Plan Review Detail
Review Status: Completed
Review Details: REZONING - ZE HEARING
Plan Number - T14SE00030
Review Name: REZONING - ZE HEARING
Review Status: Completed
| Review Date | Reviewer's Name | Type of Review | Description | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12/08/2014 | 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 12/8/14 jb 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. Land Use Policies: Plan Tucson (PT) PT identifies the Special Exception site on its Future Growth Scenario Map as a 'Mixed-Use Corridor. A mixed-use corridor supports a higher-intensity mix of jobs, services, and housing along arterial streets. LT28.1.2 Require telecommunications facilities be located, installed, and maintained to minimize visual impact and preserve views. Cabling and fiber optics should be installed underground where possible, and the visual impact of cellular towers should be a prime consideration in the City's acceptance and approval. LT28.1.3 Improve the appearance of above-ground utilities and structures and extend access to high-tech wireless communications facilities throughout the city. Grant-Alvernon Area Plan Office and Commercial land Use Policies: Policy 6. Discourage wireless communication antennae arrays unless concealed, disguised, or collocated on existing buildings or structures. Analysis: The applicant proposes a wireless communications facility consisting of a cell tower disguised as a palm tree (monopalm) within an existing self-storage facility located at 4115 East Speedway Boulevard. The site is zoned C-2. The monopalm has a proposed height to top of artificial palm fronds of 65 feet with associated ground equipment to be housed within a equipment shelter (10'8" in height). Lease area is 20' x 37' surrounded a 6-foot chain link fence with painted solid slats. The monopalm stealth design concept has been accepted as an approach that improves visual disguise and reduces visual impacts. The nearest residential neighborhood is located to the north of the storage facility with the monopalm and equipment area approximately 146 feet to the north property line and the nearest residential home. The special exception site is located within 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. Given the use of a stealth design (monopalm), the location of the related equipment area within an existing self-storage facility, the backup generator to be enclosed inside the shelter building, the distance from the nearest residential structure; the 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), the applicant has addressed Plan issues of compatibility and view sheds from adjacent residential neighborhoods to the north. Staff also acknowledges that the proposed WCF will help improve telecom services to the established neighborhoods and businesses in the area which addresses Plan policy. Therefore the request is consistent with the Grant-Alvernon Area Plan and Plan Tucson policy direction. This request for a WCF does not require a plan amendment. Staff offers the following special exception conditions for consideration: 1. Any existing on-site palm tree, native tree or landscape planting disturbed during the monopole height extension or ground equipment installation shall be replaced in accordance with the UDC and heat island mitigation; " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 2. Ground equipment shall be painted to blend and minimize visual impacts; " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 3. Maximum height of monopalm shall not exceed 65 feet measured to top of fronds as shown on Preliminary Development Plan dated August 7, 2014; " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 " GAAP, Office and commercial Land Uses, Policy 6 4. Any graffiti visible from the public right-of-way or area residential development shall be removed within ten working days of observation; " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 5. Ground equipment to be located within lease area and within an enclosed shelter, as represented on Preliminary Development Plan dated August 7, 2014; " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 6. Existing chain link fence to include desert tone color slats to screen lease area from on-site commercial land uses. " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 |
| 12/09/2014 | STEVE SHIELDS | ZONING | REVIEW | Completed | CDRC TRANSMITTAL TO: Planning and Development Services Department Rezoning Section FROM: Steve Shields Lead Planner PROJECT: Verizon Cell Tower - New Cell Site 4115 E. Speedway Blvd., Parcel 122-01-078A - C-2 Special Exception - SE-14-30 TRANSMITTAL: December 9, 2014 The proposed "Wireless Communication, limited to wireless communication towers and antennae", located on parcel 136-02-002T, zoned C-2. The use falls under UDC Table 4.8-4 PERMITTED USES COMMERCIAL AND MIXED USEZONES - Permitted as Special Exception Use, [2] Zoning Examiner Special Exception Procedure, Section 3.4.3. The following Use Specific Standards apply: 4.9.13.P & 4.9.4.I.2, .3, & .6.b. 1. The following dimensional Standards apply see UDC TABLE 6.3-4.A: DIMENSIONAL STANDARDS FOR THE C-1, C-2, C-3, OCR-1, & OCR-2 ZONES a. Minimum site area = 0 Sq. Ft. b. Proposed site area = 72,119.71 sq. ft. c. Maximum building height allowed = 40 feet d. Building height proposed = 10'-8" If you have any questions about this transmittal, please call Steve Shields, (520) 836-4956 or email Steve.Shields@tucsonaz.gov. |
| 12/10/2014 | ELEIBOL1 | ENGINEERING | REVIEW | Completed | TO: Peter McLaughlin, Rezoning Section SUBJECT: Verizon - Speedway Blvd Engineering and Floodplain Review ADDRESS: 4115 E Speedway Bl LOCATION: Ward 6, Grant-Alvernon Area Plan and Plan Tucson, T14S R14E Section 3 FLOODPLAIN: Alvernon Wash Watershed, FEMA zone X-unshaded, 2826L REVIEWER: Elizabeth Leibold, P.E. SPECIAL EXCEPTION: SE-14-76 ACTIVITY NUMBER: T14SE00030 Engineering has reviewed the proposed Special Exception SE-14-30 to request 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. PDSDS Engineering Staff has no special exception conditions. a This request contains adequate information to determine plan compliance, and a plan amendment is not required. - Elizabeth Leibold P.E., CPM, CFM |
| 12/11/2014 | PETER MCLAUGHLIN | LANDSCAPE | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | DOT ENGINEERING | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | FIRE | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | PARKS & RECREATION | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | ENV SVCS | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | JOSE ORTIZ | DOT TRAFFIC | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | TUCSON WATER NEW AREA DEVELOPMENT | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | HEATHER THRALL | SIGNS | SIGN CODE REVIEW | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | OFFICE OF CONSERVATION & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | PIMA ASSN OF GOVTS | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | PIMA CNTY WASTEWATER | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | SCHOOL DISTRICT | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | ADOT | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | TDOT RTA | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | TDOT STREETS | Completed | |
| 12/11/2014 | PMCLAUG1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | OTHER AGENCIES | Completed |