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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPlanning Commission Minutes 09-18-2002Approved Minutes City of Plymouth Planning Commission Meeting September 18, 2002 MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Karl Neset, Commissioners David Gaither, Jason Rohloff, Frank Weir, James Holmes, and Kendall Griffith (arrived at 7:05) MEMBERS ABSENT: Commissioner Peggy Larson STAFF PRESENT: Community Development Director Anne Hurlburt, Planning Manager Barbara Senness, Senior Planner Shawn Drill and Office Support Representative Janice Bergstrom 1. CALL TO ORDER - 7:00 P.M. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. PUBLIC FORUM 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA MOTION by Chairman Neset, seconded by Commissioner Holmes, to approve the September 18, 2002 Planning Commission Agenda. Vote. 4 Ayes. MOTION approved. 5. APPROVAL OF MINUTES MOTION by Chairman Neset, seconded by Commissioner Weir, to approve the September 4, 2002 Planning Commission Minutes. Vote. 3 Ayes. MOTION approved. Commissioners Gaither and Rohloff abstained. The August 21, 2002 Planning Commission Minutes will be voted upon at the October 2, 2002 meeting. 6. CONSENT AGENDA 7. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. QWEST WIRELESS LLC (2002103) Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 18, 2002 Page 2 Senior Planner Drill gave an overview of the September 11, 2002 staff report. Commissioner Rohloff asked how much time Qwest would need to determine if the existing antenna near Forestview and Ridgemount Avenue could be removed. Planner Drill deferred the question to the Qwest representative. Chairman Neset opened the public hearing. Chairman Neset introduced Larry Coleman, representing Qwest Wireless. Mr. Coleman stated Qwest has received the right-of-way permit contingent upon approval of the conditional use permit. Mr. Coleman said he feels this site is the most unobtrusive of the options for this search area. He stated Qwest's monopole towers, which compared to their competitor's, are sleeker with a cylinder the same diameter as the pole that helps to blend into the environment. Mr. Coleman said the monopole will not obscure the view from the neighboring uses. Mr. Coleman presented two research reports for the record which address health safety issues regarding cellular antennas. The reports demonstrate that health effects are limited to areas very close to the antennas (within five feet), and because the proposed antenna would be mounted 70 feet above the ground, health issues are not a concern. Mr. Coleman also noted that the ground equipment poses no health safety issues. Responding to Commissioner Rohloff's question, Mr. Coleman said the decision to decommission the antenna site at Wayzata East Middle School could be made early next summer when there is full foliage on the trees. Commissioner Holmes asked about the possibility of Qwest subletting the monopole to another wireless service. Mr. Coleman responded there could be a joint use agreement with preset rates, as the monopole is specifically designed to accommodate another user provided in accordance with the City's requirement. Commissioner Rohloff asked if other communities have experienced any types of problems with these structures. Mr. Coleman responded that there has never been a collapse and noted most concerns have regarded aesthetics. Chairman Neset introduced Dennis Whitehead, 3850 Zinnia Lane North. Mr. Whitehead inquired about possible interference in reception for radio, TV, etc., from the proposed antenna. Chairman Neset introduced Gary Blessman, Business Representative for Fourth Baptist Church, 900 Forestview Lane North. Mr. Blessman said that Fourth Baptist Church was approached by both AT&T and Qwest in recent months to lease space for a tower. The church's legal and Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 18, 2002 Page 3 pastoral staff discussed the requests and declined the offers. Mr. Blessman said there is no fencing in this area and there are 320 children on the property 9 months of the year. Mr. Blessman said there is a softball field, with a metal backstop, and questioned if a lightning strike could be drawn to the tower. Mr. Blessman relayed a concern from their pastor that this monopole will detract from their site. Chairman Neset closed the public hearing. In response to the question about interference, Mr. Coleman stated that the FCC (Federal Communications Commission) has very strict guidelines which require them to operate within their assigned band width. Any violation would put them in danger of losing their license for their entire system. Mr. Coleman stated this antenna would not interfere with T.V., radio, or reception from other cell phone companies if everyone operates within their band width. Mr. Coleman said the ground equipment would be similar in size and design as metal traffic signal boxes. The equipment would be locked, vandal proof, and surrounded by existing bushes for screening. Mr. Coleman added that the metal monopole is not climbable. Mr. Coleman said the monopole will be equipped with a lightning rod on the top, and would be fully grounded. It meets the electrical engineering standards and poses no danger from a lightning strike from the tower. Mr. Coleman said aesthetically they feel this is the best design and location in this area. MOTION by Commissioner Rohloff, seconded by Commissioner Gaither, to approve the request by Qwest Wireless for a conditional use permit to allow a monopole antenna tower and related ground equipment in the Forestview Lane right-of-way located south of Highway 55. Vote. 5 Ayes. MOTION approved on a 5-1 vote (Commissioner Holmes voting nay). 8. NEW BUSINESS A. CITY OF PLYMOUTH — COUNTY ROAD 73 CORRIDOR STUDY (2001155) Planning Manager Senness gave an overview of the September 12, 2002 staff report detailing the background and the public process thus far for the County Road 73 Corridor Study. She emphasized that this is a land use study, not a roadway project. Planning Manager Senness stated the next step in the process is to set a public hearing to officially move the study into the formal review process. Planning Manager Senness introduced Barry Warner, SRF Consulting Group. Mr. Warner reported that the increased traffic projections through the year 2020 for County Road 73 would warrant improvements under the county state aid guidelines. Mr. Warner stated that although money is designated in the county's capital improvement plan for the year 2006, the county is continually shifting priorities because of traffic volume and staff does not know precisely when improvements will occur. Mr. Warner reviewed potential roadway improvements as outlined in the report. Approved Planning Commission Minutes September 18, 2002 Page 4 Mr. Warner introduced Phil Carlson of Dahlgren, Shardlow and Uban, Inc. Mr. Carlson reviewed the potential land use guiding classifications for this section of the corridor and displayed what redevelopment could look like. Mr. Carlson also reviewed three options for the existing park and ride, which included maintaining the facility as it is or building a new upgraded park and ride on the site east of the Plymouth Shopping Center. The third option would be to integrate a transit hub, with capacity for large park and ride use, passenger pick up and drop off and bus transfer activity into a mixed use development project. Commissioner Holmes asked what the posted speeds would be for the roads. City Engineer Quanbeck responded that MnDot analyzes speed, site distances, and geometrics of roadways to determine posted speed. City Engineer Quanbeck added that the speed limit would not automatically be affected by changes in the roadway. Chairman Neset complimented staff on the process thus far in addressing questions and concerns from the public. MOTION by Commissioner Gaither, seconded by Commissioner Weir to set October 16, 2002 for the public hearing for the County Road 73 Corridor Study. Vote. 6 Ayes. MOTION approved. 9. ADJOURNMENT MOTION by Commissioner Weir, seconded by Commissioner Griffith, to adjourn the meeting. Vote. 6 Ayes. The meeting adjourned at 8:05 p.m.