[1. Call to order and roll call of members]
[00:00:08]
UH, IT IS SIX O'CLOCK, SO WE'LL GO AHEAD AND MOVE FORWARD.
THE FIRST ITEM THAT WE HAVE IS THE, UH, UH, UH, ROLL CALL OF MEMBERS.
MATTHEW PROSS IS ABSENT AND RUTH MORRISON IS ABSENT.
BUT WE WILL, UH, WE DO HAVE A QUORUM.
SO WE'LL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AT, UH, SIX O'CLOCK.
[2. Approval of November 4, 2024 minutes]
FIRST ITEM THAT WE HAVE TO CONSIDER IS THE, UH, APPROVAL OF THE MINUTES OF NOVEMBER FOUR, AND YOU'VE ALL RECEIVED COPIES OF THOSE.AND IF YOU HAVE ANY CHANGES, ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS, UH, WE'LL ENTERTAIN THOSE AT THIS TIME IF WE HAVE ANY.
IF NOT, WE'LL JUST GO AHEAD AND ASSUME THAT THOSE ARE APPROVED AS SUBMITTED, WE HAVE, UH, CITIZEN COMMUNICATION IS NEXT ON ITEM THREE.
UH, DON'T BELIEVE WE HAVE ANYBODY IN THE AUDIENCE THAT WANTS TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION ON ANY OF THE, UH, POSTED ITEMS. SO WE'LL MOVE ON TO ITEM FOUR, AND I WILL, UH, CALL THIS THAT MARKER.
YOU, YOU'RE GONNA BE READY IN A MINUTE, RIGHT?
[4. Public Hearing and Action Items]
ITEM FOUR IS HOLD A PUBLIC HEARING AND MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS TO CITY COUNCIL ON A SPECIAL USE PERMIT APPLICATION SUP 24 0 0 0 3 SKYWAY TOWERS TO ALLOW A CELL TOWER COMMUNICATION TOWER TO BE CONSTRUCTED ON APPROXIMATELY 12.5 ACRES.ZONE CG GENERAL COMMERCIAL GENERALLY LOCATED ALONG THE WEST SIDE OF TUSCAN LAKES BOULEVARD AND ALONG THE NORTH SIDE OF FARM TO MARKET ROAD 6 46 FM 6 46 WITH THE CELL SITE LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1200 FEET NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF FARM TO MARKET, 6 46 AND TUSCAN LAKE BOULEVARD.
YOU'LL GIVE A PRESENTATION ON BEHALF OF THE CITY, AND THEN WE'LL HAVE, I THINK THE, UH, UH, APPLICANT WANTS TO TALK AFTER THAT.
AND THEN WE'LL OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING AND, AND GET, UH, COMMENTS FROM THE, FROM THE AUDIENCE.
I'M THE PLANNING MANAGER FOR THE CITY OF LEAGUE CITY PLANNING DEPARTMENT.
THE REQUEST BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS FOR A CELL TOWER THAT IS CLASSIFICATION OF A COMMUNICATIONS TOWERS AND STRUCTURES USE, WHICH DOES REQUIRE A SPECIAL USE PERMIT IN THE GENERAL COMMERCIAL ZONING DISTRICT.
THE TRACT BEFORE YOU TONIGHT IS A 12 POINT AND A HALF ACRE TRACT WITH THE SITE BEING LOCATED, APPROXIMATELY BEING LOCATED APPROXIMATELY 1200 FEET NORTH OF THE INTERSECTION OF FM 6 46 AND TUSCAN LAKES BOULEVARD, FM 6 46 IS THAT ROADWAY ALONG THE SOUTH TUSTON LAKES BOULEVARD BORDERS IT BY THE EAST, AND THE LARGE ROADWAY TO THE NORTH IS LEAGUE CITY PARKWAY.
UM, THE GENERAL GIST OF THE REASON WHY THE CELL TOWERS BEING PROPOSED IN THIS LOCATION IS CELL COVERAGE.
SO TYPICALLY WHAT WE DO RECEIVE FROM THE OP FROM OUR APPLICANTS AS WAS ALSO IN THIS CASE, IS THE CELL TOWER COVERAGE WITH RESPECT TO AN AREA.
SO IF YOU'LL, IF YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREENS, YOU HAVE KIND OF AREAS OF RED AND YELLOW, THE AREAS IN YELLOW WHERE THEY'RE HAVING NOT SO GOOD CELL COVERAGE.
THE RED AREAS ARE THOSE WHERE CELL COVERAGE IS CONSIDERED ACQUI AND CAN BE PROVIDED IN AN AREA.
SO AS YOU CAN KIND OF SEE BASED ON WHAT YOU SEE ON YOUR SCREEN BEFORE YOU, IS THE AREA KIND OF CIRCLED IN BLUE IS KIND OF THE TARGET AREA.
YOU KNOW, YOU, YOU KIND OF WANT TO TARGET THE CENTER OF KIND OF AN OUTAGE AREA.
UM, HOWEVER, WHEN YOU COMBINE THAT WITH AN AERIAL USE THAT SITS RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF TUSCAN LAKE'S SUBDIVISION.
SO THE APPLICANT IS REQUESTING THIS LOCATION RELATIVE.
UM, THE AREA IN BLACK IS KIND OF WHAT THEY CONSIDER AS THEIR SEARCH RING OR AN AREA THAT THEY CAN DO TO, TO TRY AND GET THE MAXIMUM OUT OF THE CELL TOWER BASED ON THE COVERAGE RELATIVE TO OTHER AREAS.
BASED ON THIS MAP, SHOULD THE SUP BE REQUESTED, UH, OR BE APPROVED, THE, UM, CELL COVERAGE MAP IS BASICALLY THE, THE EFFECT, THE BEFORE IS KIND OF THE CAUSE AND THIS IS THE EFFECT OF THE CELL TOWER, UH, ESTIMATED ONCE THE CELL TOWER IS COMPLETED AND, AND UP AND OPERATIONAL.
UM, AS I MENTIONED, THE SITE IS IN THE NORTHEASTERN CORNER.
