6.6. SR 12-18-2006
City of Elk River
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
Agenda Section Meeting Date
Communi Develo ment December 18, 2006
Item Description
Conditional Use Permit to allow Enviro Building equipment for
Version Wireless at Great River Ener case # 06-29.
Item Number
6.6.
Prepared by
Sheila Cartne , Senior Planner
Reviewed by
Jeremy Barnhart, Planning Manager
Location
The Enviro Building will be located on top of the existing Steam Plant Extension Building at Great River
Energy 17845 East Highway 10.
Introduction
Verizon Wireless is proposing to put an Enviro Building equipment shelter on the existing Steam Plant
Extension building to house and relocate their equipment. The current location is difficult and unsafe to
servlce.
Attachments
. Request for Action
. Location Map
Action Requested
Staff is recommending approval with the conditions as outlined.
City Council Action
Motion by _
Second by _
Vote
Follow Up
Case File: CU 06-29
Page 2
location: 17845 E Highway 10
Zoning:
I1, Light Industrial
land Use: Light Industrial
N -R3, C1
E-BP
S-I1
W - Highway 10
Site Area: 26 acres
Adjacent
Zoning:
Adjacent
land Use:
N - Public/ semi public
E - Highway Business
S - Highway Business
W - Highway 10
Floor Area: Building = 209 sqft enviro building
Conforms: Land Use Plan - Yes
Zoning Code - Yes
Subdivision Code - Yes
60 Day Rule:Action must be taken on this request by December 30, 2006
Overview
According to the applicant "Verizon Wireless currendy leases space within and on top of the Great
River Energy Scrubber Building at17845 East Highway 10 in Elk River, Minnesota, for their
equipment and antennas. The current access to the site is by climbing an extended series of steps
(166+/-) with many intermediate landings. Access to the HVAC units on the roof for regular
cleaning of filters is through a trap door from inside the equipment room, and is difficult at any time
of the year. Changing out equipment is very time consuming and difficult."
Applicable Regulations
Conditional Use Permit
The issuance of a Conditional Use Permit can be ordered only if the use at the proposed location:
1. Will not endanger, it!Jure or detrimentallY qffect the use and e,!jqyment of other properry in the immediate
viciniry or the public health, sqfery, morals, comfort, convenience or general we!fare of the neighborhood or the
ciry.
2. Will be consistent with the comprehensive plan.
3. Will not impede the normal and orderlY development and improvement of surrounding vacant properry.
4. Will be seroed adequatelY l?J and will not adverselY qffect essential public facilities and smices including
streets, police and fire protection, drainage, rifuse disposal, water and sewer !)'stems, parks and schools; and
S:\PLANNING\Case Files\2006\CUP\CU 06-29 Verizon\CC 12-18-06.doc
Case File: CU 06-29
Page 3
will not, in particular, create trqfJic congestion or inteiference with trqfJic on a4facent and neighboring public
thoroughfares.
5. Will not involve uses, activities, processes, materials, equipment and conditions if operation that will be
detrimental to atry persons or propertY because if excessive trqfJic, noise, smoke, fumes, glare, odors, dust or
vibrations.
6. Will not result in the destruction, loss or damage if a natura~ scenic or historic feature if mqjor importance.
7. Will fullY complY with all other requirements if this Code, including atry applicable requirements and
standards for the issuance if a license or permit to establish and operate the proposed use in the ciry.
If denial of such a permit should occur, it shall accompany recommendations or determinations by
findings or a report stating how the proposed use does not comply with the standards set forth in
Section 30-654.
Analysis
Verizon Wireless has antennae and equipment located on top the Great River Energy scrubber
building. The antenna equipment and HV AC equipment is difficult to access in the current
location. The proposed relocation will have fewer stairs and will be safer and easier to access. The
Enviro building will match the existing building in color and will be on the south side of the
scrubber building. A cable tray will house the coax cable and runs to the existing scrubber building
antennas. The Enviro building will have limited visibility to Highway 10, as the building location is
at a higher elevation than Highway 10.
Planning Commission
The Planning Commission held a public hearing on this item at their regular December 12th meeting.
No one from the public spoke on this item. The Commission had no discussion on the item and
recommended approval with the conditions in the staff report.
Recommendation
Staff recommends approval of the CUP Amendment for relocation of wireless equipment on top of
the Great River Energy scrubber building located at 17845 East Highway 10, as shown on plans
dated received October 30, 2006. If approved the following conditions shall apply:
1. The building shall meet all applicable building codes.
2. The building shall meet all applicable fire codes.
3. No additional advertising signage is allowed to be placed on the building
Resp-ect~y S~bmitted
::::>he.&h. G~
Sheila Cartney
Senior Planner
S:\pLANNING\Case Files\2006\CUP\CU 06-29 Verizon\CC 12-18-06.doc
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Case Number: CU 06-29
VERIZON
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FILE COpy
BUELL CONSULTING, INC.
