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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPLAN COMMISSION - 09/20/2000 - SPRINT PCS/MEACHAM ELK GROVE VILLAGE Plan Commission Minutes September 20,2000 Present: F. Geinosky, Acting Chairman C. Henrici, Acting Secretary P. Ayers D. Sokolowski T. Thompson Absent: J. Glass J. Meyers D.Paliganoff Staff: P. Vadopalas, Assistant to the Village Manager M. Roan, Administrative Intem Petitioners: J. Leahy, Attorney at Law J. Rizzo, Sprint PCS J. Perkins, Sprint PCS Item 1: Nextel Communications—570 E. Higgins Secretary Geinosky called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. Secretary Geinosky announced that Nextel was unable to be present at tonight's meeting, and their petition will be continued to October 4 at 8:00 p.m. At this time, the meeting was recessed until 9:00 p.m. Item 2: Sprint PCS Special Use Petition/Appointment of Chairman Secretary Geinosky called the meeting to order at 9:00 p.m. Secretary Geinosky read petition into the record and announced Chairman Glass's absence. Commissioner Ayers moved to nominate Secretary Geinosky to act as Chairman. Commissioner Henrici seconded the motion. Upon voting, (Ayers, Geinosky, Sokolowski, Thompson, Henrici,AYES, Glass, Meyers, Paliganoff, Absent) the motion carried. Item 3: Appointment of Secretary Commissioner Ayers moved to nominate Commissioner Henrici to act as Secretary. Commissioner Thompson seconded the motion. Upon voting, (Ayers, Geinosky, Sokolowski, Thompson, Henrici, AYES, Glass,Meyers, Paliganoff, Absent)the motion carried. Item 4: Sprint PCS Special Use—676 Meacham Road Acting Chairman Geinosky stated Sprint PCS is petitioning the Village for a Special Use permit to construct a 120-ft. monopole and equipment shelter on the Meacham Fire Station property at 676 Meacham Road and asked the petitioners to introduce themselves. Commissioner Henrici swore in the petitioners Q. Leahy, J. Perkins,J. Rizzo). J. Leahy described the property as being zoned R-3 and compliant with the Elk Grove Village siting policy since it is a Village-owned site. He presented photographs of the surrounding area. Leahy explained this location is needed because Sprint's new customer base is predominantly(two-thirds) for personal use,not business related use. Eleven percent of new cell phone sales are for those who use them as their only phones. Leahy stated approximately half of 9-1-1 phone calls come from cell phones. J. Leahy stated Sprint PCS has three sites in Elk Grove Village; one at the Oakton Fire Station and co- located with AT&T, one at Lions Park co-located with Cell One, and a third site at the Village's water tower at 1141 Hawthorne. J. Leahy stated that Sprint PCS is now expanding its footprint into new areas and improving main capacity areas, including the west side of Elk Grove Village. Currently capacity problems exist on the west side of the Village. In certain areas, no phone calls can be made and in other areas individuals are losing their signals. They have considered the Public Works garage, but have decided that the Fire Department is better associated with antennae. In addition,locating on the fire station property allows the opportunity to relocate the Fire Department's antennae and remove the existing lattice tower on the roof. J. Leahy presented site photographs. He also stated that this is an excellent opportunity for co-location. He then showed a Village map of the existing cell tower sites with listed carriers. J. Leahy stated that since the last meeting, Spnnt has conducted a balloon test. The test was done on the Saturday of Labor Day weekend and put a balloon at 120 ft. to demonstrate the actual proposed height. They notified surrounding neighbors and met with them from 9:00 AM till 12:00 PM. Leahy stated one resident expressed health concerns regarding the installation, and was satisfied with Sprint's explanation of the engineering and safety of the proposed facility. J. Leahy stated Sprint was directed by the Plan Commission to design one building to house multiple carriers and Sprint has looked at the shelters around the Hawthorne water tower for design ideas. They have used that design for this site. The Fire Department wants the shelter materials to be compatible to the Fire Station. The brick would match the brick of the fire station and the shelter would include a peaked roof similar to the station's. This site would accommodate three carriers, and Leahy noted PCS Primeco has already expressed an interest in this site if it is approved. Leahy stated the property is large and provides a 300 ft. separation from the properties to the west. The space needed for the shelter and tower would take up two of the 42 parking spots in the parking lot. Commissioner Thompson asked what color the monopole would be painted. J. Leahy responded that they have tried blue in the past only to find the color stands out. They currently use galvanized poles because when they weather, the gray color is a close match to the sky. Commissioner Sokolowski stated that at the August 2nd meeting, he had concern over the 120 ft. height. He asked why Sprint could not locate their antennae at 65 ft. or 85 ft, since they are at the highest point in the Village. J. Rizzo responded to that question with a propogation map and gave explanation. The 120-height is needed to cover the west side of the Village. A lower height would work for the time being,but would not provide sufficient coverage to eliminate future dead spots in their network. Commissioner Sokolowski asked if they will come back in the future for a site, on Plum Grove Road for example. J. Rizzo stated