Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item # 1



Columbus Consolidated Government



Council Meeting



11/29/2005



Agenda Report # 65



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.