Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Memorandum
TO: Mayor and Councilors DATE: 11/15/2005
THRU: Isaiah Hugley, City Manager
FROM: Rick Jones, AICP, Planning Director SUBJECT: History of the Wireless
Communications Facility Application at 1720 Warm Springs Road
Listed below is a history of the communications facility application at 1720
Warm Springs Road, as requested by Councilor Rodgers.
2002
* PowerTel/Atlanta, Incorporated submitts an application on June 1, 2002 to
construct a 140' monopole.
* On October 10, 2002 a public hearing for a special exception is held before
the Council, with the Planning Divsion recommending denial based on
noncompliance with the 300 foot residential setback.
* No decision is reached by the Council due to an inconclusive vote of 4 to 3.
* No further action is taken, as the applicant begins to look for other sites
in the immediate surround area.
2005
* February 15, 2005, Council enacts a moratorium on new wireless communication
facilities to run from March 1 to April 15, to allow for a correct to the
distance requirement for wireless facilities (200 feet to 300 feet) from
residential structures.
* On April 5, 2005, Council adopts the proposed corrections for the Unified
Development Ordinance, including the change for distrance requirement from
residential structures, from 200 feet to 300 feet.
* PowerTel resubmits the application on May 11, 2005 to construct a 140 foot
Monopole.
* On June 29, 2005, the applicant withdraws application for monopole structure
and resubmits an application for 140 foot Concealed Support Structure as a
flagpole, which requires administrative review by staff.
* Planning Division does not make a recommendation on this request until the
applicant can provide the necessary site review plans needed for this project.
* Applicant provides the required information in September, 2005, but the
proposed flagpole height was determined to be out of scale with the surrounding
area. Staff recommends that the height be reduced.
* Applicant submits a request for 130 feet in height. Staff agrees with this
request, but recommends that the Council in October, approve this action, due
to their earlier involvement with this application.
* On November 1, 2005, the proposed action is heard at the Pre-Council session,
to inform the Council of the potential action.
* November 8, 2005, the proposed action is placed on the City Manager's Agenda
for consideration and direction by the Council
Agenda Item # 1
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
11/08/2005
Agenda Report # 57
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Concealed Support Structure at 1720 Warm Springs Road
INITIATED BY: Planning Department
Recommendation: Authorize staff to approve the requested concealed
support structure at 1720 Warm Springs Road.
Background: Powertel/Atlanta, Incorporated has submitted an application
for a concealed support structure (wireless communication) facility at the
location cited above. The proposed structure would be a 130' flagpole with the
cellular antenna hidden inside. On October 14, 2002, the Columbus City Council
reviewed a previous special exception use and variance request to reduce the
residential setback of a wireless communications tower at this location. The
request received an inconclusive vote of four to three. It is because of this
past Council action, that staff has taken this approach to notify Council on
its intended action.
Analysis: Concealed support structures may be approved administratively by
staff if they are in a Residental-Office (RO), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), or
Central Riverfront (CRD) district. This particular request is in a NC
district. Staff's review of the request found the proposed flagpole structure
to be less intrusive than the original tower structure proposed for this site.
Further review of the Unified Development Ordinance's definition of towers,
shows that concealed support structures are exempt from the requirement being
at least 300 foot away from a residential structure.
Financial Considerations: None
Legal Considerations: Administrative review decision, by ordinance, are
appealable to the Board of Zoning Appeals. Any denial of a request of this
type requires that the applicant be notified in writing and that the reasons
for such denial be based upon substantial evidence.
Recommendations/ Actions: Authorize staff to approve the requested concealed
support structure at 1720 Warm Springs Road.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _____
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO APPROVE A CONCEALED SUPPORT
STRUCTURE AT 1720 WARM SPRINGS ROAD.
WHEREAS, PowerTel has made application for an administrative review for a
Concealed Support Structure to contain and hide wireless communications
equipment, at 1720 Warm Springs Road; and,
WHEREAS, the propose structure will be contained and hidden in a flagpole, not
to exceed 134 feet in height; and,
WHEREAS, the Unified Development Ordinance allows the Planning Division to
review and administratively approve applications of this type in
Residential-Office (RO), Neighborhood Commercial (NC), and Central Riverfront
(CRD) districts, and has found the request to be in compliance with these
regulations.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Authorization is hereby given to the Planning Department to administratively
approve the application for a concealed support structure at 1720 Warm Springs
Road. The structure shall be a flagpole to hide and contain the required
wireless antennas and shall not exceed 134 feet in height.
___________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the
_________day of _____________, and adopted at said meeting by the affirmative
vote of
_____________members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Hunter voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Rodgers voting __________.
Councilor Suber voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
___________________________________ _____________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor