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HomeMy WebLinkAbout205 S. Mill St Notice of ApprovalPage 1 of 4 NOTICE OF APPROVAL AN ADMINISTRATIVE APPROVAL FOR THE UPGRADE OF AN EXISTING WIRELESS TELECOMMUNICATION FACILITY AT THE PROPERTY LEGALLY DESCRIBED AS: LOTS D, E, F, G, H, AND I, BLOCK 81 CITY AND TOWNSITE OF ASPEN, COUNTY OF PITKIN, STATE OF COLORADO, COMMONLY KNOWN AS 205 S. MILL STREET. Parcel ID: 2737-07-3-382-004801 APPLICANT: Ashley Christensen, on behalf of Verizon Wireless 5935 S Zang St. STE 280 Littleton, CO 30127 PROPERTY OWNER: Mill Street Plaza Associates, LLC 602 E. Cooper Ave. Suite 202 Aspen, CO 81611 SUBJECT & SITE OF APPROVAL: Upgrade and additions to an existing wireless communications facility located at 205. S. Mill St. LAND USE REQUEST AND REVIEW PROCEDURES: 26.505.080 - Wireless Communications Facilities and Equipment If a proposed wireless communications equipment upgrade meets specific review criteria, the application can be reviewed administratively. The Community Development Director is the final review authority. SUMMARY: The applicant requests approval to upgrade an existing wireless telecommunications facility located on the roof of the building at 205 S. Mill Street. The upgrade consists of: • removing Removal of the existing antennas and • installing Installation of one new antenna to one of the existing rooftop ballast antenna frames. Additionally, the proposal includes the • I installation of two remote radio heads, • Rthe relocation of an existing radio head, and a • Nnew over voltage protector below the new antenna on the ballast frame. • Existing equipment will be moved to two new equipment cabinets on a new rooftop steel platform. • A new rooftop ladder will be mounted to the south side of the building in the alley. The newNew equipment is proposed, and all proposed equipment will be confined to the currently leased area. All proposed equipment complies with the applicable review criteria in the code. Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Font: 11 pt Page 2 of 4 STAFF EVALUATION: 1) Wireless Regulations Pursuant to Section 26.505.080, Wireless Communications Facilities and Equipment, proposed equipment must comply with a number of review standards. The proposed upgrades to the existing telecommunication equipment comply with all applicable review criteria of the Land Use Code. The proposed upgrades to existing wireless equipment will continue to use areas on the roof and within the building that have traditionally been used for wireless telecommunication and mechanical equipment. While additional and different equipment is being installed on the roof, the total height from point of attachment of the equipment is being reduced from 11 feet to 7 feet. The proposed equipment does not expand in massing from the existing antennas, the proposed equipment and will be painted a color uniform with the accompanying rooftop equipment as to reduce visual impacts. 2) Mountain View Planes This facility is located in the Mid-Ground of Main Street View Plane. Mechanical and similar equipment is exempt from view plane review if it complies with two requirements: 1) The equipment complies with height exceptions in 26.575.020. 2) The equipment is setback from the property line closest to the view plane origin – at least 20 feet. Staff Discussion: This facility meets these criteria with the equipment height being less than 10 feet from point of attachment and location set back more than 20 feet from the Hopkins St. property line. 3) Commercial Design Review The Community Development Director may approve a Commercial Design Review if it is determined that the proposed work has no adverse effect on the physical appearance or character defining features of a development. An application for administrative review may be approved if it meets the following requirements: It is deemed that the activity is an eligible work item and meets the Commercial, Lodging, and Historic District Design Standards and Guidelines. And Any modifications to the proposed work requested by the Community Development Director are agreed to by the owner/applicant. The subject property is in Aspen’s Commercial Core Historic District and is therefore subject to review for the changes to the rooftop equipment. Staff Discussion: This property falls within the Commercial Core Character Area. The proposed changes to the rooftop wireless facility will not diminish the building’s architectural Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt, Underline Formatted: List Paragraph, Numbered + Level: 1 +Numbering Style: 1, 2, 3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment:Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt, Underline Formatted: List Paragraph, Numbered + Level: 1 +Numbering Style: 1, 2, 3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment:Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" Formatted: Font: Bold, Italic Formatted: Font: Italic Formatted: Font: 11 pt, Italic Formatted: Font: Italic Formatted: Underline, Not Highlight Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style:1, 2, 3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" Formatted: Font: Bold, Italic Formatted: Font: Italic, Not Highlight Page 3 of 4 character or its relationship with the surrounding character area. The overall height of the equipment will be decreased, and the new equipment will be painted to reduce visual impact. 