ACTION REQUESTED:
Title
Communication from the City Manager and Community Development Director with a Request to Concur with either the Recommendation from the Planning & Zoning Commission to ADOPT ORDINANCE A or the Recommendation from Staff to ADOPT ORDINANCE B both Amending an Existing SPECIAL USE Ordinance No. 13,932, as Amended, in a Class C-2 (Large Scale Commercial) District to Add a WIRELESS COMMUNICATION TOWER FACILITY for the Property Commonly Known as the SHOPPES AT GRAND PRAIRIE and Located at 5201 W. WAR MEMORIAL DRIVE. The Proposed Wireless Communication Tower is Located on the Property Identified as Parcel Identification No. 13-11-126-013 Which is Situated Immediately North of the Property Located at 5121 W. AMERICAN PRAIRIE DRIVE, Peoria, IL (Council District 5)
Body
BACKGROUND: Petitioner Kathleen Groark of Insite, Inc. and Verizon Wireless is proposing a 180-foot cell tower and communication facility on a 0.45 acre parcel within the Shoppes at Grand Prairie Shopping Center.
The Planning & Zoning Commission found that the request met the Findings of Fact requirements and VOTED 3 TO 2 TO APPROVE Ordinance A. Staff recommends approval of Ordinance B which includes the requirement to utilize a stealth design of the tower to reduce visual impact and improve the aesthetic compatibility with the surrounding commercial properties. Staff recognizes that a stealth design may reduce the coverage area and capacity for additional co-location carriers.
The following table lists the conditions and waiver included in Ordinance A and Ordinance B:
|
Conditions and Waivers |
Planning & Zoning Commission Ordinance A |
Staff Ordinance B |
|
Provide stealth design to reduce visual impact |
No |
Yes |
|
Provide signage in compliance with Zoning Ordinance |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Equipment must be screened by fence and landscaping |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Transformer located outside of fence area must be screened |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Add second row of staggered landscape tree to provide required screening |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Land located outside of the 70 ft x 70 ft lease area must be landscaped and sodded or seeded with grass |
Yes |
Yes |
|
Waiver to allow an eight-foot tall aluminum fence instead of a wrought iron fence |
Yes |
Yes |
See the attached Planning & Zoning Commission case packet and meeting minutes for detailed information regarding the proposed wireless communication facility.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: N/A
NEIGHBORHOOD CONCERNS (at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting): Four citizens spoke at the Planning & Zoning Commission meeting. Two citizens spoke in opposition to the proposed cell tower citing concerns for aesthetics and public safety and requested a deferral to allow additional time to investigate the impact of the proposed tower. Another citizen spoke in support of the tower expressing a need due to more cell phone users and stated the tower would have no aesthetic impact. Another citizen also requested additional sidewalk connectivity to public transportation.
Two letters of support were submitted to the Planning & Zoning Commission.
IMPACT IF APPROVED: If Ordinance A is approved, a 180-foot tall wireless communication tower will be constructed within a 70 foot by 70 feet lease area surrounded by an 8-foot tall fence and landscaping. The tower will be constructed as submitted without any requirement to conceal the antennae. If Ordinance B is approved the 180-foot tall tower must be re-designed to reduce the visual impact of the tower.
IMPACT IF DENIED: A wireless communication tower and facility will not be constructed on the subject parcel.
ALTERNATIVES: N/A
EEO CERTIFICATION NUMBER: N/A
WHICH OF THE GOALS IDENTIFIED IN THE COUNCIL’S 2014 - 2029 STRATEGIC PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION ADVANCE?
1. Grow Peoria: Businesses, Jobs, and Population
WHICH CRITICAL SUCCESS FACTOR(S) FROM THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN DOES THIS RECOMMENDATION IMPLEMENT?
1. Grow employers and jobs.
DEPARTMENT: Community Development