IT'S APPROXIMATELY, UH, 175 FEET FROM THE TUSCAN LAKES SUBDIVISION AND A HUNDRED FEET FROM TUSCAN LAKES BOULEVARD.
THE CELL, THE CELL LEASE SITE ITSELF IS APPROXIMATELY 6,100, JUST A LITTLE OVER 6,100 SQUARE FEET.
IT IS A LEASE SPACE, SO IT IS BOUND BY A WALL AND SURROUNDED BY SHRUBS.
AS YOU CAN SEE ON THE LANDSCAPING HERE, THE SITE IS ENTIRELY SURROUNDED BY TEXAS
[00:05:01]
SAGE, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF WHERE THE ACCESS ROAD IS COMING IN FROMAGAIN, AS I MENTIONED, THE THE DIFFERENT, THE DISTANCE REQUIREMENTS, UH, AGAIN, THE APPLICANT'S INDICATING THAT THIS PARTICULAR SITE IS BASED ON ITS LOCATION, AGAIN, BASED ON THAT CELL COVERAGE SITE.
UM, SO THE SETBACK REQUIREMENTS BASED ON THE CELL TIRE ORDINANCE IS 400 FEET.
THEY ARE REQUESTING A VARIANCE TO THAT.
ADDITIONALLY, UM, THERE IS A DISTANCE REQUIREMENT FOR A, ACCORDING TO NON-RESIDENTIAL TO THE NEAREST LOT LINE.
IN THIS CASE, BECAUSE OF THE SIZE OF THE TOWER, IT WOULD NORMALLY BE 225 FEET.
HOWEVER, OUR CODE DOES ALLOW WHEN, WHEN YOU DISCUSS WITH MULTIPLE CO-LOCATIONS, BECAUSE OUR SOMEWHAT ANTIQUATED ORDINANCE, CELL TOWER ORDINANCE DOES ALLOW FOR CO-LOCATIONS, AND THAT'S WHERE IT KIND OF GIVES THAT INCENTIVE.
SO FOR THOSE INCENTIVES WHERE YOU CAN GO UP TO AT LEAST THREE USERS ON A TOWER, IT ALLOWS A 35% REDUCTION.
SO THAT BRINGS THE TYPICAL REQUIREMENT FROM 225 FEET BASED ON THE REDUCTION, IT GOES DOWN TO APPROXIMATELY A HUN JUST OVER 146 FEET.
THE APPLICANT IN THIS INSTANCE IS REQUESTING AN A VARIANCE TO THE, TO THAT AS BEING A HUNDRED FEET.
ADDITIONALLY, UH, OUR ORDINANCE DOES TALK ABOUT STEALTH STEALTHING, IT MAKING IT KIND OF HIDDEN AS MUCH.
UM, THE APPLICANT IS AGAIN REQUESTING ANOTHER VARIANCE TO THAT BECAUSE OF, UH, ISSUES OF MAINTENANCE AND CONCERNS WITH THE ACTUAL FUNCTIONALITY WITH THE TOWER.
IT, THEY'RE STILL, THEY'RE STILL USABLE, BUT THEIR EFFECTIVE AREA BECOMES, UH, REDUCED AND THE APPLICANT WILL BE ABLE TO TELL YOU MORE IN HIS PRESENTATION ABOUT THAT.
SO AT THE END, STAFF'S, UH, FINDINGS ARE AS FOLLOWS.
THE PROPOSED LOCATION IS, AGAIN, DUE TO THE TECHNICAL ANALYSIS OF THE CELLULAR COVERAGE MAP.
THE TOWER IS DESIGNED TO HAVE THREE CO THREE COLOCATORS.
SO AGAIN, THE NUMBER ONE WOULD BE VERIZON.
THEY HAVE INDICATED THERE IS AN INTERESTED USER, AND THEN THEY WOULD HAVE A THIRD SPOT OPEN, UH, FOR POSSIBLE NEXT USER.
UM, AND THEN THE NEXT ONE IS THE VARIANCES.
SO THE FIRST VARIANCE WOULD BE, AGAIN, TO THE RESIDENTIAL SETBACK.
THAT WOULD BE FROM A 400 FEET TO THE 175 FEET.
THE SECOND WOULD BE THE VARIANCE FROM THE NON-RESIDENTIAL SETBACK FROM JUST APPROXIMATELY 146 TO A HUNDRED FEET, AND THEN THE VARIANCE TO THE CAMOUFLAGE REQUIREMENT.
AS A RESULT, SHOULD THE REQUEST BE APPROVED, STAFF RECOMMENDS THE FOLLOWING CONDITIONS.
UH, THE SPECIAL USE PERMIT HAVE A TIME EXPIRATION.
AGAIN, TYPICALLY FOR SUVS, WE ALLOW A TIMEFRAME OF APPROXIMATELY TWO YEARS TO, FOR THE APPLICANT TO SUBMIT, UH, PERMIT APPLICATION, EVERYTHING TO BEGIN THE PROCESS, OTHERWISE, THE SUP EXPIRES.
THE NEXT ONE IS THE LIMITATION OF USES ON SITE.
AGAIN, WITH IT BEING GENERAL COMMERCIAL, IT'S ALLOWED ALL THOSE USES AS PERMITTED BY OUR CODES.
THE SUP IS ELIMINATING IT TO JUST THAT CELL TOWER USE.
NUMBER THREE, THE LAYOUT AND LOCATION WILL BE SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR TO WHAT'S BEING PROPOSED.
AGAIN, UM, JUST IDENTIFYING THAT THIS IS WHAT IS TO BE EXPECTED AS PART OF THE, UH, APPROVAL.
AND THEN FOUR, THE GRANTING OF THE THREE VARIANCES THAT I DISCUSSED.
I'M AVAILABLE FOR ANY QUESTIONS, AND AGAIN, THE APPLICANT WOULD LIKE TO SAY A FEW WORDS AS WELL.
WHY DON'T YOU GO AHEAD AND, AND GIVE YOUR PRESENTATION, YOUR THANK YOU.
