02-18-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

TO: FROM: DATE: Planning Commission Ron Moorse, City Administrator February' 12, 1997 SUBJECT: Ordinance Amendment Related to Telecommunications Towers and Antennas Background on Personal Communications Services and the Need to Consider Zoning Changes The Federal Communications Commission has awarded two licenses for wireless digital personal communications sendees (PCS) for the north-central region of the U.S., including Minnesota. PCS digital communications services are expected to enhance and compete with current cellular analog phone services. PCS will enable individuals and businesses to use secure accurate over-the-air paging, voice, FAX, video and data transmission with the advantage of a single phone number available at any location to which the transmission is sent. Receiving and transmitting the PCS signals will require an extensive infrastructure with many more sit- 'i required for PCS antennas, towers, and smaller repeaters to provide the flexibility and universality of service necessary for PCS to be fully operational in the metro area. Many more sites will be required for PCS equipment than the type and number of towers required for cellular communications. Because of this, cities need to be prepared to consider local land use and zoning regulations to prepare them to respond to requests for PCS tower and antenna sites. Preventing Proliferation of Towers and Antennas Although in the more densely populated areas PCS antennas may be required eveiy 1/4 mile, in less densely populated areas, the distance between PCS antennas can be 2 to 4 miles. This enables the city of Orono to substantially limit the proliferation of PCS antennas while enabling PCS service to be provided throughout the city. It may be possible for PCS serv'ice to be provided throughout the city w ithout any additional antennas located within Orono. If this is not possible, it may be possible for the city to prohibit any new towers if the city were to make one or both cf its water towers available for PCS antennas. If this plan is followed it is not necessary for tow ers or antennas to be located in the city's industrial or business zones. Current City Zoninti Regulations The current regulations allow' telecommunications towers or antenna structures in three zoning districts-the industrial zone and the Bland B 3 zones. The city ’s industrial zone is located on the south side of Highway 12 between Old Crystal Road and the Long Lake border. The city's B1 and B 3 zoned property is located in the Navarre area. Under the city's current ordinance it would be possible for new telecommunications towers to be constructed in both the Highway 12 area and the Navarre area. Because additional PCS tow'ers are not needed in either the Highway 12 area or the Navarre area, the city's regulations concerning the industrial, B1 and B3 zones arc proposed to be amended to prohibit telecommunications towers and antenna structures. This will prevent the proliferation of towers and antenna structures in those two areas. 4