CC Minutes 11-26-07City Council Meeting - November 26, 2007
getting bad, take a little time getting to where you're going. Leave a little early. And the second
thing is, we're still having a few thefts from vehicles occurring. You know again I'll just as a
reminder, make sure we're taking our personal belongings inside at night. The purses. The
laptop computers. Take some extra time and make sure you're securing your valuables before
you go. From a staffing point in the city, Corporal Eric Kittleson was promoted today to
Sergeant and is doing a general patrol position and he has been replaced with Deputy Phelps who
was offered the corporal position and took over as corporal in Chanhassen. So if you see him,
congratulate him and he will be here through 2008 as a corporal.
Mayor Furlong: We'll welcome him home as well so, any other questions? Questions for
Sergeant Anderley? No? Okay. Very good. Appreciate the update. Fire Department update
was included in our packet as well. Because of scheduling conflicts, no one is here from the fir
department. We did meet with the Chief this evening at our work session. Any questions for
Mr. Gerhardt that we can pass along to the fire department from their staff report this evening?
No? Okay. Then we'll just accept the report. Move on to the next item before us this evening.
T-MOBILE: REQUEST FOR CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT AND SITE PLAN
REVIEW AMENDMENTS TO ALLOW A 145 FOOT TELECOMMUNIATIONS
TOWER WITH A 4 FOOT LIGHTNING ROD AND A 6 FOOT PRIVACY FENCE;
LOCATED WEST OF GREAT PLAINS BOULEVARD, NORTH OF CREEKWOOD
DRIVE, SOUTH OF HALLA NURSERY, AND EAST OF BLUFF CREEK GOLF
COURSE (OUTLOT A, HALLA MARYANNE ADDITION). APPLICANT: T-MOBILE
USA.
Kate Aanenson: Thank you Mayor, members of the council. You saw this item back on April,
2007 and did approve a conditional use and site plan permit. Since that time it was determined
that approval was required from the State's Historic Preservation Office. Cell towers, because
they're regulated by the FCC, is required to get their approval. It is noted that there is a property
eligible for the historic preservation and therefore they did request, the State Historic
Preservation, working with Carver County, to move that location so I'll go through and explain a
little bit about that. Again, as you indicated, the site just south of the Halla Nursery. The
property here. The location that was previously approved was in this area. I'm not going to go
back through and explain how we ended up at this location because I think that you're on the
record stating that this…T-Mobile most suitable location. But this was approved and shows
the… This is the property that is eligible for the Historic Register. Because of that and the FCC
requirements for historic preservation, it was determined to be moved over to this side of the
property. They moved it up in here. If you can just back out for a second. So this is the building
envelope area that would be permitted, leaving all the setbacks because of the height of the
structure that's required. It's 145 feet with a 5 foot antenna. It does require a certain fall area, so
this area in the black is the area that would be permitted with the zoning regulations so they
moved it over to this corner here, and I'll go through that.
Mayor Furlong: Where did, excuse me? The yellow is where it was originally?
Kate Aanenson: Where it was, yeah. So I'll show you again this is the tower, approximate tower
location again and then some site perspectives from the, so we've got, so we'd be going back.
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City Council Meeting - November 26, 2007
There's 1, 2, 3, so Creekwood… This is the first perspective of the tower. This would be from
the site along the...and then this would be the one on the easterly side. Again the site itself will
be fenced. They will have equipment. It will be landscaped around the entire structure. Because
it's in the middle of that landscaped area, it shouldn't be visible, the structure itself. Again it's
th
145, 145 feet high. At the Planning Commission meeting on November 6 there was some
discussion regarding visibility, does blend in or not. Staff believes that the color meets that
intent. We actually went through a lot of discussion with the Planning Commission trying to
decide to use different colors but the majority in the 6 to 1 vote felt that that was the best color.
There was some other comments regarding obsolete technology which we discussed, and also
who benefits from that and again that's part of the whole regulations permitting process that
they're required to do. So with that and the Planning Commission's recommendation 6 to 1 to
approve staff is recommending approval for the relocation to meet the requirements of the
Historic Preservation Act with the conditions of approval in the staff report so I'd be happy to
answer any questions.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Any questions for staff?
Councilwoman Tjornhom: I have one question. I should have asked this myself Kate so I'm
sorry but when you just showed us the views from the tower, those views, I know, is that from
someone's back yard that we're seeing that? I should know…
Kate Aanenson: It's a little hard to see the red dots, but that'd be the view from the Mills
property…sampling of their property so that would be the views from those properties to the
tower.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: And they're residential properties?
Kate Aanenson: That's correct. Correct.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: And did you hear from those residents?
Kate Aanenson: Yes. Yeah, at the Planning Commission there was the concern, moving it.
While it protected the historic house, actually there's more homes on that side, the golf course
side and Creekwood, Mandan. Some of those residents felt that they had the more visual impact.