IF YOU WILL TELL US, UH, WHO YOU ARE AND WHO YOU REPRESENT.
MY NAME IS VINCE INGER, UH, 1705 CARLOTTA LANE, AUSTIN, TEXAS.
GOOD TO SEE YOU GUYS HERE TONIGHT.
MARK COVERED MOST OF EVERYTHING.
UH, ONE THING YOU DO HAVE IS A GREAT STAFF.
WE'VE BEEN WORKING ON THIS FOR A FEW MONTHS, SO THEY, THEY'VE BEEN FANTASTIC.
UM, IT'S PRIMARILY FOR VERIZON.
UH, THIS SCREEN IS SHOWING HOW THE GROWTH IS OCCURRING IN, IN THE CITY, AND WE'RE, THEY'RE, THEY'RE BEHIND THE EIGHT BALLS.
THEY'RE JUST KIND OF CATCHING UP TO THE, TO THE DEVELOPMENT THAT'S BEEN HAPPENING HERE, FOCUSING ON MOSTLY TUSCAN LAKE.
LIKE MARK SAID, UM, THERE'S AN AERIAL SHOT OF WHAT WE'RE DEALING WITH.
THE TRACT IS 12 ACRES PLUS MORE.
SO IT'S GONNA BE A BIG COMMERCIAL PROPERTY RIGHT THERE BEHIND, UH, THE NEIGHBORHOOD AND RIGHT ON THAT MAJOR INTERSECTION AS WELL.
THE GAS PIPELINE WAS, WAS IN THE CORNER.
SO, YOU KNOW, FIRST AND FOREMOST, WE THOUGHT THIS IS THE BEST PLACE TO GET CLOSEST TO THE RING AS POSSIBLE, UM, BECAUSE THAT GAS PIPELINE CUTS, UH, THE OWNER'S PROPERTY OFF RIGHT THERE AT THE TRIANGLE.
SO WE'LL BE ABLE TO DO MUCH OF WITH THAT OTHER THAN WHAT WE'RE PROPOSING.
UM, LET'S PROBABLY SKIP THIS ONE, BUT WE DID LOOK AT A LOT OF CANDIDATES IN THIS RING.
UH, THERE WAS ONE STORAGE FACILITY THAT WANTED 20,000 A MONTH OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
UNBELIEVABLY, ECONOMICALLY NOT VIABLE
[00:10:01]
FOR A TOWER.THAT WAS KIND OF CATTYCORNER TO WHERE WE ARE.
SO THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY VIABLE CANDIDATE WE FOUND IN THE WHOLE SEARCH RING.
UM, UH, MARK TALKED ABOUT THIS.
I'M, I'M GONNA SKIP THIS SLIDE.
UH, WE'RE PUTTING IN A LOT OF LANDSCAPE SCREENING AND, AND A NICE WOOD FENCE.
HERE'S THE, HERE'S THE TARGET.
NOW, NOW, NOW WHEN THE TARGET SEARCH RING COMES IN FOR A BUNCH OF RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOODS, WE HAVE TO DO SOMETHING A LITTLE DIFFERENT.
WE HAVE TO KIND OF GO OFF THE SEARCH RING AND TRY TO GET AS CLOSE NORTH TO IT AS POSSIBLE.
THE RED CIRCLE IS REALLY WHERE WE'RE TRYING TO GET COVERAGE, AND YOU CAN SEE WHERE WE ARE AND WHAT THE OPTIONS WERE AS WELL.
UM, THIS IS A CLOSER LOOK TO THAT, UH, AND ALL THE DEVELOPMENT IN THAT AREA.
UM, AND WE'RE REALLY TRYING TO GET, UM, THE BEST COVERAGE AVAILABLE FOR THE NEIGHBORS IN, IN TUSCAN LAKES.
NOW, WE DID HAVE LATE SUMMER, WE HAD A NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING.
WE INVITED A BUNCH OF PEOPLE WE WERE ON, UH, LUCKILY WE HAD THE HOA ADMINISTRATOR SEND OUT A BUNCH OF INVITEES.
WE HAD ABOUT AN HOUR MEETING WITH ABOUT 16 PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP, AND THEY WERE ALL CONCERNED ABOUT THEIR COVERAGE.
SO, UM, I THINK IT'S DEFINITELY NECESSARY.
SOME OF THEM WERE VERIZON AND, AND THE PEOPLE THAT WERE WITH VERIZON HAD LITTLE REPEATERS THAT THEY BOUGHT FROM THE STORE TO TRY TO HELP GET THAT BETTER COVERAGE IN THEIR HOUSES.
THEY COULD MAKE A CALL FROM OUTSIDE, BUT NOT IN THEIR HOUSES.
LET ME EXPLAIN A LITTLE BIT FURTHER ABOUT WHAT, WHAT RED AND YELLOW IS.
SO WE HAVE IN VEHICLE COVERAGE EVERYWHERE.
THEY HAVE, MOST OF THE CARRIERS YOU'RE DRIVING DOWN THE STREET, YOU'RE GONNA GET, YOU'RE GONNA BE ABLE TO MAKE A PHONE CALL.
WHAT, WHAT THE RED AREA REPRESENTS REALLY IS IN BUILDING COVERAGE IN KITCHEN COVERAGE.
SO YOU SEE A GAP IN THERE OF IN KITCHEN COVERAGE THERE.
NOW, THE BEST THING WE CAN DO IS TRY TO GET AS CLOSE TO THAT BLUE CIRCLE AS POSSIBLE.
SO IF WE GO SOUTH, LIKE ON THOSE TRANSMISSION POLES THAT CENTERPOINT HAS, IT'S ALREADY COVERED WITH ANOTHER SITE THAT VERIZON'S ON.
SO THE BEST SOLUTION IS TO TRY TO GET UP THERE AND FILL IN THE GAP OF, OF THAT YELLOW AREA.
THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE WHEN IT'S TURNED ON.
SO THAT'S ON AIR, SO IT ALMOST GETS A HUNDRED PERCENT OF THAT AREA.
YOU CAN SEE A LITTLE BIT OF POCKET THAT'S NOT REALLY COVERED.
