Plan Review Detail
Review Status: Completed
Review Details: REZONING - ZE HEARING
Plan Number - T15SE00021
Review Name: REZONING - ZE HEARING
Review Status: Completed
| Review Date | Reviewer's Name | Type of Review | Description | Status | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 04/17/2015 | MARTIN BROWN | FIRE | REVIEW | Approved | |
| 04/21/2015 | STEVE SHIELDS | ZONING | REVIEW | Completed | PDSD TRANSMITTAL TO: Rezoning Division FROM: Steve Shields Lead Planner PROJECT: Verizon - New Cell Tower 1443 W. Prince Road - C-2 Special Exception - SE-15-21 TRANSMITTAL: April 21, 2015 1. The proposed "Wireless Communication, limited to wireless communication towers and antennae", located on parcels 106-12-006A, zoned C-2. The use falls under UDC Table 4.8-4: Permitted Uses - Commercial and Mixed Use Zones - 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. 2. 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 = 23,985 c. Maximum building height allowed = 40 feet d. Building height proposed = Not provided 1. The submitted plan, showing the proposed Wireless Communication is acceptable to continue the review for the zoning examiner's report. If you have any questions about this transmittal, please call Steve Shields, (520) 836-4956 or email Steve.Shields@tucsonaz.gov. |
| 04/24/2015 | DBURSUC1 | COMMUNITY PLANNING | REVIEW | Completed | PLANNING & DEVELOPMENT SERVICES SE-15-21 Verizon - Prince Road C-2 Zone (Special Exception) Plan Tucson 04/20/15 DB Background: This is a special exception land use request in a C-2 commercial zone, to allow the installation and operation of a wireless communications facility (WCF) consisting of a monopine communication tower with twelve (12) antennas, at a height of seventy (70) feet, including an unmanned pre-fabricated ground equipment shelter, located within a 35'x 60' lease area. The proposed WCF site will be located approximately 235 feet south of Prince Road ROW and 400 feet west of Flowing Wells Road ROW, at the address of 1443 West Prince Road. The applicant is proposing to locate the WCF ground equipment within an area screened by a six (6) foot tall chain link fence. The proposed 48kW diesel driven generator and associated ground equipment will be on a concrete pad located within the chain link fence. A ten (10) foot wide access easement for the WCF site will be provided from Prince Road. The access easement is located within an existing driveway. The nearest residential unit is located approximately forty-five (45) feet to the east of the proposed WCF site. According to the Major Streets and Routes Plan, Prince Road is designated as an arterial street. Surrounding Zoning and Land Uses: Surrounding the WCF site to the north and east are zoned C-2 (Commercial Zone) and developed with a mix of commercial retail. Parcels to the west are zoned Z-2 (Commercial Zone) and are developed with commercial and mobile home residential. Parcels to the south are zoned R-2 (Residential Zone) and developed with a mix of single-family and multi-family residential. Parcels to the southeast of the property are zoned O-2 and developed with a mix of single-family and multi-family residential. Rezoning Presubmittal Meeting: The applicant attended a presubmittal conference meeting on May 21, 2014. Meeting discussions included discussion of how to better mitigate visual impact on surrounding development, and how to mitigate noise from the backup generators. The applicant was asked to use a stealth design in place of the monopole and to consider additional palms to help buffer the monopalm. Neighborhood Meeting: The applicant has held three neighborhood meetings, on September 3, 2014, December 8, 2014, and March 16, 2015. All three meetings were held at site of the proposed Wireless Communications Facility, located at 1443West Prince Road. Applicant has provided the required neighborhood meeting material: mailing notification, copy of labels, notice letter, meeting summary, and sign-in sheet. Three representatives from the neighborhood attended the first meeting. They represented an employee from the host business, the owner of the neighboring landscape and design business and a resident just to the south of the parcel. All questions were answered at the meeting and the proposal was well received. At the second two meetings, no persons were in attendance. Land Use Policies: Plan Tucson identifies this area in the Future Growth Scenario Map as a "mixed-use corridor" category. The Plan supports providing a higher-intensity mix of jobs, services, and housing along major streets. Plan Tucson, guidelines LT28.1.2, supports telecommunication facilities to be installed and maintained to minimize visual impact and preserve views. LT28.1.3 states that WCF to be designed with improved appearances of the above ground structures and utilities, and extend access to high-tech wireless communication facilities throughout the city. Analysis: The applicant proposes a 70' tall wireless communications facility (WCF) disguised as a pine tree and ground