “A letter to Ryan McKell dated 9/23/19 was included in your application pertaining to a tower at 1668 E. Franklin Rd.; how does that relate to this application? Is that equipment relocating to this site? Your narrative states this tower will be replacing 2 towers located in Boise.” RESPONSE: The equipment providing the existing coverage from the (2) towers located at the address of 1976 Century Way in Boise will be relocated to the new proposed 125’ tower. I apologize for the confusion, I want to clarify that the (2) existing towers themselves are not owned by Day Wireless, as such, it will be up to the tower owner whether those remain once Day Wireless relocates their equipment from the facilities. I should have been more clear in stating that it is just the coverage that the proposed site will be replacing as remaining on the existing towers is not a viable solution as the business is relocating to the proposed site address. INQUIRY #6: The proposed Day Wireless tower will comply with all of the following design standards as stated per UDC 11-4-3-43E. 1. All towers shall be designed to be architecturally compatible with the surrounding buildings and land uses in the zoning district, or otherwise integrated to blend in with existing characteristics of the site. RESPONSE: The proposed tower and supporting structure will be designed to be compatible with all surrounding structures. TAEC Portland 7117 SW Beveland Road Suite 101 Portland, OR 97223 Tel (971) 245-3120 www.taec.net 2. The facility shall be painted a neutral, non-reflective color that will blend with the surrounding landscape. Recommended shades are gray, beige, sand, taupe, or light brown. All metal shall be corrosive resistant or treated to prevent corrosion. RESPONSE: The facility will be neutral and all metal will be corrosive resistant. 3. All new communication tower facilities shall be of stealth or monopole design, unless the decision making body determines that an alternative design would be appropriate because of location or necessity. RESPONSE: The proposed tower is of an alternative design as a self-support lattice tower. Day Wireless intends to illustrate the necessity of this design with regards to both location and necessity as it relates to coverage replacement and enhancement for existing populations, first responders and hospital facilities. This proposal intends to go through the appropriate decision making body. 4. No part of any antenna, disk, array or other such item attached to a communications tower shall be permitted to overhang any part of the right of way or property line. RESPONSE: No part of any antenna, disk, array or other items attached to the communications tower will overhang any part of the property line. 5. The facility shall not be allowed within any required street landscape buffer. RESPONSE: The proposed facility is not located within any required street landscape buffer. 6. All new communication tower facility structures require administrative design review approval, in addition to any other necessary permits. Structures contained within an underground vault are exempt from this standard. RESPONSE: The proposed tower will go through all proper administrative design review/approval and obtain all required permitting. 7. Any equipment at ground level shall be screened by a sight obscuring fence or structure. RESPONSE: All ground level equipment will be appropriately screened. 8. All tower facilities shall include a landscape buffer. The buffer shall consist of a landscape strip of at least five feet (5') wide outside the perimeter of the compound. A minimum of fifty percent (50%) of the plant material shall be of an evergreen variety. In locations where the visual impact of the tower is TAEC Portland 7117 SW Beveland Road Suite 101 Portland, OR 97223 Tel (971) 245-3120 www.taec.net minimal, the applicant may request a reduction to these standards through the alternative compliance process in accord with chapter 5, "Administration", of this title. If you aren’t proposing landscaping, you need to submit an application for Alternative Compliance to this standard (see UDC 11-5B-5 for more info – the application fee is $160) RESPONSE: We will prepare and submit an application for Alternative Compliance to this standard as the visual impact to the tower is minimal. 9. All climbing pegs within the bottom twenty feet (20') of the tower shall be removed except when the tower is being serviced. RESPONSE: All climbing pegs within the bottom 20’ of the tower will be removed except when the tower is being serviced.