I'm not sure there's a good answer for us in that regard. But it meets the requirements for the
view from the historic home, that's what the requirement. They were concerned about that. That
they were now, have the impact.
Councilwoman Tjornhom: Yeah, because it is out there.
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Furlong: Any more questions? Couple things. Clarification. This is a conditional use
permit, correct?
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
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City Council Meeting - November 26, 2007
Mayor Furlong: Not an interim use permit.
Kate Aanenson: Correct.
Mayor Furlong: So this will go with the property. The question raised about obsolescence and
such like that is, I understand from reading the report that local municipalities have some, are
somewhat restrictive in terms of limiting these towers but from an obsolescence standpoint, is
there any opportunity to include as far as conditional use permit, something with regard to
abandonment and requiring it to be removed at that point?
Roger Knutson: I think you could do that. I don't see why not. Sure. It's the first time I've
heard anyone suggest it. Everything gets obsolete at some point I guess. They're still putting
them up. They're still using them.
Mayor Furlong: Right, but I think you know the question was raised in terms of technology
advancing and clearly we've dealt with that on other issues here and if perhaps you know we
address that at that time, if the use of the tower you know for some period of time or it's no
longer used for a period of.
Roger Knutson: I can suggest a year.
Mayor Furlong: 12 months, that it would need to be removed.
Roger Knutson: I think that'd be perfectly fine.
Kate Aanenson: And then I just wanted to also indicate that the way we set up our ordinances to
encourage co-location.
Mayor Furlong: Right.
Kate Aanenson: So if somebody else was to come on this, like we had a strong indication that
another user provider will be on that, it does not go back through the process because that's
encouragement to co-locate.
Mayor Furlong: Absolutely.
Kate Aanenson: So they would, another user could go on this site and they're working,
negotiating on that now.
Mayor Furlong: On the same tower.
Kate Aanenson: That's correct.
Mayor Furlong: Yep, and that I think, you know so we don't have 3 or 4 towers sitting next to
each other, I think that's a very good policy. But at the same time if there are no more users and
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City Council Meeting - November 26, 2007
you know, at some point in time in the future, since there is no other limit with that, I would
suggest that and offer that to the council for consideration at least. Any other questions?
Councilwoman Ernst: Just a comment. Then just basically you're saying what was in our
packet, it looks like the tower will probably become obsolescence within 5 years? Or after 5
years.
Kate Aanenson: I'm not sure.
Mayor Furlong: I think that was someone's.
Councilwoman Ernst: I thought it was saying that it'd be less than 5 years.
Mayor Furlong: That might have been a statement by someone at the Planning Commission. I
guess I would avoid any false hopes if someone has that. My only thought is, as a conditional
use, which if that's what's being asked for, that we would you know, if it's no longer being used,
then it would be removed, or required to be removed and then if there's another use in the future,
they'd go through the process.
Councilwoman Ernst: I was just surprised to see that. I didn't think 5 years, 5 years seemed like
an awful short time.
Mayor Furlong: But to Ms. Aanenson's point about co-location and, I think that's a good policy
and certainly support that. Absolutely. Any other questions? For staff at this point. Okay.
There was a public hearing at the Planning Commission, correct?
Kate Aanenson: That's correct.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, I didn't know, is there anybody here that wanted to provide public
comment that they didn't have an opportunity to provide at the Planning Commission? If not
then we'll bring it to council for thoughts and discussion.
Councilman Litsey: I like your suggestion of I think the 12 month if it's not in use, take it down.
Otherwise I think it's pretty straight forward.
Mayor Furlong: Okay. Any other thoughts or comments? Okay. There's a motion in the staff
report. What page is it on?
Kate Aanenson: I believe it's on page 17.
Mayor Furlong: 17 of the staff report that went to the Planning Commission?
Kate Aanenson: I believe the motion is actually on page 16. The condition use is where you
want to amend for the 1 year would be on page 17.
Mayor Furlong: Okay, let me find that. …would be 18.
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City Council Meeting - November 26, 2007
Kate Aanenson: Yeah, would be the beginning of the conditional use.
Mayor Furlong: I want to get there so I can have, do you have it there Bryan?
Kate Aanenson: It'd be condition, you'd add number 8.
Councilman Litsey: I'm on page, on 18.
Mayor Furlong: So there's a site plan review as well as the conditional use.
Kate Aanenson: The conditional use would be the non-use for one year would…
Mayor Furlong: Under the conditional use conditions? Is there specific language you want us to
include in there Mr. Knutson?
Roger Knutson: If the tower is not used for communication purposes for a continuous 12 month
period, it shall be removed.
Mayor Furlong: At the cost of the owner.
Roger Knutson: At the cost of the owner, of course.
Mayor Furlong: So that would be suggested language for condition number 8. Councilman
Litsey, would you like to make the motion there starting with going on page, bottom of page 16?
