MPC STAFF REPORT WIRELESS TELECOMMUNCATIONS FACILITY February 19, 2013 MPC FILE NO PLAN

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1 MPC STAFF REPORT WIRELESS TELECOMMUNCATIONS FACILITY MPC FILE NO PLAN WTF SUMMARY Report Status MPC Project Planner Petitioner, Property Owner, Agent Information Initial Report Jack Butler, MPC Project Planner Candler Hospital AT&T Mobility, Petitioner Jonathan Yates, Hellman-Yates, PA, Agent Street Address: 5353 Reynolds Street Property Identification Number: Property Description Property Size: 30 acres Existing Use: Hospital Parking Garage Proposed Use: Wireless Telecommunications Facility/Garage Existing Zoning PUD-IS (Planned Unit Development - Institutional) It is recommended that the MPC approve the development of a rooftop wireless telecommunications facility with the following conditions: 1) that the emergency generator shall be tested only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; 2) that the equipment enclosure fencing match the concrete color of the penthouse walls; and 3) all equipment be concealed by the enclosure fencing. Further, the Wireless Telecommunications Facilities Ordinance requires that all facilities wireless telecommunications facilities be concealed as a preferred design. The applicant has requested a variance and proposes to paint the exposed antennae a sky-blue color. Staff recommends approval of the requested variance.

2 To: From: Metropolitan Planning Commission MPC Staff Date: Subject: Petition of AT&T Mobility Jonathan Yates (agent) WTF Candler Hospital Parking Garage Aldermanic District: 4 County Commission District: 1 MPC File No PLAN Jack Butler, MPC Project Planner ISSUE: In accordance with Article J (Wireless Telecommunication Facilities) of the City of Savannah Zoning Ordinance, the applicant is seeking approval to erect a rooftop Wireless Telecommunications Facility ( WTF ) on the elevator equipment penthouse of the north parking garage of Candler Hospital. FACTS AND FINDINGS: 1. Public Notice: As required, all property owners within 200 feet of the subject facility were sent notices of the proposed action and postings were placed on the site. Notice was also sent to neighborhood associations, to local governing officials, to the FAA, to Hunter Army Air Field, to Savannah-Hilton Head International Airport and to Chatham County Mosquito Control. 2. Authorization of Co-applicants: As required, the applicant has provided signed authorization from the land owners, support structure owners and facility owners allowing the application. 3. Existing Development Pattern: The proposed tower site is located on property zoned PUD-IS (Planned Unit Development - Institutional) and designated for Civic Institutional development on the Tricenntenial Comprehensive Plan Future Development Map. The development pattern in the surrounding area is characterized by civic/institutional (medical) development to the south and west, residential uses to the north and northwest, and mixed residential and civic/institutional uses to the east.

3 MPC File No PLAN Page 3 4. Existing Land Use Pattern: The land uses and zoning districts surrounding the subject property include: Location Land Use Zoning North Residential R-6 1 and P-RIP 2 East Residential and Civic/Institutional BG 3 South Civic/Institutional PUD-IS 4 West Civic/Institutional and Residential R-6 and PUD-IS [1] Single-Family Residential [2] Planned Residential-Institutional-Professional [3] General Business [4] Planned Unit Development - Institutional 5. Evidence of Need Report: For all WTF s, a report certified by a radio frequency engineer shall be provided that demonstrates that no existing WTF can accommodate the applicant s proposed facility due to technical or physical circumstances, or that existing facilities would prohibit personal wireless services in the area to be served by the proposed WTF. If a facility type other than concealed attached is proposed, the report must also demonstrate that existing WTF s and/or buildings and structures within the Geographic Search Area [GSA] cannot be reasonably made to accommodate the applicant s need. The required Evidence of Need report, as summarized below, is attached to this staff report and is made a part hereof: a. A map of the GSA shown below (center of circle) includes all existing WTFs (including those not owned by the applicant). The proposed side is at the southeast corner of the search area.