that for the time being, it is hard to say. J. Leahy stated that the Egan Facility is another site that is currently under development to the north. Commissioner Sokolowski asked how many carriers could potentially use this site. J. Leahy stated if approved,this site could include Sprint,PrimeCo,the Village, and one other user. J. Perkins then passed out a packet with drawings and stated with current technology they need a ten to 15 foot separation between carriers. She further noted the foundation is built for a certain weight limit, so the Village could direct their engineers to design the monopole at a maximum weight capacity to limit the number of antennae. Commissioner Ayers stated while he recognizes the need for cellular coverage in the area,this is the wrong site. He feels that a better location to the north by the Driving Range would be a better site. Leahy said they are already using it and the Egan site would not provide sufficient coverage for the west side of Elk Grove. Commissioner Ayers suggested the Plan Commission have a consultant review the petition to verify the need for the proposed height and location. He also disagreed with the need for this site given the proximity of the Egan site being developed to the north. He feels that they should seek a better solution to their coverage issues, or at a minimum make some effort to disguise their installation. Commissioner Henrici stated that this location is not primarily residential in character. He feels it is commercial and institutional. Commissioner Henrici noted the location is also over 300 ft. from the homes to the south. He stated that there is no vegetation on the lease site,but there is on the south side of the property. J. Leahy said there is no room for landscaping at the lease site, so screening to the south will help screen the view from the homes. Acting Chairman Geinosky asked where the Fire Department's antennae would go on the pole. J. Leahy said they would be located lower than Sprint, but would depend on the particular needs of the department. Acting Commissioner Geinosky stated that the height of the monopole is stated at 120 ft. in the legal notice. He suggested the Plan Commission consider the addition of the lightning rod on top and consider the full height to be 125 feet. Acting Chairman Geinosky asked about landscaping on the south side. J. Leahy explained the trees would be five to six feet in height at the time of planting. J. Perkins then presented a list of approved plants with 15 plantings proposed(both shade trees and shrubs). Their general idea is to put them at the southern end of the Fire Station property. The meeting was opened to comments from the audience. No comments were voiced. Commissioner Sokolowski asked if Sprint would be satisfied with a 100 foot tall monopole. J. Rizzo responded it would not be sufficient to provide the coverage area they are seeking. Commissioner Ayers stated he is an AT&T customer, that AT&T only has two antennas in the Village and his service is just fine. J. Rizzo responded that they posses a different type of technology from Sprint's. Acting Chairman Geinosky asked for a motion on the petition. Commissioner Henrici moved to recommend approval of a Special Use permit to Sprint PCS to construct an equipment shelter and 120 ft. tower with a 5 ft. lightning rod at the Meacham Fire Station property. There was no second to the motion. Commissioner Henrici stated that he felt that there is little visual difference between a 120 ft. tower and a 100 ft. tower. Commissioner Ayers stated the monopole has a negative visual impact on the community and he is not convinced this location is needed. The consensus of the Commission was that an independent expert should be retained to evaluate the materials presented by Sprint. J. Leahy noted that Sprint has spent a year planning this installation. Leahy stated the Village's siting policy directed them to this location because village properties are favored sites. This is the only such site in that area of the Village. P. Vadopalas noted that a consultant is currently working with the JPZ Committee to review the Village's siting policy and the consultant could provide expert testimony on this petition. Acting Chairman Geinosky stated that while Sprint has followed the Village's policy in selecting the location, the Commission is not convinced they really need a height of 120-feet for their antennae. J. Leahy requested the Commission to not make a negative recommendation until expert testimony is provided to the Commissioners. He requested a continuation to have an opportunity to get more information to the Commission. P. Vadopalas stated he would work with the petitioner and the Village's consultant to obtain a third- party opinion on the proposal. Acting Chairman Geinosky stated the hearing is closed and the Commission will continue the discussion to October 4, 2000,at 9:00 p.m.,the next regu 4T meeting of the Plan Commission. Adjournment: Commissioner Sokolowski moved and Commissioner Ayers seconded the motion to adjourn. Upon voting, (Ayers, Gemosky, Sokolowski,Thompson,Henrici, AYES, Glass, Meyers, Paliganoff, Absent) the motion carried. The meeting was adjourned at 10:15 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Peter L Vadop Assistant to the Village Manager C: Chairman and Members of the Plan Commission,President and Board of Trustees,Village Clerk, Village Manager, Assistant Village Manager, Assistant to the Village Manager, Administrative Intern, Director of Engineering/Community Development, Director of Public Works,Fire Chief, Deputy Fire Chief(2), Assistant Fire Chief, Village Attorney.