THERE WERE A LOT OF CHALLENGES TO THE SITE.
LIKE I SAID, THE GAS PIPELINE, A, A BIG LAKE IN THE MIDDLE.
UH, LOTS OF OTHER THINGS THAT WE HAD TO, TO, TO DEAL WITH, BUT AGAIN, THE BEST, BEST SOLUTION WAS TO GET AS FAR NORTH AS POSSIBLE UP AGAINST THAT GAS PIPELINE.
UH, THIS IS JUST KIND OF FOR ME TO SUMMARIZE WHAT WE'RE DOING COMPLIES WITH EVERYTHING, LIKE MARK SAID, EXCEPT HEIGHT, SETBACKS, AND STYLE.
UM, WE'RE BUILDING IT FOR THREE CARRIERS NOW.
SKYWAY ISS ALREADY SHOPPING IT FOR AT AND T AND T-MOBILE AND, AND THEY SAID THAT AT AND T MAY BE INTERESTED IN GOING ON FORMALLY.
THEY CAN'T REALLY GET AN APPLICATION TO THEM UNTIL WE GET THIS SITE APPROVED FROM ZONING.
SO THAT SHOULD BE TWO CARRIERS WITHIN, UH, A YEAR.
UM, LOCATED AS FAR OFF TUSCAN LAKES BOULEVARD AS POSSIBLE.
IN GENERAL COMMERCIAL CG 175 FEET FROM RESIDENTIAL AND PROVIDES IMMEDIATE IMPROVED COVERAGE.
UM, TALKED ABOUT THE STEALTH THAT PEOPLE BEEN GOING THROUGH AND, AND, AND THIS IS A PICTURE I HAVE FROM A UNI POLL THAT WE PUT UP.
THERE WAS A COUPLE YEARS AGO THAT, THAT THEY DID THE UNI POLLS WHERE THEY PUT THE ANTENNAS INSIDE CANISTERS.
IT LOOKED LIKE A BIG SMOKE STACK, BUT THOSE THINGS HAVE BEEN OVERHEATING SO MUCH.
THEY'RE BREAKING THE CANISTERS, SO THEY'RE NO LONGER DOING THAT.
UH, I SAY THIS A LOT, BUT THE, THE, THE PICTURE ON THE RIGHT SIDE, THE MONOPOLE IS PROBABLY THE LEAST VISIBLE STRUCTURE YOU CAN PUT UP.
YOU KNOW, WE DO THE PALM TREES, WE DO THE FAKE TREES AND STUFF LIKE THAT.
AND YOU SEE 'EM, YOU KNOW, THEY'RE OBVIOUS, BUT THE STANDARD MONOPOLE IS PROBABLY THE LEAST OBTRUSIVE.
UM, THE, UH, MA UH, MAXIMUM EXPOSURE LEVELS ON, ON THE FAR RIGHT IS THE FCC IS THAT BAR THAT GOES UP TO 500 SQUARE MILLIMETERS PER SQUARE, SOMETHING.
UM, YOU CAN SEE THE CELL TOWER ALMOST ALL THE WAY TO THE BOTTOM, THE PERSONAL COMPUTERS.
UM, YOU GET MORE STANDING IN FRONT OF YOUR MICROWAVE, HEATING UP YOUR COFFEE LIKE I DO EVERY DAY.
I, I BLAME APPLE FOR ALL THIS STUFF.
THE, THE APPLICATIONS WE'RE RUNNING TODAY ON YOUR PHONE ARE JUST PHENOMENAL.
UM, AND THEY'RE COMING OUT WITH MORE AND MORE AND MORE AND MORE.
WE KNOW THAT WE GET TEXTS, WE KNOW THAT WE HAVE A, A FAVORITE WEBSITE, THE WEATHER, EVERYTHING LIKE THAT, THAT'S A CAPACITY ISSUE.
[00:15:01]
THOUGH THIS IS A COVERAGE ISSUE, THIS HELPS THE CAPACITY ON SURROUNDING SITES BY OFFLOADING THAT RF ENERGY AND POWER TO A NEW SITE.SO, UH, FOR INSTANCE, IF YOU'RE DOWNLOADING AN, AN EMAIL AS AN ATTACHMENT, TAKING A WHILE TO DO ONE MINUTE, TWO MINUTES TO DOWNLOAD, THAT'S CAPACITY.
THAT'S BECAUSE THAT CELL SITE IS NOT GETTING ENOUGH.
IT'S GOT TOO MUCH, TOO MUCH TRAFFIC ON IT AS WELL.
SO I'M HERE TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS IF YOU HAVE, AND WE APPRECIATE THE CONSIDERATION TONIGHT.
OKAY, WELL, THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
WE'LL, UH, WE'LL GO AHEAD AND OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING, UH, IF WE MAY, AT, UH, SIX 15.
AND IS THERE ANYONE IN THE, UH, AUDIENCE THAT WOULD LIKE TO ADDRESS THE COMMISSION? OKAY, WE OPENED THE, UH, PUBLIC HEARING AT SIX 15.
THERE'S NO, UH, NOBODY SIGNED UP TO, TO SPEAK.
SO WE WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING AT SIX 15.
NOW, THE COMMISSION, IT CAN FEEL FREE TO, UH, ASK QUESTIONS OF THE APPLICANT OR OF, UH, MARK.
ANYBODY HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I WAS GONNA ASK, UH, WHAT, WHAT CONSTITUTES CAMOUFLAGE IN THE SENSE OF OUR ORDINANCE? YEAH, TYPICALLY AS, AS, UH, SIMILAR AS, UH, THE GENTLEMAN EXPLAINED, IS THAT TYPICALLY HIDING THE, LET ME BACK UP A FEW SLIDES WHERE THE MONOPOLE, WHERE IT'S THE, THE, UH, ANTENNA ARE STORED INTERNALLY.
A GOOD EXAMPLE WOULD BE THERE'S A MONOPOLE, UH, A STEALTH POLE, UH, OVER BY, UH, BEHIND THE OLD SOYS OVER BY THE, THE MEXICAN FOOD PLACE OVER OFF OF WESLEY DRIVE.