905 Jefferson Avenue, Suite 301
Saint Paul, Minnesota 55102-4740
(651) 225-0792
Fax (651) 225-0795
Site Acquisition
Permitting
Site Management
October 26,2006
DATE RECEIVED
/O-3{)-cG
Mr. Jeremy Barnhart-Planning Manager
City of Elk River
13065 Orono Parkway
Elk River, MN 55330
RE: Verizon Wireless/GRE Conditional Use Application
Dear Mr. Barnhart:
CURRENT EQUIPMENT ROOM
Verizon Wireless (VZW) currently leases space within and on top of the Great River
Energy Scrubber Building at17845 East Highway 10 in Elk River, Minnesota, for their
equipment and antennas. The current access to the site is by climbing an extended series
of steps (166+/-) with many intermediate landings. Access to the HV AC units on the
roof for regular cleaning of filters is through a trap door from inside the equipment room,
and is difficult at any time of the year. Changing out equipment is very time consuming
and difficult.
PROPOSAL
SCOPE. VZW proposes to place a 19'-0" XII '-9" X 9'-4" (LWH) pre-manufactured
Enviro Building equipment shelter on the existing Steam Plant Extension Building. This
is a light-weight industrial building specifically designed for exterior applications in
situations that require a light but strong building. The Steam Plant Extension Building
will be modified to accept the building after architectural and engineering structural
review and design and installation of supporting steel members. A crane will lift the
building from the delivery vehicle, to the roof. A stairway, with approximately 30 steps,
and a single landing, will be used to access the interior and exterior landing around the
building for access to the HV AC units. A cable tray will house the coax cable runs to the
existing Scrubber Building antennas.
HOURS OF OPERATION. The equipment in the shelter will operate 24 hours a day.
Site technicians may visit the site at any hour of any day.
NUMBERS OF EMPLOYEES. There will be no full-time employee(s) on the site.
Typically, the site is visited approximately once every 30 days for routine maintenance
by one or two site technicians. This may include servicing the HV AC units on the
exterior of the building, as well as servicing equipment in the building. While the time
spent on site is highly variable for a specific visit, typically the site technicians are at the
site for less than four hours per visit. Change-out of equipment may occasionally require
extended time at the site.
PARKING. GRE will provide a single stall for use of the site technicians while
servicing equipment. This space is within the parking area currently used by GRE
employees at the Steam Plant Building site. The underlying lease agreement with GRE
provides for ingress and egress to the site. Parking requirements will not change from
those currently in use.
SCREENING. There will be no screening of the site. The building will be situated
within the Steam Plant Complex and will be similar in appearance to the existing
buildings. There are pine trees planted to the Southwest of the site, and these will
provide screening to persons traveling from the South on Highway 10. There will be a
relatively narrow line of sight from the Highway 10 roadway, whether going North or
South, in which a traveler will be able to clearly see the proposed equipment shelter,
since Highway 10 is considerably lower in elevation than the equipment shelter. The
shelter will be in a location where no new skyline views will be created.
BUILDING MATERIALS. The building is an engineered building, designed
specifically tor telecom use. Final plans will be signed by an architect and structural
engineer licensed in Minnesota. The exterior will be a galvanized embossed stucco
finish, which will weather to a flat gray to match the surrounding structures. Full
Specifications are included with this application.
SIGNAGE. There are three signs affixed to the entry door on the equipment shelter.
Two of the signs are the required HazMat signs, and the third is a sign with the site name
and emergency contact number.
OUTDOOR STORAGE. There will be no outdoor storage.
SITE IMPACTS. Site impacts are minimal. Part of the parking lot area will be utilized
for stairway support. No trees will be cut. No changes to the existing Steam Plant
Building Extension will be required beyond the structural supports for the equipment
shelter and stairway. A small area (3' X 3')ofthe parking lot will be cut to place a
footing for the stairway, and will be patched as required.
UTILITIES. A microwave link will provide telco service to the site, in the same
manner in which it currently is provided. Power will be obtained on-site. No water or
sewer service is required.
EA W/EIS. Not required for this site.
Please call me at 906-281-2161 with any questions.
Thank~OU'
(] ~. v-,1?/~
Christopher ale q
Buell Consulting, Inc.
Agent for Verizon Wireless
Page 1 of 1
Cartney, Sheila
From: Chris Gale [cbgale@up.net]
Sent: Friday, December 01, 2006 1:41 PM
To: Cartney, Sheila
Cc: 'Steinbeck, Tim GRE/ER'
Subject: STCC Elk River_Verizon Wireless CUP_Site Sketch & Photo Sim
Attachments: Sim_tinal-2nd .jpg; STCC _ELK RIVER_ SS(VA L 12-01-06. pdt
Sheila: Attached please find the revised site sketch and revised photo simulation
showing the proposed Verizon Wireless equipment shelter placed on the Steam Plant
Extension building. The HV AC units are now on the North side of the equipment
shelter. In addition, two supporting columns have been added to the stairway and
walkway. Visually, the effect of these changes will be to make the addition less visible
from Highway 10. This change is required to meet structural engineering requirements.
I will be at the Conditional Use Hearing scheduled for December 12, 2006, to answer any
questions. Please emaillcall with any questions in the interim.
Thanks, Chris.
Christopher Gale
Buell Consulting, Inc.
54410 Old County Road
Calumet, MI49913
Ph. 906-281-2161
FAX 906-337-5276
email: cbgale@up.net
12/1/2006
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