Councilman Litsey: Yeah. Site Plan Review, make a motion the City Council approve the
amendment to the site plan permit 07-04 for a 149 foot telecommunication tower and a 6 foot
cedar fence as shown on the plan received October 5, 2007 subject to the following conditions,
and there's conditions 1 through 10. Should we do these in two separate motions or?
Mayor Furlong: Let's do them together, unless there's objection.
Councilman Litsey: Okay. Then under conditional use permit, City Council recommend
approval of the amendment to the Conditional Use Permit 07-04 for a 149 foot
telecommunication tower as shown on the site plan received October 5, 2007, subject to the
following conditions 1 through 7 and also 8 as discussed tonight.
Mayor Furlong: As stated by Mr. Knutson.
Councilman Litsey: As stated by Mr. Knutson, thank you.
Mayor Furlong: Thank you. Is there a second to that?
Councilman Peterson: Second.
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City Council Meeting - November 26, 2007
Mayor Furlong: Made and seconded. Any discussion on the motion? No?
Councilman Litsey moved, Councilman Peterson seconded that the City Council approves
the Amendment to the Site Plan Review #07-04 for a 149-foot telecommunication tower and
a 6-foot cedar fence as shown on the site plan received October 5, 2007, subject to the
following conditions:
1.The applicant shall enter into a site plan agreement and submit financial security to guarantee
the improvements.
2.Clearing for the tower and equipment pad shall be no greater than 15 feet from the edge of
the pad.
3.A maximum of 25 feet is allowed for clearing the access road to the site. Trees shall be
preserved to the greatest extent possible.
4.The applicant shall install a minimum of eight Black Hills spruce around the equipment
platform. Trees shall be at least six feet in height.
5.Site grading and vegetation removal shall be minimized to the greatest extent practical. If
any excess material is anticipated to be generated as a result of access road construction, the
disposal location must be approved in writing by City staff prior to road construction.
6.A rock construction entrance complying with the City’s standard detail (#5301) shall be
included on the Erosion and Grading Plan and shall be constructed prior to the remainder of
the gravel road.
7.If applicable, the applicant shall apply for and obtain permits from the appropriate regulatory
agencies (e.g., Riley-Purgatory-Bluff Creek Watershed District, Minnesota Pollution Control
Agency) and comply with their conditions of approval. (Watershed district and MPCA permits
are necessary if the total disturbed area is in excess of 1.0 acres).
8.The current driveway grades near the pad are up to 20%; the area should be graded so that the
maximum grade does not exceed 5%.
9.The driveway off of Creekwood Drive may not be used to serve nor access the Halla Nursery
commercial operation.
10.Building Official Conditions:
a.A building permit is required to construct the platform and tower; the tower must be
designed for a wind load of 100 MPH 3-second gust wind load (ref. 2000 IBC, Sec.
1609) and include the effect of one-half inch of radial ice (ref. MSBC 1303.1800).
b.The plans (tower and platform) must be signed by a professional engineer licensed in the
State of Minnesota.”
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City Council Meeting - November 26, 2007
c.The contractor shall meet with the Inspections Division as early as possible to discuss
plan review and permit procedures.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
Councilman Litsey moved, Councilman Peterson seconded that the City Council approves
the Amendment to the Conditional Use Permit #07-04 for a 149-foot telecommunication
tower as shown on the site plan received October 5, 2007, subject to the following
conditions:
1. The applicant shall enter into a conditional use permit agreement and submit financial
security to guarantee the improvements.
2. The tower shall comply with the requirements in ARTICLE XXX. TOWERS AND
ANTENNAS of the Zoning Ordinance.
3. The tower shall not be illuminated by artificial means and shall not display strobe lights
unless such lighting is specifically required by the Federal Aviation Administration or other
federal or state authority for a particular tower.
4. No signage, advertising or identification of any kind intended to be visible from the ground
or other structures is permitted, except applicable warning and equipment information
signage required by the manufacturer or by Federal, State, or local authorities.
5. The applicant shall submit documentation at the time of building permit application showing
the height above grade for all potential mounting positions for co-located antennas and the
minimum separation distances between antennas. A description of the tower’s capacity,
including the number and type of antennas that can be accommodated should also be
provided.
6. The monopole color shall be the brand “Tnemac” and the color “Blue Elusion”.
7. All outdoor storage associated with the Halla Nursery and located within Outlot A, Halla
Maryanne Addition, shall be removed prior to issuance of a building permit for the tower and
the area shall be revegetated.”
8. If the tower is not used for communication purposes for a continuous 12 month period, it
shall be removed at the cost of the owner.
All voted in favor and the motion carried unanimously with a vote of 5 to 0.
COUNCIL PRESENTATIONS:
None.
ADMINISTRATIVE PRESENTATIONS:
Todd Gerhardt: Nothing to add. Been a quiet 2 weeks here so.
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