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ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL – AUGUST 31, 2015 9 <br /> <br /> C. Regulation of Cellular Antennas <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler stated that staff recently provided the City Council with a memo <br />written by the City Attorney, Joel Jamnik, addressing the regulation of cellular antennas in the <br />Zoning Code. The memo was provided in response to questions received from Councilmember <br />Woodburn regarding the classification of cellular antennas as an accessory use. The City Attorney <br />has provided suggested revisions to the Zoning Code to help clarify this issue. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler explained that at the City Council work session on August 17, 2015, <br />Councilmember Holmes requested that this item be discussed by the City Council at a future <br />meeting. If the City Council believes additional clarification is needed in the Zoning Code, staff <br />is requesting that this direction be provided. Staff will then work with the Planning Commission <br />on drafting an Ordinance to make any necessary revisions. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woodburn questioned how this item would proceed. <br /> <br />Associate Planner Bachler reported that staff was seeking comments from the City Council on <br />what areas of the Code were in need of revision. Staff would then discuss the matter with the <br />Planning Commission and make necessary revisions to the Zoning Code. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woodburn provided the Council and staff with a handout addressing his <br />concerns. He then discussed the handout in detail and addressed his concerns with regard to the <br />regulation of cellular antennas. He believed there were contradictions in the definitions and <br />requested clarification from staff regarding his concerns. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes discussed the difference between principal, accessory and secondary <br />uses. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked if the proposed changes made by the City Attorney addressed <br />Councilmember Woodburn’s concerns. <br /> <br />Councilmember Woodburn reported that there were still contradictory definitions within the <br />Code that concerned him. <br /> <br />Mayor Grant requested that the City Attorney provide a brief summary on his memo to the City <br />Council. <br /> <br />City Attorney Jamnik commented that the revisions the City made to its antenna regulations in <br />2009 are consistent with neighboring communities. He advised that the City would like to see <br />antennas co-located on existing high structures, water towers and the like, and in order to facilitate <br />this, antennas were allowed as accessory uses when attached to existing buildings. He explained <br />that this was a rational and logical approach that was taken by many cities. However, he <br />understood that the definition of accessory use may need to be revised within the code. He <br />provided comment on the antenna array that was recently approved for Verizon Wireless at Bethel <br />University’s facility at 2 Pine Tree Drive. <br />