4) Certificate of No Negative Effect The subject property is not landmark designated but is located in the Commercial Core Historic District. The scope of work qualifies for a Certificate of No Negative Effect according to Section 26.415.070.B of the Aspen Municipal Code in that the scope results in 1) Mechanical equipment or accessory features that have no impact on the character-defining features of the building or structure, and 2) alterations to a noncontributing building within a historic district that have no adverse effect on its historic or architectural character. Similarly, Administrative approval for compliance with Commercial Design Review is appropriate according to Section 26.412.090.A.3. Based on a review of the applicable Commercial, Lodging and Historic District Design Standards and Guidelines, staff finds that the proposal as submitted complies with the design guidelines. Staff Discussion: Mechanical equipment is an eligible work item to be considered under a Certificate of No Negative Effect. The review criteria most applicable to the proposed work is the following: “The proposed work will not diminish, eliminate, or adversely affect the significant historic and or architectural character of the subject property or Historic District in which it is located.” While the proposed improvements do not eliminate the visual impacts of this equipment, the redesign consolidates the equipment into a more organized and compact roof plan – and from Staff’s view reduces the negative visual impacts of the equipment. A condition of approval will require that the equipment be painted a uniform gray color, similar to existing conditions. Additionally, safety tie offs and an access ladder, for utilization by maintenance and repair personnel, are also approved as they are necessary for conformance with code. Radio Frequency Emissions This application is subject to the requirements in the Wireless Communications Facilities Design Guidelines adopted in April 2020. The application included a NIER Report to accompany the proposed changes to the rooftop facility. This radio frequency emissions analysis report stated that certain compliance measures would need to be taken for the facility to be compliant with FCC regulations. These measures include installing an additional barrier around the proposed antenna to add further protection for any workers who would be accessing the roof against the radio frequencies to be emitted. Additional noticing signage is also proposed at various locations on the property. DECISION: The Community Development Director finds the Administrative Application for Wireless Communication Equipment to be consistent with the review criteria (Exhibit BA) and thereby APPROVES the request. This document provides land use approval, but the project is also subject to review of a concurrent building permit, subject to the following conditions: 1) The new equipment is required to be painted a matte, dark gray color And, Formatted: Font: Italic Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt, Not Highlight Formatted: Normal, No bullets or numbering Formatted: Underline, Not Highlight Formatted: Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style:1, 2, 3, … + Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" + Indent at: 0.5" Formatted: Font: Bold, Italic Formatted: Font: Italic Formatted: Font: Italic Formatted: Font: (Default) Arial, 11 pt Formatted: Space Before: 12 pt Page 4 of 4 2) The required access ladder and safety tie offs for maintenance personnel be approved by the Historic Preservation Officer prior to installation. APPROVED BY: _____________________________ Phillip Supino Date: Community Development Director Attachments: Exhibit A – Select Plans showing the extent of approved changes (recorded) Exhibit BA – Review Criteria (not recorded) Exhibit CB – Application and CompleteApproved plans (not recorded) Exhibit DC – Radio Frequency Emissions Analysis Report (not recorded) Formatted: Indent: Left: 0.5", Space Before: 12 pt, Nobullets or numbering Formatted: List Paragraph, Space Before: 12 pt,Numbered + Level: 1 + Numbering Style: 1, 2, 3, … +Start at: 1 + Alignment: Left + Aligned at: 0.25" +Indent at: 0.5"