Memorandum To: Planning & Zoning Commission From: Wes Morrison, City Planner Date: January 30, 2014 Re: SUP #13-07 (AT&T Mobility) This item was tabled at the December 16 th and January 6 th meetings of the Planning & Zoning Commission because the proposed site plan indicated that the landscaping surrounding the site was to be located on the adjacent property without the permission of that property owner. Since that time, the applicant has revised the site plan to show that the entire cell tower site, including the landscaping, will be located on the same parcel.
Planning & Zoning Commission Planning & Development Department February 3, 2014 SUP 13-07 (AT&T Mobility) Request Applicant Owner A Special Use Permit to erect a Communication Tower and Structure on approximately 2.07 acres of property currently zoned CN (Neighborhood Commercial). However, an application to rezone this parcel to CM (Mixed-Use Commercial) is also on tonight s agenda. The applicant is proposing to construct a 120 standard monopole communication tower with exterior mounted antennas. Dave Petrakovitz, MDL Consulting, Inc. Paul and Jacqueline Baliey City Council Public Hearing & First Reading January 14, 2013; Second Reading January 28, 2013 Location Citizen Response Attachments Generally located on the southeast corner of I-45 and Wesley Drive with the address of 352 North Gulf Freeway 15: Notices mailed to property owners within 500 feet 0: Letters of support received 0: Letter of opposition received 1. Zoning map/ property owner notification map 2. Aerial map 3. Photographs of the site 4. Proposed site plans The Commission should consider the following criteria in its deliberation, which shall be utilized to substantiate its findings. To determine the extent to which the proposed use would be compatible with surrounding properties, the surrounding land uses and the performance impacts of the additional antennae should be considered. Special Use Permits may allow certain uses of land, buildings or structures where adequate measures can be taken to assure compatibility with surrounding uses, public need and the City as a whole. Site and Surrounding Area The proposed location of the cell tower will be in the southeastern part of the site within a heavily landscaped area behind Sudie s Catfish & Seafood House restaurant near the service entrance. The character of the surrounding area is auto-dominant commercial. Surrounding land uses include commercial businesses, vacant land, and the I-45 corridor. Direction Surrounding Zoning Surrounding Land Use North CM-PUD Vacant Land, Riverbend PUD South CM / CG Retail/ Commercial Shopping Center Restaurant (La Brisa Mexican Grill) and Residential East CM / RMF-1.2 Multi-Family (Riverbend Apartments) West CO & I-45 Vacant land on the other side of I-45 Access Cell Tower Ordinance Compliance Access will be provided to the site via the driveway for Sudie s Catfish & Seafood House restaurant. The driveway has access from both North Gulf Freeway and North Wesley Drive. Section 31-14 of the Communication Towers and Structures ordinance establishes design standard requirements for communication towers. Below is an analysis of the proposed tower with regards to the design standards as required by the ordinance. SUP13-07 (AT& T Mobility) Page 1 of 3 February 3, 2014 P&Z Meeting
Planning & Zoning Commission Sec. 31-14 (b) (2): Nonresidential Setbacks. Towers must be set back a minimum distance of 100 feet or a distance equal to 150% of the height of the tower, whichever is greater from any off-site residential lot line. The required setback for a 120-foot communication tower is 180 feet from the property line. The base of the proposed tower is located approximately 3 feet from the eastern property line and approximately 60 feet from the southern property line. The communication antenna at the top of the monopole will overhang onto the adjacent property by approximately 2 feet. The applicant is requesting an exception to the setback requirement. Sec. 31-14 (b) (4): Facilities on existing structures/ buildings. Any accessory building shall comply with the standard city codes requirements for setbacks. The applicant has proposed locating three separate equipment cabinets immediately adjacent to the rear property line, as well as a generator located three feet from the rear property line. Staff finds that the proposed equipment cabinets and generator are not structures, and are therefore exempt from the building setback requirement. Sec. 31-14(c) (1): Height Criteria. The maximum tower height, including antennae and accessories, shall not exceed 200 feet, unless a major special use permit has been granted by City Council. The proposed height of the tower is 120 feet. Sec. 31-14(d): Parking Design. Parking shall be so designed as to provide a cast-in place asphalt or concrete riding surface. Crushed limestone or other all-weather surfaces can be used in areas that are not visible from a public right-of-way. The proposed materials grading, and drainage for off-street parking facilities shall be sealed by registered professional engineer and shall be subject to approval by the city engineer. The applicant has not proposed adding any additional parking to the site. Parking will be provided by the existing restaurant parking. Sec. 31-14(e): Lighting. Lighting shall meet but