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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20253351 ZONING PERMIT FOR A TELECOMMUNICATIONS ANTENNA TOWER COUNTY, CO Planner: Molly Wright Hearing Date: Case Number: ZPTT25-0002 Applicant: Gregory and Sheri Lyn Farmer 10810 County Road 15, Longmont, CO 80504 Representatives: Anthemnet by Kappa Consulting do Garret Kendall 10494 Christopher Drive, Conifer, CO 80433 Property Address: 10810 County Road 15, Longmont, CO 80504 Request: Zoning Permit for Telecommunication Tower—70 foot in height Legal Description: A part of NW4 of Section 8, T2N, R67W of the 6th P.M., Weld County, CO Location: West of and adjacent to County Road 15;approximately 0.15 miles south of Firestone Blvd. Zoning: A(Agricultural) Parcel #: 1311-08-0-00-020 Parcel Size: +/- 3.7 acres The Department of Planning Services' staff has received referral responses with comments from the following agencies: ❖ Weld County Department of Planning Services — Development Review, referral dated June 10, 2025 The Department of Planning Services' staff has received referral responses without comments from the following agencies: ❖ Town of Firestone, referral dated June 2, 2025 ❖ Town of Frederick, referral dated May 21, 2025 ❖ Mountain View Fire District, referral dated May 23, 2025 ❖ Colorado Parks and Wildlife, referral dated May 30, 2025 ❖ Division of Water Resources, referral dated August 27, 2025 ❖ Central Weld County Water District, referral dated August 19, 2025 ❖ Weld County Public Safety Wireless, referral dated August 22, 2025 ❖ Weld County Department of Oil and Gas Energy Development, referral dated September 2, 2025 The Department of Planning Services' staff has not received responses from the following agencies: ❖ Longmont Conservation District ZPTT25-0002 Page 1 of 4 Case Summary This ZPTT is to permit a seventy (70) foot tall telecommunication tower. The tower is proposed to be a monopole freestanding telecommunications antenna tower designed to improve wireless coverage and capacity in a geographic area that is currently underserved. The proposed tower has a five(5)foot lightning rod located at the top of the tower. Other equipment on site includes an 800-amp utility H frame, two (2) hand holes for power and fiber conduit, a hundred(100)square foot walk-in closure shelter and a generator. The facility will be surrounded by a six (6)foot tall chain link fence with one (1)foot barbed wire around the perimeter of the compound. The access point will be onto County Road 15, approximately 980 feet soth of County Road 24. This portion of County Road 15 is under the jurisdiction of the Town of Firestone. The applicant has expressed their intent to allow for future wireless communication carriers to colocate on the proposed telecommunication tower. The applicant has expressed the importance of infrastructure sharing to optimize resources, reduce environmental impact, and support industry cooperation. Accordingly, Anthemnet would like to facilitate reasonable accommodation for additional wireless carriers on this tower, subject to standard industry practices, structural integrity assessments, regulatory compliance, and mutually agreeable terms and conditions. DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING SERVICES STAFF RECOMMENDS THAT THIS REQUEST BE DENIED FOR FAILING TO MEET CRITERION (SECTION 23-4-890.B.) OF THE FOLLOWING APPROVAL CRITERIA: 1.The applicant has not shown compliance with Section 23-4-890 of the Weld County Code. A. Section 23-4-890.B --The Department of Planning Services has sent notice and has received signed notification from at least thirty percent(30%)of surrounding property owners within five hundred (500) feet of the subject property in opposition to the location of the Telecommunication Antenna Tower. The number of Surrounding Property Owner (SPO) letters exceed 30% as there are sixteen (16)SPOs that were sent within 500 feet and with a response of six(6)SPOs that object to this telecommunication tower. Six (6) surrounding property owners have responded with concerns regarding property value, health and safety reasons impacting wildlife and humans, location and aesthetics,too close to the road,can impact views,zoning,and potential issues to cochlear hearing implants. In order for staff to administratively approve this request the applicant is required to meet the criteria of Section 23-4-890. A, B, and C. This request does not meet Section 23-4-890.B. due to the number of SPO objections letters received. 2.The applicant has shown compliance with Section 23-4-890 of the Weld County Code. A. Section 23-4-890.A—The applicant is in compliance with the criteria identified in this Chapter for the specific category of zoning permit for which application is being made. The application materials were sufficient to meet all requirements for telecommunication towers. C. Section 23-4-890.0 -- The Department of Planning Services has not received referral responses in opposition to the location of the Telecommunication Antenna Tower from municipalities within '/2 mile of the subject property. No referral responses were received in opposition to the location of the tower. Mountain View Fire District returned a referral response dated May 23,2025,stating that they had no concerns, but if there were batteries to be installed on site, or if there is a fuel operated generation, to please apply for a permit through the Fire District. 3. Should the Board of County Commissioners approve this request, the Department of Planning Services recommends the following conditions be met at all times throughout the existence of the Telecommunication Antenna Tower: 1) The telecommunication antenna tower is an unmanned facility. No water or sewage disposal ZPTT25-0002 Page 2 of 4 services are proposed as part of the tower facility. 2) One (1)to two (2)technicians will visit the site for about one (1) hour once a month. 3) The tower will not be lighted. 4) This tower shall allow co-location. 5) Anthemnet Inc accepts responsibility to decommission the site when the facility is deemed obsolete. 6) Any future structures or uses on site must obtain the appropriate zoning and building permits. 7) All proposed or existing structures will or do meet the minimum setback and offset requirements for the zone district in which the property is located. Pursuant to the definition of setback in the Weld County Code, the required setback is measured from the future right-of-way line. 8) Building permits shall be obtained for the Telecommunications Antenna Tower and must comply with all installation standards of Chapter 29 of the Weld County Code. 9) Building Permits will be required to adhere to the fee structure of the County Facility Fee, County-Wide Road Impact Fee, and Drainage Impact Fee Programs. 10) The property owner or operator shall be responsible for controlling noxious weeds on the site, pursuant to Chapter 15, Article I and II, of the Weld County Code. 11) Prior to the release of building permits the applicant shall provide documentation from the Town of Firestone showing approval of the access onto County Road 15. 12) Access shall be maintained to mitigate any impacts to the public road including damages and/or offsite tracking. 13) The historical flow patterns and runoff amounts on the site will be maintained. 14) During construction, all liquid and solid wastes (as defined in the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act, 30-20-100.5, C.R.S.) shall be stored and removed for final disposal in a manner that protects against surface and groundwater contamination. 15) During construction, no permanent disposal of wastes shall be permitted at this site. This is not meant to include those wastes specifically excluded from the definition of a solid waste in the Solid Wastes Disposal Sites and Facilities Act, 30-20-100.5, C.R.S. 16) During construction, waste materials shall be handled, stored, and disposed in a manner that controls fugitive dust, fugitive particulate emissions, blowing debris, and other potential nuisance conditions. The facility shall operate in accordance with Chapter 14, Article 1 of the Weld County Code. 17) Fugitive dust and fugitive particulate emissions shall be controlled throughout the duration of construction of the tower. 18) During construction, adequate toilet facilities and handwashing units shall be provided. Portable toilets are acceptable. Portable toilets shall be serviced by a cleaner licensed in Weld County, shall contain hand sanitizers and be removed upon completion of construction. ZPTT25-0002 Page 3 of 4 19) The operation shall comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the State and Federal agencies and the Weld County Code. ZPTT25-0002 Page 4 of 4 Hello