02-26-2018 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Council Exhibit A Verizon Why was this location chosen? After an analysis, System Performance determined that this area of Orono has vastly inferior coverage/capacity for the number of customers and amount of wireless "traffic" in the area. The existing cell sites that cover this residential area are at capacity and can no longer adequately cover it due to the high demand of network resources in the area. Currently, Verizon has two existing cell sites along Highway 12 (see the engineer's information/maps) that provide some level of coverage to this residential area. Both of those sites, well over a mile away (east and west near Hwy 12), are handling all of the traffic in those areas and particularly the traffic along Highway 12 which drains most of the network's capability/capacity. Hence, we're seeking an antenna location near equidistant between the two existing cell sites to properly cover this residential area so that it has its own cell site and doesn't have to rely on existing cell sites that are too far away (and over -capacitated) to adequately cover it. This is evidenced by the info/map submitted by Verizon's RF engineer that shows the proposed cell site's distance between the two existing sites and the primarily green signal color that depicts poor coverage in this area of Orono. Our first choice is always to co -locate on an existing tower or building rooftop. However, there are no existing, viable towers near this location nor any buildings tall enough on which we could locate antennas in order to adequately serve this area. We need to build a new structure in order to locate antennas and provide enhanced coverage/capacity. The location of the golf course works well for Verizon's network as it's situated between the two existing cell sites and because of its relatively high ground elevation. It's the only viable option in the area. Per the city code, new poles are allowed up to 75' under the following circumstances: -Co-located on an existing city emergency warning siren tower -Co-located on a replacement city emergency warning siren tower, with a height not to exceed 75 feet -Co-located on a new city emergency warning siren tower, at a location that meets the city's emergency warning needs, with a height not to exceed 75 feet. Our proposal is to construct a stealth pole with the antennas internal to the pole, an emergency siren placed on the pole, as well as an american flag (however, any flag the city wishes to locate on the pole is fine w/ Verizon). To further conceal the pole, we are proposing to paint the pole brown and locate it w/in other trees/vegetation behind the club house. Furthermore, this pole will be designed to accommodate another wireless carrier in the future; thus, eliminating the need for another pole for that carrier. It's only a matter of time until another carrier seeks a location for antennas in this same area.