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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes Board Of Adjustment - 09/25/2002 • ( 21222 c)N BOARD OF ADJUSTMENT MINUTES � `l-V September 25,2002 G.��0¢•�5 ` Board Members Present: Peter Mahaffey, Chairman �0 -04 Thomas McDonald, Vice-Chairman S8L 99vc• Louis Alvarado Robert Broadway Charles Schibi Staff Present: Miguel S. Saldafia, AICP, City Planner Erma Ramirez, Recording Secretary CALL TO ORDER Chairman Mahaffey opened the public hearing at 1:35 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall and explained the procedure to be followed. Landlord Resources Appeal No. ZBA0902-01 Request: A special use exception to allow a 130-foot monopole telecommunication tower on Carolyn Heights Unit 1, Block 2, Lot 24, located on the west side of Weber Road, approximately 450 feet south of Holly Road. Mr. Miguel Saldafia, City Planner, stated that the appellant, Landlord Resources, is requesting a special use exception to allow a 130-foot monopole telecommunication tower. This will allow the availability of multiple companies to be able to locate on this tower. Mr. Saldafia described the surrounding land use by means of a computerized slide presentation. He also presented a site plan provided by the appellant showing the proposed location for the cell tower. He passed drawings to the Board Members depicting the location of existing monopoles within a mile and a half radius. The nearest cell tower is across Weber Road, along Holly Road, which is an 80-foot monopole, and the other being on South Padre Island Drive, that one being 130 feet. Mr. Saldafia added that the appellants had the approval for the height from the Federal Aviation Administration. Eleven (11) notices were mailed to property owners within a 200-foot radius, of which none were returned in favor or in opposition. Board Member Alvarado inquired about the safety of adjacent buildings should the tower collapse. Mr. Saldafia responded that according to the appellants, the tower was designed to withhold 130 mph sustained winds. He added that when the Telecommunications Ordinance was created, one of the issues addressed was the windload design. Most of the providers stated that if a tower collapsed, it would collapse down in sections; they would not fall over. SCANNED • •Board of Adjustment Minutes • • September 25,2002 Page 2 Chairman Mahaffey opened the public hearing. Mr. Jim Camp, representative for Moorhouse Construction, stated that the proposed tenant is U. S. Cellular and right now they are at maximum capacity of their towers. He presented maps showing their existing towers and stated that they expect to have a considerable amount of dropped calls in the different sectors by September 2002. They have tried to get another 80-foot tower, but it did not work. They need 120-foot coverage to provide sufficient service to the different areas and to meet the 911 requirements by the Federal Communications Commission. They also looked at increasing the height of the existing Sprint tower across the street, but that would cost more than constructing a new one, and Sprint could not let go of that tower while under construction. He stated that the proposed tower has been designed to withstand 130 mph winds, and also provides additional tenant locations in the tower from the time it is erected. The tower would allow additional carriers and actually reduce the number of towers needed in the area. Chairman Mahaffey asked how much area is covered with an 80-foot tower, and how much more area increased with a 130-foot tower. Mr. Camp responded that it depends on what spectrum you are broadcasting on. It also has to do with the type of antennas that are used more than the actual height. The spectrum that U. S. Cellular uses is on a longer band so they need the height. No one appeared in opposition, therefore, the public hearing was closed. Chairman Mahaffey then asked for Staff's recommendation. Mr. Saldana stated that since the appellant has shown that it is needed, and also provides co- locations for other carriers, Staff has no objection for the special use exception. Typically what is seen are 120 foot towers,but an additional 10 feet is not a real difference. After a brief discussion, motion by Board Member Broadway, seconded by Alvarado, that the request be approved as per site plan. Motion passed unanimously. NOTE: For detailed information on testimony, refer to the tape retained on file in the Planning Department. APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes for the August 28,2002 meeting were approved as amended. The correction was to add the word "have" on the third page, 4th paragraph, 1st sentence which in part reads: "... Keetch & Associates, stated that without the approval of the request they would have to move their insurance office to another location." •Board of Adjustment Minutes *10 September 25,2002 Page 3 ADJOURNMENT The meeting adjourned at 1:55 p.m. * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The September 25, 2002 Board of Adjustment Minutes were approved as written on October 23, 2002. ATTEST: Peter B. Mahaffey, Chairman H:\PLN-DIR\ERMA\WORD\ZBA\MINUTES\092502ZBAMINUTES.DOC