Planning and Zoning Commission

Planning & Zoning Commission Board of Adjustment Evanston, Wyoming www.evanstonwy.org Board of Adjustment/Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting Minutes March 2, 2020 6:00 PM at City Hall Board Members Present: Maryl Thompson – Chairperson Tim Ridenour Heath Beaudry Robert Smith Michael Day Kimberly Begalla Staff Present: DuWayne Jacobson, Senior Planner Dean Barker, Evanston City Engineer Dawn Worley, Administrative Assistant III Chairperson Thompson called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. Chairperson Thompson asked for a motion to approve the agenda for the March 2, 2020. A motion was made by Commissioner Day, seconded by Commissioner Begalla. The motion carried unanimously. Chairperson Thompson asked for a motion to approve the minutes from the February 3, 2020 meeting of the Planning Commission/Board of Adjustment. A motion was made by Commissioner Day, seconded by Commissioner Smith. The motion carried unanimously. Old Business: With none heard, Chairperson Thompson moved on to new business. New Business: Attorney Boal began the public hearings by explaining the legalities of the hearing, and how it would be conducted. Applicants would be heard from first, followed by those in favor of the proposal and finally hearing from those who are opposed to the proposal. He asked each person speaking to clearly state their name and home address for the record prior to being sworn in to testify. Mr. Boal additionally explained that public hearings are contested case hearings and that anyone who wishes to contest the Commission’s decision must make it known to him at the closing of the hearing. Attorney Boal opened the hearing with HE 35, a request by Union Telephone Company for a Height Exception to allow an antenna support structure to exceed the maximum height limitation of 65 feet as the principal use of a leased parcel of land located at 266 Ortega Court, Evanston, Wyoming 82930, which is zoned Public (P). The applicant is proposing to construct a new 80-foot tall antenna support structure with the ability to extend the tower height an additional 20 feet for a total of 100 feet. (Sections 24-33 and 35) Tyler Tholl, Union Telephone Company Site Acquisition Team, whose address is 319 Clarkson Avenue, Evanston, WY, was sworn in and spoke on behalf of the application. Mr. Tholl explained the request is to add a monopole structure near the existing structure located near the Evanston Water Treatment Facility. Mr. Tholl advised the request is a result of a request from another agency to co-locate additional structures on the existing tower. The existing tower does not have the capacity to properly support additional structures. Mr. Tholl stated Union Telephone is currently in the process of re-working the current lease contract with the State of Wyoming to accommodate the new tower request. Mr. Tholl described the proposed monopole will be 80 feet in height with the option of extending to 100 feet in height. The 80-foot monopole will allow for the addition of two more structures and allow Union Telephone to maintain the necessary 20-foot space between each structure. The 20-foot space is necessary to minimize disturbances between locators. According to Mr. Tholl, the monopole will be grey in color to match the existing buildings in the area. Commissioner Day verified the tower would be constructed at a maximum of 80 feet at this time. Mr. Tholl advised that was correct. The request for up to 100 feet would provide for future expansion if necessary. Commissioner Beaudry confirmed there will be other providers using the new tower and asked how long the project would take from start to finish. Mr. Tholl advised there will be other providers located on the tower and construction of the new tower would take 6-8 weeks, weather depending. Additionally, Mr. Tholl explained it would take an additional 270 days to tear down the existing structure and relocate the current microwaves to the new tower as realigning the microwaves correctly can be difficult. Chairperson Thompson asked about the additional new building/shed structure which will be placed on site as well. Mr. Tholl explained it will house necessary equipment/support structures for the new tower. Chairperson Thompson additionally asked if any feedback had been received from the community. Mr. Tholl stated they had not received any feedback. Chairperson Thompson asked Senior Planner Jacobsen if the Commission approves this tower would they be required to approve requests from other companies interested in locating towers in the area as well. Senior Planner Jacobsen stated that they would not and actually the Evanston City Code address co-locating with distance requirements. Attorney Boal asked if anyone else wanted to speak either for or against the application. Hearing none, the hearing was closed. Chairperson Thompson asked for a motion to recommend approval of HE 35. Commissioner Ridenour moved to approve HE 35, seconded by Commissioner Day. Chairperson Thompson called for a vote. The motion passed unanimously. Other Business: Hearing no other business, Chairperson Thompson announced future meeting dates of April 6, May 4 and June 1. The meeting adjourned at 6:20 PM. Respectfully Submitted, Dawn Worley