UM, THE, ALSO, THE OTHER, UH, OTHER ONE OVER BY, UH, BIG LEAGUE DREAMS IS A MONOPOLE, UM, TO BASICALLY BE AS HIDDEN AS POSSIBLE, YOU KNOW, UM, SOME, IN SOME INSTANCES IN THE PAST, I CAN SAY THAT, YOU KNOW, WE'VE HAD, UM, REQUIRED FLAGS IS WHERE IT BASICALLY BECOMES A FLAGPOLE.
THE TWO POLES THAT I MENTIONED WERE APPROVED WITH SUCH CONDITIONS.
AND THEN JUST A SIMPLE, YOU KNOW, JUST POLE COMING OUT OF THE GROUND TYPE SITUATION.
UM, THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES WHERE WE HAVE SEEN, YOU KNOW, AS SIMILAR TO WHAT HE SAID, TREES, YOU KNOW, THEY LOOK LIKE TREES, UM, OR SUPPOSEDLY LOOK LIKE TREES.
UM, SOMETIMES THEY'RE COLORED TO OFFSET, YOU KNOW, SO FROM A DISTANCE IT BLENDS IN WITH THE BACKGROUND.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? GO AHEAD.
UM, YES, UH, HOW TALL IS THIS TOWER? 150 FEET.
AND THEN IT'S GONNA HAVE A SIX FOOT LIGHTNING ROD ON TOP OF IT.
OKAY, WELL THAT ANSWERS MY QUESTION.
IT JUST SEEMED LIKE THAT IF THE, IF THE, UH, REQUIREMENT FROM UH, A RESIDENCE WAS 400 FEET, THEN IT WAS REALLY DRASTIC TO GIVE A VARIANCE TO 175.
BUT IF IT'S SAY 160 FEET TALL, IT CAN'T POSSIBLY FALL ON A HOUSE.
SO IT COULD BLOW ON A HOUSE, BUT, UM, IT'S PRETTY DRASTIC DEVIATION FROM THE ORDINANCE.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? NOW, LET ME UNDERSTAND THIS.
ARE WE IMPLYING THAT, THAT NOBODY IN THAT AREA IN TUSCAN LAKES HAS GOOD RECEPTION? OR IS THIS A VERIZON PROBLEM? ARE WE SOLVING A VERIZON PROBLEM? IS THAT WHAT THIS IS? I DON'T HAVE GOOD RECEPTION.
I SAID I DON'T HAVE GOOD RECEPTION AND I LIVE IN TUSCAN LAKES.
LIKE IF I'M WALKING OVER BY THE COMMUNITY CENTER WHERE THE POOL IS, IT'S NOT UNCOMMON TO HAVE NO SERVICE WHATSOEVER.
I DON'T, I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S A COMMON PROBLEM.
I DUNNO IF YOU'RE SOLVING IT FOR VERIZON, BUT I DO KNOW THAT THE PEOPLE THAT SHOWED UP IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD MEETING ALL ALMOST, UH, ALL SAID THEY HAD PROBLEMS. ONE OF 'EM WAS AT AND T, UM, AND WHEN WE DO THE SEARCH RING STUDY AND THEY LOOK FOR CANDIDATES, THEY LOOK FOR STRUCTURES LIKE ANOTHER OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT IN THE AREA TO CO-LOCATE ON, FIRST AND FOREMOST.
SO THAT WAS NOTHING IN THAT AREA.
SO I, I DON'T KNOW IF ANYBODY ELSE IS COMING.
OF COURSE THEY COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER, BUT I DON'T SEE ANOTHER, UH, WAY TO GET INTO THAT AREA OF TUSCAN LAKES FOR AT AND T AND T-MOBILE, UNLESS THEY COME DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
SO WE'RE STICKING A, WE'RE DOING A POLL, BUT WHAT ABOUT NEWER TECHNOLOGY OF SATELLITES AND STUFF? IS IT LIKE, HOW LONG DO THESE POLES PLAN ON? LIKE IS THERE A TRANSITION THAT WE'RE GOING INTO AS FAR AS SATELLITES VERSUS USING, UH, CELL TOWERS? THAT'S A GOOD QUESTION.
[00:20:01]
MORE AND MORE.UM, ELON MUSK, UH, EARTHLINK, THINGS LIKE THAT.
WHAT THEY DO IS THEY SUPPORT THE POWER FOR YOU TO GET TO THE SATELLITE.
YOUR PHONE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO GET TO THE SATELLITE BY ITSELF, SO YOU'LL STILL HAVE TO HAVE A MACRO SITE, A TOWER SITE, WHICH IS NOT A SMALL CELL TO MAKE THAT WORK.
AND WHAT'S THE LIFE OF THESE THINGS NORMALLY? BECAUSE LIKE THE ONE THAT YOU SHOWED WHERE YOU ENCASED IT, IT GOT HOT, IT BLUE, UM, IS THERE LIKE A LIFE EXPECTANCIES THAT THESE, THAT THESE CELL TOWERS GO BEFORE AND STUFF? UM, I, I'VE BEEN DOING THIS FOR 25 YEARS.
I THOUGHT I WAS DONE THE FIRST FIVE.
THEY KEEP, UH, KEEP COMING IN BECAUSE AGAIN, APPLE KEEP BUILDING THESE MONSTER SU SUPER, THE, THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF THE TOWER IS 30, 40, 50 YEARS.
WHAT THEY DO IS THEY COME BACK EVERY TWO YEARS AND SWAP OUT ANTENNA, UH, UPDATE TECHNOLOGY.
UM, AND THEN WHATEVER THEY CAN COME UP WITH THE FOLLOWING YEAR.
SO THEY'RE UPDATING IT AS TECHNOLOGY GETS BETTER.
SO IT'S ABOUT CLIMB UP THERE, PUT NEWER, YOU KNOW, RECEIVERS ON IT AND STUFF, AND TRANSMITTERS.