4 MPC File No PLAN Page 4 b. The color plot shown below demonstrates the existing coverage of all WTFs owned by the applicant within the GSA. The proposed facility is shown (approximately) as a red dot at center (labeled GACGU0384 ). The green areas are adequate coverage. The blue areas are degraded coverage. Yellow areas are severely degraded coverage. As shown, large areas of degraded coverage exist within the area of the proposed facility.

5 MPC File No PLAN Page 5 c. The color plot shown below demonstrates the coverage of all WTF s owned by the applicant within the GSA with the addition of the proposed facility. The proposed facility is shown (approximately) as a red dot (labeled labeled GACGU0384 ) at the center. The green areas are adequate coverage. The blue areas are degraded coverage. Yellow areas are severely degraded coverage. Proposed AT&T Ul\ITS Coverage with site (Green: -80dBm Urban, Blue: -88dBm Suburban, Yellow: -98dBm Rural, Red: -110 dbm Marginal) The proposed tower site reduces the average degradation and provides additional wireless capacity in an area of heavy use, and justifies the selection of this location for a new facility.

6 MPC File No PLAN Page 6 6. Site Plan: The proposed facility is a rooftop mount, adding antennae mounted to the penthouses at the corners of the parking structure and necessary equipment (including an emergency generator) in a fenced rooftop enclosure: (1) Existing and Proposed Access. Access to the proposed facility will be through the parking garage access points shown above. (2) Landscape Plan. Because the facility is atop an existing parking deck, it is not possible to provide landscaping. The applicant s proposal is to locate the equipment behind a fenced enclosure. Staff recommends the fence be colored to match the walls of the penthouse against which it will be located. (3) Drainage. Drainage plans for the site are adequate to protect the existing and proposed use, and will be reviewed by the City Engineering Department prior to the issuance of a building permit. No additional impervious surface will be created by the project.

7 MPC File No PLAN Page 7 (4) Utilities. All equipment related to the facility will be concealed inside a privacy fence on the roof of the parking structure. In addition, the site will include a Generac Power System diesel-fueled emergency power generator at the site. (The generator system is predicted to have a maximum sound level of 70 dba at a distance of seven meters.) Since the maximum allowed noise level for a freestanding WTF is 60 dba at the property line, it is recommended that testing of the emergency equipment be limited to daylight hours only. (5) WTF Plan including: a. A diagram of the proposed facility and antenna(s), including elevation of the antenna and/or antenna support structure (height includes the base, and the antenna support structure).

8 MPC File No PLAN Page 8 b. Photo simulations of the security barrier and equipment compound are shown below. It is recommended that the enclosure be made the same color as the surrounding barrier walls. c. Mounting location of antenna support structure or building, including height (AGL). The antennae will be mounted to the penthouse roof, surrounding the large, cylindrical ventilation fan existing in the center of the roof. d. Identification of all mounting frames, arms, brackets or other devices or equipment used to hold antennas and other equipment in place. The mounting will consist of brackets affixing the antenna to the roof of the elevator equipment penthouse. e. Drawings of the proposed facility, including antennas, support structures/mounts, equipment shelters, feed lines and security barrier. See diagram above and explanation below. f. Certification that the structure will be able to accommodate additional facilities as identified in Section 6.9. The Candler

9 MPC File No PLAN Page 9 Hospital Parking North Parking Deck can accommodate additional facilities, should need arise. The applicant has designed the facility in accordance with the standards necessary according to the Hierarchy by Facility Type, by Type of Facility, lighting, signage and other standards as described above and in Section of the Wireless Telecommunications Facility Ordinance, with exception of Visibility of Facility. By mounting the facility to the roof of an existing parking deck, the applicants minimize additional visual impact in the area. The roof of the elevator equipment penthouse already has a vertical projection in the form of a large, cylindrical ventilation fan. Rather than adding additional structural panel to the roof of the structure, which would have to be of significant structural strength given the exposed location, the applicants propose to color the antennae to minimize visibility as shown in the simulation below. As noted in the landscape section above, the proposed structure is located ion the roof of an existing structure. The equipment necessary for

