Plan Review Detail
Review Status: Completed
Review Details: REZONING - IPC
Plan Number - T14SE00030
Review Name: REZONING - IPC
Review Status: Completed
| Review Date | Reviewer's Name | Type of Review | Description | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 11/04/2014 | PETER MCLAUGHLIN | ZONING | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 11/04/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | ENGINEERING | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 11/04/2014 | JOHN BEALL | COMMUNITY PLANNING | REVIEW | Completed | PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SE-14-30 Verizon - Speedway Blvd C-2 Zone (Special Exception) Grant-Alvernon Area Plan and Plan Tucson 8/12/14 mjl Background: This is a Special Exception request in a C-2 Commercial zone to allow for the installation of a wireless communication facility (WCF), consisting of a monopalm with top of fronds at 65 feet and a ground equipment lease area. The facility will not be co-located with another WCF. The ground equipment lease area will be approximately 20 x 37 square feet near the central east edge of the parcel directly behind a building developed for personal storage. This area will be screened by a six-foot tall chain link fence with slats. The site is located at 4115 E. Speedway Boulevard along a strip of commercial-zoned parcels north of Speedway Boulevard between N Sycamore Boulevard and N. Bryant Avenue. Primary access for the WCF is from Speedway Boulevard. The parcel is currently developed with a self-storage facility (including four buildings) on a 1.38 acre site. According to the Major Streets and Routes Plan, Speedway Boulevard is an arterial route. Surrounding Zoning and Land Uses: The subject site land use zone is in a C-2 Commercial zone. To the east, west, and south of the parcel are C-2 zoned, developed parcels. The commercial site directly across Speedway Boulevard from the site is a vacant gas station. Immediately to the north of the parcel is an established residential neighborhood zoned R-2 Medium Density Residential with single-family, detached homes and duplexes and multifamily development. To the south, beyond the commercial strip south of Speedway Boulevard is an established residential neighborhood zoned R-1 Single-Family Residential with single-family, detached homes. The proposed monopalm will be located one-hundred and forty-six (146') feet south of the nearest residential home, which is in an R-2 zoned subdivision. Rezoning Pre-submittal Meeting: The applicant attended a pre-submittal conference meeting on May 21, 2014. Neighborhood Meeting: The applicant held an initial neighborhood meeting on July 14, 2014 from 5 pm to 6 pm, at the site of the proposed WCF (Lock-It Lockers Storage Facility). But the meeting did not meet the 10 day received/delivered date per the UDC. Consequently the applicant held a second neighborhood meeting on September 8, 2014. The meeting was attended by five people, one of whom was from the Ward 6 office. Issues included that the photo simulations were not accurate, and applicant stated they would be revised; concerns about generator; concerns about 65-foot palm tree and how it would appear visually with the massing proposed. The applicant has provided the required neighborhood meeting material: mailing notification, copy of labels, notice letter, meeting summary, and sign-in sheet. Topics discussed were the height of the structure and the benefit to the surrounding community. According to the applicant, the only concern that was expressed was regarding the structure's height. In the meeting summary, the applicant also explains that all questions were answered and no major concerns were voiced. Assessment: Policy direction is provided by the Plan Tucson and the Grant-Alvernon Area Plan. The special exception site is located with a Mixed-Use Corridor area identified in Plan Tucson. A mixed-use corridor supports a higher-intensity mix of jobs, services, and housing along arterial streets. Specific direction is provided in Chapter 3 - The Built Environment, under Guidelines LT28.1.2 and LT28.1.3. These policies support telecommunication facilities when they are installed and maintained to minimize visual impact and preserve views, and their design improves the appearance of above ground utilities and structures. According to the Grant-Alvernon Area Plan, the special exception site is located within an Office, Commercial, High-Density Residential area. For these areas, the plan contains guidance on wireless communication facilities in Office and Commercial Land Use Policy 6, which discourages wireless communication antennae arrays unless concealed, disguised, or collocated on existing buildings or structure. The proposed facility is: 1. Located in an existing, relatively intense commercial area, well suited to the proposed intensity of the telecommunication facility; 2. Will include a cell tower that will be disguised as a palm tree and is 65 feet tall- significantly taller than surrounding buildings and vegetation; nevertheless, the applicable plans support cell towers that are disguised; 3. Will include a ground equipment area that is screened by a fence and out of view of the general public (except for those utilizing the Lock-it Lockers Storage Facility). For these reasons, the proposed facility does not require a plan amendment. Summary and Recommendation: In general, the proposal is consistent with Plan Tucson and the Grant-Alvernon Area Plan and is in keeping with the character of the area. The proposal meets the intent of the policy direction, regarding compatibility with the scale, density, and character of the surrounding development. However, staff recommends the applicant consider a small cluster of live palm trees within the area to buffer the monopalm from the adjacent residential neighborhood. The applicant should also ensure that the ground equipment lease area, which is located very close to the north side of the easternmost storage building on the parcel, does not interfere with access to any existing storage units. A plan amendment is not required. Staff recommends that the rezoning application be distributed for further processing. |
| 11/04/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | FIRE | REVIEW | Completed |