THEY'LL, THEY'LL COME INTO THE BUILDING OFFICIAL HERE AND SAY, WE NEED TO SWAP THESE OUT, DO A PERMIT TO DO THAT.
BUT YEAH, THOSE ARE ALWAYS CONSTANTLY UPDATED AND, AND, UM, YEAH, WE DO, WE DO.
EVERY COUPLE OF YEARS WE DO A BUNCH OF ANTENNA MODS.
NATHAN, I'M SURE YOU'RE HAPPY THE TOWEL WILL GO UP BEING OVER THERE.
I MEAN IT, YOU KNOW, IF IT UH, IF IT MEANS THAT I GOT BETTER CELL COVERAGE YEAH.
SO WHAT WOULD'VE, I'M, IF YOU FOLLOWED ALL THE RULES AND, AND DID IT THE WAY THAT WE ASK YOU TO DO IT, IS THAT, IS THAT THE END OF THE WORLD OR END OF THE PROJECT? WELL, WE COULDN'T, UM, SEE, BECAUSE IF WE MOVE IT FURTHER IN, WE GET AWAY FROM THAT, THAT TARGET AREA.
AND WHAT I WAS TALKING TO YOUR STAFF ABOUT FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS IS THAT 400 FEET IS TYPICALLY, IT'S ABOUT HEIGHT OF THE TOWER, LIKE THAT NICE LADY SAID, HEIGHT OF THE TOWER.
IT'S NOT GONNA FALL ON ANYBODY.
BUT THEN THE CODE HAS 400 FEET OR GREATER, THE GREATEST NUMBER.
SO IF YOU THINK ABOUT 400 FEET IN A SITE SURROUNDED BY NOTHING, IT'S GONNA BE IN THE MIDDLE OF YOUR COMMERCIAL CENTER.
SO IT JUST, THAT, THAT PART OF THE CODE NEEDS TO BE UPDATED.
I GET FALLS ZONE LETTERS, WHICH I PROVIDED FOR CHRIS AND, AND VINCE THAT SAY USUALLY 40 TO 60 FEET OF THE, THE AREA, THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER, THAT'S WHERE THEY FALL.
THEY HAVE BUILT IN WEAK POINTS, SAY FOR INSTANCE, DURING A HURRICANE LIKE WE HAD LAST YEAR, THAT IT WILL CRUMBLE ON ITSELF.
IT JUST BREAKS, BREAKS, BREAKS, NOT LIKE A TREE FALLS.
UM, ALSO GOOD THING TO, TO BRING UP, I'M GLAD WE'RE ON THAT TOPIC.
VERIZON WILL PUT A A, A DIESEL GENERATOR THERE IN CASE POWER LOSS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THE, UM, SOMEWHERE IN, IN ALL OF THIS THAT WE, THAT WE WERE GIVEN SAID THAT THEY IMPLODE NOW RATHER THAN JUST FALL THE YES, SIR.
THE, UH, THE TOWER ACTUALLY IMPLODES AND, AND IT COVERS, UH, IT FALLS ON A LOT SMALLER AREA.
IS THAT CORRECT? SMALLER, YES, SIR.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS THAT I, I WOULD HAVE TO ASK STAFF.
WHY, WHY DO WE HAVE THESE RULES IF WE'RE JUST GONNA BREAK, BREAK 'EM ALL THE TIME,
AT THE TIME IT WAS CREATED, IT WAS A VERY NON, NON-FRIENDLY TOWARDS CELL TOWERS.
UM, BUT THAT WAS, FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, THE LAST UPDATE TO THAT WAS THE EARLY NINETIES.
SO CELL CELL PHONES HADN'T REALLY COME OUT.
TECHNOLOGY HADN'T REALLY BLOSSOMED AS IT HAS TODAY.
UM, BUT IT, THAT IS SOMETHING THAT IS IN KIND OF OUR TO-DO LIST AS FAR OF ORDINANCE UPDATES.
WELL, I, I WOULD HAVE TO, I WOULD HAVE TO SUGGEST THAT IF WE, IF WE END UP DOING THIS, THAT SOMEBODY NEEDS TO GO BACK AND REVISIT THE REQUIREMENTS ON THIS.
'CAUSE I MEAN, WE'RE JUST SPINNING OUR WHEELS IF WE'RE JUST MAKING THE EXCEPTION AFTER EXCEPTION AND THERE'S FOUR OF 'EM ON THIS PARTICULAR APPLICATION.
AND I'M NOT BEING CRITICAL OF YOU.
IT'S JUST A MATTER OF THAT'S JUST WHAT WE'RE HAVING TO DEAL WITH.
AND THAT I DON'T KNOW THAT THAT'S NECESSARILY RIGHT.
I, I WAS, MY FIRST INCLINATION WAS TO NOT SUPPORT THIS JUST BECAUSE OF ALL THE, THE, UM, UH, EXCEPTIONS TO THE GUIDELINES.
[00:25:01]
AND, UM, I'M NOT, I'M STILL NOT REAL EXCITED ABOUT IT, BUT, UH, YOU KNOW, IF, IF YOU'RE TELLING ME THAT, THAT EVERYTHING IS, IS SMALL ENOUGH THAT IT, THAT IT'S NOT THAT BIG A DEAL AND YOU'RE, YOU GUYS ARE GONNA GO BACK AND AND REVISIT THE, UH, THE REQUIREMENTS, THEN I, I PROBABLY CAN SUPPORT IT.BUT YEAH, BUT INITIALLY I WAS, I I WAS NOT.
JUST TO ADD TO THAT REAL QUICK, YOU KNOW, THE ORDINANCE IS WHAT, APPROXIMATELY 34 TO 35 YEARS OLD, SO IT'S, IT'S DUE FOR AN UPDATE SOMETIME, SOMETIME IN THE, IN THE FUTURE.
DO WE HAVE ANYTHING IN THE ORDINANCE FOR, UH, DECOMMISSIONING OF OLDER TOWERS? NO, SIR.
SO THE, THIS IS HOW MANY? 25 YEARS AGO? 35.
I THINK THE LAST TIME I GOT, I DIDN'T EVEN HAVE A PHONE.
