Metro PCS-CS060817CITY OF COPPELL
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
STAFF REPORT
CASE: 5-1236-A, MetroPCS
P&Z HEARING DATE August 17, 2006
C C HEARING DATE September 12, 2006
STAFF REP Gary L Sieb, Director of Planning
LOCATION Approximately 800 feet northwest of the intersection of MacArthur
Boulevard and Beltline Road.
SIZE OF AREA Approximately 15 feet by 20 feet at base of tower
CURRENT ZONING• A (Agriculture)
REQUEST A-SUP (Agriculture, Special Use Permit) to allow six wireless
communication antenna to be mounted on an existing electric
transmission tower, with an accessory cabinet and structure at the
base of the tower
APPLICANT
Metro PCS
c/o Dave Green
416 Fountain Park Drive
Euless, TX. 76039
(817) 692-1989
Fax (817) 860-0077
HISTORY There has been no recent zoning history on the subject tract
although there was a zoning case requesting a similar use on the
electric tower immediately to the east of this request m 1999
ITEM # 9 Page I of 3
TRANSPORTATION Belthne Road is an improved, P6D, six-lane divided concrete
thoroughfare contained within a 110-foot row MacArthur
Boulevard is another improved P6D located dust east of the subject
property
SURROUNDING LAND USE & ZONING
North - TU electric power line, SF-9 and "A", Agriculture
South - TU electric power line, SF-9 and "A", Agriculture
East - commercial buildings, "C", Commercial
West - Single family subdivision, SF-9
COMPREHENSIVE PLAN The Coppell Comprehensive Plan, as amended, shows this
property as suitable for open space and flood plain uses.
DISCUSSION This request would allow a group of six communication antenna (4 S feet long
by 8 inches wide by 2 75 inches thick) to be mounted at the top of an existing, 114 foot tall TXU
electric transmission tower in the Riverchase area. It would be very similar to an adjacent SUP
for a communication antenna granted in 1999 At the base of the tower an approximate 15 feet
by 20 feet maintenance building is proposed. This structure would be six feet high and of
masonry construction. It would be similar in appearance to the existing cell tower building dust
east of this proposal
As a general rule, these requests are pretty straightforward and generate no public input. That is
not the case with this proposal, however, as there has been some limited (5) opposition responses
to this request. There are two other sites nearby that garnered no comments when zoned.
Concern generated by this application relates to the number of similar facilities in the TXU
easement, maintenance, and access to the equipment structure, among others A condition of
staff review relates to access being provided east of the tower, not along the alley on the west
side of the power line structure as submitted. This revised access would eliminate some citizen
concern. If staff proposed access is recommended, the base structure would need to provide
entry gates on the east side of the building, not the west side as now shown.
Although there is some opposition, staff can support this request for a variety of reasons. Several
TXU structures have been here for over twenty years and are, by far, the most dominant
structures in the area, the six antennas will be placed 114 feet above the ground, the antenna
themselves are only 4 5 feet long by 8 inches wide thus creating no visual obstruction to any
surrounding neighborhood The maintenance structure at the base of this tower will be similar to
the other ones in the vicinity and complies with all our development guidelines (color, building
materials, gate design, etc) In addition, rt is at least 100 feet from any residential structure and
all homes have 6 foot rear fences, screening the maintenance building from their view With
conditions regarding modified access and utility locations (where access connects, surface, etc
and utility concerns--see Engineering comments), staff can support the request. Provided staff
concerns are addressed, we feel rt will have minimal land use impact on the adjacent properties
ITEM # 9 Page 2 of 3
RECOMMENDATION TO THE PLANNING AND ZONING COMMISSION
Staff is recommending APPROVAL of this request, subject to the following conditions
1) Provide access to site from east of tower, not along alley west
of tower
2) Submission of additional information regarding access
concerns
3) Explanation of utility provision and location
4) Departmental comments (Engineering)
ALTERNATIVES
1} Recommend approval of the request
2) Recommend disapproval of the request
3) Recommend modification of the request
4) Take under advisement for reconsideration at a later date
ATTACHMENTS
I) Submittal package (cover sheet, detailed site plan, elevation, fence detail, antenna
orientation)
2) TXU permission letter
3) Antenna cut sheet
4) Inventory of existing towers
5) Departmental comments (Engineering)
ITEM # 9 Page 3 of 3
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