equipment lease area (35' X 60') proposed at 1443 W. Prince Road. The proposed site is zoned C-2 commercial and previously had residential land uses but is currently vacant land containing .56-acres. The ground level equipment lease area is proposed to be screened by a six foot tall chain link fence. Residential land uses in commercial zoned parcels abut the proposed monopine site. The nearest residential unit is approximately forty-five (45) feet east from the proposed WCF and ground equipment lease area. The special exception site is located within the "mixed-use corridor" area identified in Plan Tucson. The Plan supports providing a higher-intensity mix of jobs, services, and housing along major 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. Staff acknowledges that it is difficult to disguise a seventy (70) foot tall stealth WCF monopine and the proposed monopine at a height of 70 feet will be visible from surrounding areas. Staff suggests the applicant consider visual impact mitigation as the site abuts residential development which includes single-family, multi-family and a mobile home park. Additional pines or similar conifer trees may be needed to help buffer the monopine from the adjacent residential neighborhood. Staff suggests the ground equipment chain line enclosure include slats. A stealth design helps mitigate and disguise the WCF. There are live pine trees of approximately fifty (50) feet in height in the area which can help blend in with a monopine WCF. The proposed location for the ground equipment which includes one or two generators, appears to be located along the east perimeter of the proposed site where it abuts two single-family residential units. Plan policy supports compatibility and visual impacts and noise mitigation are expected to be minimized through site design of the WCF and to be addressed in the Design Compatibility Report (DCR). The special exception submittal addresses compatibility issues and will be subject to being consistent with the general direction of the applicable Plans. In addition, staff recommends that any future graffiti visible from the public right-of-way be removed within seventy-two (72) hours of observation. Staff acknowledges that the proposed WCF tower will help improve telecom services to the established neighborhoods and businesses in the area. The proposal is in general compliance Plan Tucson, and 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 monopine shall not exceed 70 feet measured to top of monopine as shown on Preliminary Development Plan dated April 7, 2015; " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 4. Any graffiti visible from the public right-of-way or area residential development shall be removed within seventy-two (72) hours 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 April 7, 2015; " 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 7. Plant additional pine/conifer trees surrounding the lease area to mitigate visual impact on neighboring areas. " PT, Chapter 3, The Built Environment, Set 1 All Developments, Guidelines - LT28.1.2, and LT28.1.3 |
| 04/27/2015 | ELEIBOL1 | ENGINEERING | REVIEW | Completed | SUBJECT: New Special Exception case for wireless communication facility CASE: SE-15-21 VERIZON – PRINCE ROAD PARCEL # 106-12-006A ADDRESS: 1443 West Prince Road In order for the package to move forward to the Zoning Examiner's Report, the following items are recommended to be addressed: 1) Add note to plan that states that the Access Easement shall be recorded and sequence number provided prior to, or at, permit submittal stage. 2) There is a local floodplain of over 500 cfs on the northern right-of-way that extends to an unknown area on the project's site parcels. For permitting, the plans would need to be revised to show that the pads for the generator, tank, and equipment shelter shall be elevated to 2-ft above existing grade, otherwise submit hydrology report to determine floodplain conditions for project site. For SE-15-21, add note to plan that states that pads for the generator, tank, and equipment shelter shall be elevated to 1-ft above 100-year flood elevation or 2-ft above existing grade. Elizabeth Leibold, P.E., CPM, CFM Civil Engineer Engineering Division Planning & Development Services Dept http://pdsd.tucsonaz.gov/pdsd City of Tucson (520) 837-4934 |
| 04/28/2015 | HEATHER THRALL | SIGNS | SIGN CODE REVIEW | Approved | Reviewer: Heather Thrall (Heather.Thrall@tucsonaz.gov) Date: 4/28/15 Case: T15SE00021 Proposed: new cell tower Zoning: C-2 Review of proposal and aerial photos show no existing billboards. |