10 MPC File No PLAN Page 10 the safe operation of the facility is to be located within a secure enclosure adjacent to the elevator equipment penthouse that will be screened and secured by an opaque fence. The WTF Plan has been attached to this report and is made a part hereof. 7. Lighting and Signage: The proposed structure will be 77 feet above ground level at its highest point and does not require lighting or additional marking. However, because the facility will be located in an area that may be accessed by hospital maintenance workers, additional cautionary signage regarding exposure to electromagnetic radiation is required and the applicant has been made aware of the OSHA standards. Other signs on the site of the proposed WTF are limited to those needed to identify the WTF, the owner, the party responsible for the operation and maintenance (including address and telephone number), and to comply with applicable federal regulations. Proposed signage does not exceed the limitations prescribed by the Ordinance. 8. Visual Impact Analysis: The applicant has produced photo simulations of the proposed tower that are included below. Above, a Photo Simulation of the proposed WTF installation looking Southeast.

11 MPC File No PLAN Page 11 Above, a Photo Simulation of the proposed WTF installation looking Southwest. 9. Documentation: For all WTF s, copies of all applicable licenses or approvals, if available, as required by the FCC and any other agency of the government with authority to regulate WTF s. The applicant has provided documentation submitted with the initial application: (1) A long-term lease agreement with Candler Hospital. (2) A Structural Analysis of the proposed installation indicating the design will not overtax the base structure. (3) A compliance letter from the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Additionally, a curriculum vitae was provided for the radio frequency engineer who certified all documentation provided. For cellular towers under 100 feet in height, no FAA or FCC approval is required, however the applicant has provided an FAA letter of Finding of No Hazard for the proposed structure. Submitted information will be retained as part of the permanent file. These documents have been made a part of the permanent record. 10. Multiple Use and Structural Integrity Standards: The proposed facility will be a rooftop installation. There is sufficient space on the roof of the parking structure to accommodate multiple users.

12 MPC File No PLAN Page Safety Standards: All equipment for the proposed WTF shall be authorized per the FCC Guidelines for Evaluating the Environmental Effects of Radiofrequency Radiation. In addition, the petitioner shall submit a written statement which addresses compliance with FCC regulations regarding susceptibility to radio frequency interference (RFI), frequency coordination requirements, general technician standards for power, antennas, bandwidth limitations, frequency stability, transmitter measurements, operating requirements and any and all other federal statutory and regulatory requirements relating to RFI. All equipment for the proposed WTF is authorized per FCC guidelines. The petitioner has submitted the necessary statement regarding susceptibility to radio frequency interference. The statement and certification has been made a part of the permanent file. 12. Third-Party Review: The Ordinance requires a supplemental third party review for all new freestanding WTF s. As required, the proposed tower has been reviewed by a third party technical expert. His findings are attached to this report and summarized below: CityScape, Inc., the MPC s third-party reviewer, finds that the proposed facility is necessary to the improvement of wireless communication in the area and meets the requirements of the Chatham County WTF Ordinance in design and intent. 13. Variance: The applicant is requesting a variance from the additional concealment suggested in the Hierarch of Design. ALTERNATIVE RECOMMENDATIONS: 1. Approve the applicant s request for a rooftop WTF, along with a variance from additional concealing structures, provided the applicant tint the installed equipment to minimize visual impact. 2. Approve the applicant s request for rooftop WTF, but require re-design to meet the highest standards of concealment. 3. Deny the petitioner s request. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the development of a rooftop wireless telecommunications facility with the following conditions: 1) that the emergency generator shall be tested only between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.; 2) that the equipment enclosure fencing match the concrete color of the penthouse walls; and 3) all equipment be concealed by the enclosure fencing; and Approve a variance from the concealment standard to allow the applicant to paint the exposed antennae a sky-blue color.