SO AGAIN, YOU GOTTA THINK WHAT WAS THE POWER OF A CELL PHONE, YOU KNOW, HOW BIG THEY WERE VERSUS HOW MUCH TECHNOLOGY YOU HAVE JUST IN THE PALM OF YOUR HAND TODAY.
AND EVEN WITH THE GROWTH OF TECHNOLOGY AND WITH THE, COMPARED WITH THE GROWTH OF THE CITY, THE NATION AND THE WORLD IN, IN GENERAL, UM, TO APPLY TO, YOU KNOW, WHAT IS THE INDUSTRY STANDARDS TODAY.
WELL, AND, AND, AND I, I CAN SUPPORT IT.
I, AT, BASED ON WHAT, WHAT YOU GUYS HAVE SAID, BUT I, I, UH, SOMETHING, SOMETHING ABOUT JUST DOING THIS FOR THE SAKE OF VERIZON TO BE ABLE TO COVER ANOTHER SECTION OF, OF, UH, OF A SUBDIVISION.
THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE, BUT I'LL, I'LL SUPPORT IT.
WELL, AND JUST A REMINDER, YOU KNOW, THIS CELL TOWER IN PARTICULAR IS NOT FOR A, YOU KNOW, NOT PARTICULARLY FOR A SINGLE USER.
DO WE HAVE ANY 9 1 1 PARTICIPATION IN THIS? THE LOCAL 9 1 1? YES, SIR.
UM, SO THE FCC REQUIRES, UH, ALL CELL TOWERS.
SO IF, EVEN IF YOU'RE NOT A VERIZON CUSTOMER, IF YOU'RE A T-MOBILE CUSTOMER AND YOU DIAL 9 1 1, IT WILL HIT THAT, THAT CELL, THAT THAT SITE RIGHT THERE, IT GOES TO THE FIRST QUICKEST, UH, CELL SITE.
SO I MEAN, IF AT T COMES ON, YOU GET FIRSTNET TOO.
AND T-MOBILE JUST INTRODUCED THEIR FIRST RESPONDER NETWORK JUST A FEW MONTHS AGO.
BUT AS FAR AS THE CODE GOES, UM, IN 96, YOU KNOW, YOU WEREN'T VIDEO STREAMING OR, OR DOING ANYTHING, BUT DOING, DOING PHONE CALLS AND TEXTS AND, AND NOW LOOK WHAT YOU'RE DOING NOW.
SO I'VE HELPED QUITE A FEW MUNICIPALITIES UP UPGRADE THEIR, THEIR TELECOMS ORDINANCES TO ADAPT TO THE NEW WAY OF LIFE.
SO THE, THE LOCAL 9 1 1 NET NETWORK HAS ACCESS TO ALL OF THIS.
WELL, ON YOUR MOBILE PHONE, RIGHT? THERE IS A BIG NUMBER THAT'S 70 SOMETHING PERCENT OF OF PEOPLE NOW DO NOT HAVE LANDLINES.
SO CURRENTLY WHENEVER THERE'S A POWER OUTAGE IN THE, IN THE AREA, WE LOSE LIKE ALL CELL PHONE, I THINK BECAUSE THE EXISTING TOWERS GET OVERWHELMED AND YOU CAN SOMETIMES CONNECT, SOMETIMES YOU CAN'T EVEN MAKING A PHONE CALL IN THE TUSCAN LAKES NEIGHBORHOOD WHEN THE POWER'S OUT IS, YOU KNOW, BARELY POSSIBLE.
SO I DON'T KNOW IF THIS WOULD HELP WITH THAT OR NOT.
I'M ASSUMING WITH IT BEING ANOTHER ACCESS POINT AND HAVING A DIESEL GENERATOR, IT WOULD YEAH, NO, IT HELPS, IT, IT HELPS TREMENDOUSLY.
UM, THEY, THEY ALL HAVE BATTERY BACKUPS THAT LAST ABOUT FOUR OR FIVE HOURS, THEN THEY SWITCH OVER TO THE, THE AUTOMATIC TRANSFER SWITCH WE WILL KICK THE GENERATOR ON.
PROBLEM WITH, UH, THE STORM WE HAD LAST YEAR, THIS LAST YEAR WAS IT, OR THIS YEAR WAS THIS YEAR.
THIS YEAR, RIGHT? THIS YEAR, YEAH.
WE GOT REPORTS OF 60 SOME ODD SITES DOWN IN THIS IMMEDIATE AREA BECAUSE OF POWER NOT, AND THEY DID HAVE SOME FIBER LOSS.
THEY DID HAVE OVERHEAD FIBER, WHICH NEEDS TO BE UNDERGROUND, WHICH REALLY NEEDS TO BE DONE, BUT MOST OF THEM THAT, UH, DIDN'T HAVE GENERATOR BACKUPS.
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? YEAH, I JUST, GO AHEAD.
UM, YOU KNOW, WE LISTENED TO THE BESS PRESENTATIONS AND WE DIDN'T HAVE AN ORDINANCE TO GOVERN THAT.
AND SO WE STEPPED BACK AND THE CITY DRAFTED AN ORDINANCE, WHICH, UH, GAVE US GUIDELINES.
AND SO MY THOUGHT ON THIS IS THAT IF THIS ORDINANCE IS 35 YEARS OLD, UH, AND TECHNOLOGY HAS CHANGED SO MUCH, AND CELL PHONES
[00:30:01]
USE SO MUCH MORE, UM, BANDWIDTH, I GUESS YOU'D SAY NOW, UH, THAT, THAT WE OUGHT TO REWRITE THIS ORDINANCE.I MEAN, I JUST CAN'T SEE GIVING A VARIANCE WHEN IT SAYS 400 FEET FROM THE CLOSEST RESIDENCE TO 175, EVEN THOUGH YOU SAY THAT THINGS HAVE CHANGED AND THE TOWER, YOU KNOW, KIND OF IMPLODES.
UH, BUT, UH, WHY DON'T Y'ALL REWRITE THIS ORDINANCE AND, UH, THEN WE WOULDN'T HAVE TO, TO GIVE THESE VARIANCES.
ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY COMMENTS OR QUESTIONS? I, I AGREE.
I, YOU KNOW, PASSING SOMETHING WITH THIS MANY, MANY, UH, UH, EXCEPTIONS IS, IS, UH, IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THAT PICTURE, BUT I, I GUESS WE CAN SUPPORT IT.
SINCE THE, CHRIS, DID YOU HAVE ANYTHING TO TALK ABOUT IT ON THAT? SURE, I'LL JUST ADD REAL QUICK, YOU KNOW, PART OF THE, THE REASON WHY THERE'S BEEN BIGGER SETBACKS IS TO TRY TO HELP ENCOURAGE CO-LOCATION AS WELL.
SO WHEN YOU DON'T HAVE TO PUT UP A NEW POLE, YOU DON'T, WE LOOKED AT THAT PRETTY EXTENSIVELY FOR THIS AREA TO SEE IF THERE WAS PLACES FOR THEM TO CO-LOCATE.
A LOT OF TIMES YOU SEE IT ON THE CENTER POINT TRANSMISSION LINES, THERE'S ALREADY A BIG LINE THERE.
WHY NOT STICK IT ON THAT? UM, SO WE, WE CERTAINLY LOOK AT THAT AND UM, WE DISCUSSED THAT, YOU KNOW, FOR A COUPLE, COUPLE ROUNDS, COUPLE MONTHS WITH HIM LOOKING FOR DIFFERENT SITES FOR CO-LOCATION, AND THERE JUST WASN'T ANYTHING FEASIBLE IN THIS GENERAL AREA.
AND SO THAT'S WHY, AND, AND IT'S DIFFICULT TO MEET THE SETBACKS WHEN YOU, WHEN YOU'RE LOOKING ON THE EAST SIDE OF TOWN, EVERYTHING'S BUILT OUT.
SO IN ORDER TO GET INTO THESE AREAS WITH GAPS, WHEN EVERYTHING'S MOSTLY DEVELOPED AROUND IT, THAT'S WHY THE VARIANCE ANSWERS ARE NEEDED IN THIS CASE.
YEAH, THE, THE, THE ONLY OTHER QUESTION ALONG THOSE LINES, A LOT OF THIS IS IT, IT'S RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF A, A BIG UNDEVELOPED PARCEL OF LAND.
SO WHAT DOES THIS DO? HOW DOES THIS AFFECT WHAT'S HAPPENS GOING FORWARD? ARE THEY GONNA BE RESTRICTED AS TO HOW FAR, HOW CLOSE THEY CAN BUILD SOMETHING TO THIS? SO THERE IS AN EASEMENT AREA THAT THIS APPLICANT WILL HAVE THAT WILL BE JUST FOR THIS SITE.
AND SO THERE WILL BE A RESTRICTION, THEY'RE NOT GONNA BE ABLE TO BUILD ANYTHING WITHIN THAT EASEMENT AREA.
AND IF YOU LOOKED AT IT, AND SO THERE WAS THE POSSIBILITY TO MEET THE SETBACKS ON THIS SITE, YOU WOULD'VE HAD TO MOVE IT FAR, PRETTY FAR TO THE SOUTHWEST AND STICK IT RIGHT SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SITE, WHICH WILL BE A FUTURE COMMERCIAL SITE.
AND SO IT JUST WASN'T VIABLE FOR THE PROPERTY OWNER TO PUT IT THERE EITHER, BECAUSE THEN YOU'RE KIND OF, YOU'RE PUTTING A SMACK DAB IN THE MIDDLE OF THE SITE, SO THEN YOU CAN'T DEVELOP THE SITE LIKE A NORMAL COMMERCIAL SITE.
AND SO THAT'S WHY THIS LOCATION WAS CHOSEN KIND OF ON THE NORTHEAST CORNER ADJACENT TO AN EXISTING PIPELINE EASEMENT WHERE YOU'RE NOT GONNA HAVE THE, UM, STANDARD COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT UP THERE.
YEAH, I MEAN, IT IS NOT LIKE THEY'RE BUYING THE PROPERTY EITHER.
IT'S A LAND LEASE, IS THAT CORRECT? YES, SIR.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THAT LEASE EXPIRES? UM, THAT, I GUESS THAT'S BETWEEN THEM AND THE LANDOWNER.
I WOULD IMAGINE THEY HAVE TO, THERE YOU GO.
SO ANYWAY, UH, OKAY, IF, UH, NO FURTHER QUESTIONS, WE'LL ENTERTAIN A MOTION ONE WAY OR THE OTHER.
GOT A MOTION TO APPROVE, TO APPROVE WITH THE EXCEPTIONS NOTED.
IS THERE A SECOND? I'LL SECOND IT.
ANY FURTHER DISCUSSION OR QUESTIONS? WE WILL CALL A QUESTION.
ALL IN FAVOR? RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND PLEASE.
FOUR FOUR AND AGAINST SAME SIGN.
SO WE HAVE FOUR, FOUR AND TWO AGAINST WE IT PASSES, IS THAT CORRECT? WITH WHAT WE HAVE TONIGHT.
YOU CAN DO IT AGAIN NEXT MONTH WITH COUNSEL.
[5. Staff Comments ]
GO AHEAD.STAFF COMMENTS? STAFF DOES ONLY HAVE ONE, UM, IN LIGHT OF THE UPCOMING HOLIDAYS AND, UH, LET ME BE FOR THE FIRST FROM STAFF TO SAY HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAYS.
UM, OUR NEXT MEETING IS I BELIEVE DECEMBER 2ND.
SO WE WILL BE SENDING OUT NOTICES A LITTLE BIT EARLY TO BE A LITTLE BIT PROACTIVE ABOUT QUORUM.
SO THAT SHOULD BE IN YOUR EMAIL INBOX IN THE NEXT DAY OR TWO.
UH, ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANYTHING? NOPE.
[00:35:01]
GAVEL NOW,SO AT 6 34 WE STAND ADJOURNED.