| 04/30/2015 | JOE LINVILLE | LANDSCAPE | REVIEW | Approved | SUBJECT: Case : SE-15-21 Verizon Prince Road The proposed preliminary development plan is for installation of a new wireless communications facility with a 70-foot tall cell tower disguised as an Arizona pine tree with associated ground equipment in an existing commercial area. The City of Tucson has been moving toward achieving sustainable development, mitigation of Urban Heat Islands, climate change resiliency and green building principles. In addition to the recently adopted and voter ratified Plan Tucson: Tucson's General and Sustainability Plan 2013, Mayor and Council endorsed the United Nations Urban Environmental Accords in 2005, adopted the US Mayors' Climate Protection Agreement in 2006, endorsed the City of Tucson Urban Landscape Framework and adopted the City's Framework for Advancing Sustainability in 2008. Surfaces, such as paving from roadways and asphalt parking areas contribute to approximately 40% of impervious surfaces in a city. These impervious surfaces, in turn, contribute to increasing urban heat islands. The unintended consequences expose populations within neighborhoods that are vulnerable during extreme heat events; and also increasing energy use due to the need to cool homes and facilities. Limiting heat-absorbent paved surfaces, increasing reflectivity of these paved surfaces, providing shade (trees and/or shade structures) or pervious surfaces mitigate the heat absorption quality of dark pavement. The City encourages developers to work with staff to apply best management practices to mitigate urban heat island effects, reduce energy consumption and work towards community resiliency. 1. Relevant Policy/Ordinance: a. General Service Architecture and Engineering Division, Design and Construction Standards, Division 7: Thermo and Moisture Protection b. Plan Tucson Policies i. Energy & Climate Readiness 1) EC3: Reduce the urban heat island effect by minimizing heat generation and retention from the built environment using a range of strategies. 2) EC9: Assess and address the vulnerability of the community's health and safety, economy, and natural resources to climate change, and develop assurances that vulnerable and disadvantaged populations are not disproportionately impacted by climate change. ii. Green Infrastructure: 1) GI4: Expand and maintain a healthy, drought-tolerant, low-water use tree canopy and urban forest to provide ecosystem services, mitigate the urban heat island and improve the attractiveness of neighborhoods and the city as a whole and; 2) GI6: Protect, restore, enhance, and manage trees for their long-term health, including providing guidance on proper planting, care and maintenance. 2. Targets in the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement applicable to this site include: C.5. Make energy efficiency a priority through building code improvements, retrofitting city facilities with energy efficient lighting and urging employees to conserve energy and save money; C.7. Practice and promote sustainable building practices using the U.S. Green building Council's LEED program or a similar system; C.10. Maintain healthy urban forests; promote tree planting to increase shading and to absorb CO2 The following conditions of rezoning are requested for this project: 1. Building structures shall include roofing material certified as a cool roof by the Cool Roof Rating Council or Energy Star rated per the Environmental Protection Agency; solar panels are an acceptable alternative. 2. Paving material: If paving to be replaced or new, provide light colored vehicular paving materials, such as concrete or cool paving coating over asphaltic surfaces. Porous paving or porous pavers would also be an acceptable alternative. 3. If mature trees cannot be preserved in place and need to be removed, one of the following mitigation measures can be applied: a) trees are to be assessed for replacement value using an acceptable assessment methodology (International Society of Aborist); funds set aside in a Tree Bank to be used for revegetation/landscape enhancement and/or improvements within street rights-of-way, or within common space areas within the neighborhood association; b) the following replacement to be in addition to the required landscape 1) Trunk diameter 0-6" = replace with 3 trees, minimum 15 gal. 2) Trunk diameter >6" - 8" = replace with 4 trees, minimum 15 gal. 3) Trunk diameter >8" = replace with 5 trees, minimum 15 gal. |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | PARKS & RECREATION | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | ENV SVCS | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | JOSE ORTIZ | DOT TRAFFIC | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | TUCSON WATER NEW AREA DEVELOPMENT | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | DOT ENGINEERING | REVIEW | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | OFFICE OF CONSERVATION & SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | PIMA ASSN OF GOVTS | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | PIMA CNTY WASTEWATER | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | SCHOOL DISTRICT | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | ADOT | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | TDOT RTA | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | TDOT STREETS | Completed | |
| 05/15/2015 | DBURSUC1 | REZ AGENCY REVIEW | OTHER AGENCIES | Completed |