not exceed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) minimum, if lighting is required by the FAA. Strobe lights shall not be used for night-time lighting, unless required by the FAA. The lights shall be oriented so as not to project directly onto surrounding residential property, consistent with FAA requirements. Prior to issuance of a special use permit, the applicant shall be required to submit documentation from the FAA that the lighting is the minimum lighting required by the FAA. The tower will have red visibility lights as required by the FAA. The applicant has submitted documentation from the FAA indicating that lighting has been approved by the FAA. Sec. 31-14(f): Security Fencing & Landscaping. The facilities shall be protected by fencing along their entire perimeter to prevent unauthorized access. The base of the tower, any guy wires, and any associated structures, walls or fences shall be surrounded by a landscape buffer hiding the ground elements of the facility from view. The site developer has the option of providing the landscape buffer around the tower base and associated items individually, or providing a buffer around the perimeter of the entire site. The proposed tower will be screened with a 6-foot chain link fence with an additional three strands of barbed wire atop the fence. The applicant has proposed buffering the fence with trees spaced approximately 8 feet apart. Sec. 31-14(g): Signage. No signs or commercial messages shall be attached to or displayed on any tower. The proposed tower does not have any signage or commercial messages displayed. Sec. 31-14(h): Camouflage. The service provider shall make every attempt to conceal the transmitting facilities to the maximum extent possible. The paint scheme shall contribute to the camouflage of the facility. SUP13-07 (AT&T Mobility) Page 2 of 3 February 3, 2014 P&Z Meeting
Planning & Zoning Commission The proposed tower is a standard monopole design with external mounted antennas. The applicant maintains that the proposed monopole with visible antenna is necessary to provide adequate signal coverage. The applicant is therefore requesting an exception to the camouflage requirement. Potential SUP Conditions 1. All fencing shall consist of black PVC, and shall be screened with a continuous hedge of evergreen shrubs on all sides, which should develop into full screening six (6) feet tall within twenty-four (24) months. The City Arborist has recommended Southern Wax Myrtle for the continuous hedge. 2. The minimum setback to the rear property line shall be 3 feet, and the minimum setback from the southern property line shall be 60 feet. All other setbacks shall meet the requirements of the ordinance. For additional information, please contact Wallis McMillin, Planner at (281) 554-1079 or at wallis.mcmillin@leaguecity.com. SUP13-07 (AT&T Mobility) Page 3 of 3 February 3, 2014 P&Z Meeting
HOBBS ROAD 500 Foot Notification Buffer WESLEY DRIVE LAFAYETTE LANE RAMPART STREET CLAIBORNE DR I-45 LAFAYETTE LANE VE League City Zoning Residential Single Family 20 Residential Single Family 10 Residential Single Family 7 Residential Single Family 5 R OYAL DR ROYAL DR Residential Single Family 2 Residential Multi-Family 2 Residential Multi-Family 1.2 Neighborhood Commercial General Commercial Office Commercial Mixed Use Commercial Limited Industrial General Industrial Public and Semi-Public Open Space F.M. 518 SUP 13-07 (AT&T Mobility) December 9, 2013 City of League City - Department of Planning & Development For Planning Purposes Only 1:4,000 I-45
Planning & Zoning Commission Planning & Development Department February 3, 2014 SUP13-07 (AT&T Mobility) Aerial Map SUP13-07 AT&T Mobility February 3, 2014 P&Z Meeting
SUP13-07 (AT&T Mobility) Planning and Zoning Commission PHOTOGRAPH 1 PHOTOGRAPH 2 Looking east from the driveway behind Sudie s toward the proposed location of the cell tower. Looking south from the driveway behind Sudie s toward the proposed location of the cell tower. Note the existing commercial shopping center in the background. PHOTOGRAPH 3 PHOTOGRAPH 4 Looking east toward the adjacent commercial business (La Brisa Mexican Grill). The proposed location of the cell tower is on the left. Looking south from the interior of the landscaped area where the proposed cell tower will be located. SUP13-07 (AT&T Mobility) February 3, 2014 P&Z Commission
PHOTOGRAPH 5 PHOTOGRAPH 6 Looking east along the southern property line from the adjacent property. The location of the proposed cell tower is on the left. Looking north toward the location of the proposed cell tower from the adjacent property. PHOTOGRAPH 7 PHOTOGRAPH 8 Looking east toward the proposed location of the cell tower from Sudie s driveway. Looking east along the Sudie s driveway toward the proposed location of the cell tower from Gulf Freeway. SUP13-07 (AT&T Mobility) February 3, 2014 P&Z Commission
2201 N. Collins St., Suite 125 Arlington, TX 76011 Office: 817.446.1700 Fax: 817.496.0895 TX Firm Reg. # F-13992 OVERALL SITE PLAN 12/17/2013 C01
2201 N. Collins St., Suite 125 Arlington, TX 76011 Office: 817.446.1700 Fax: 817.496.0895 TX Firm Reg. # F-13992 DETAIL SITE PLAN 12/17/2013 C02
2201 N. Collins St., Suite 125 Arlington, TX 76011 Office: 817.446.1700 Fax: 817.496.0895 TX Firm Reg. # F-13992 9/25/2013 ELEVATION / ANTENNA ORIENTATION C03