05-19-1997 Planning Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • REQUEST FOR COUNXTL ACTION "'ir ■■ DATE; Nl^ber 7, *{'§§6 ITEM NO; /O •v‘-> Department Approval; Name Ron Moorse Title City Administrator Item Description; Administrator Reviewed; ............................................. Agenda Section; Administrator’s Report if Telecommunications Tower and Antenna Regulation In response to requirements placed on cities by the Federal Telecommunications Act regarding telecommunications towers and antennas, the city placed a moratorium on the construction and installation of new telecommunications towers and antennas in the city. The moratorium, which expires on December 24, 1996, is to provide the city with an opportunity to determine how best to respond to proposals regarding telecommunication towers and antemias within the requirements set out by the Telecommunications Act; and to make any changes needed to the city’s current ordinances relating to telecommunications towers and antennas. The key requirement of the telecommunications act is that cities may not prohibit or have the effect of prohibiting the provision of personal wireless services. From a practical standpoint, what this means is that cities can not prohibit towers and antennas from being constructed within their city boundaries if this prohibition would make it impossible for telecommunications vendors to provide wireless service to customers within the cities. The provision of wireless services depends on the installation of a network of antennaa'to create a continuous coverage area. These antennas need to be located as close together as one-quarter mile if they are located on lower towers (80 feet in height) and in densely populated areas. They can be separated by as much as 4 miles »f located on higher towers (120 feet in height) and in low density areas. Although Orono has a krge land area, it would be possible for wireless service providers to complete a network of antennas serving the majority of the Orono area without the necessity of locating antennas in the city of Orono. If antennas were placed in surrounding cities that are more densely populated and have substantial commercial u. s, Orono could be almost completely covered by the network. The only area that appears to be outside of the coverage area would be the west central part of the city. rnrrp.nt Citv Regulations The current city regulations allow telecommunications towers or antenna structures in two zomng districts-the industrial zone and B-1 zone. The city’s industrial zone is located on the south side of Highway 12 betw'een Old Crystal Bay Road and the Long Lake border. The industrial zone ordinance requires that a telecommunications tower/antenna can only be allowed if it is accessory to a principle use. It also limits the height to a maximum of 65 feet. The B-1 zoning district allows an antenna structure as a conditional use. The city’s B-1 zoned property is located in the Navarre area.