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effects of radio frequency (RF) emissions, assuming that the provider is in compliance with <br />the Commission's RF rules (htlp://wireless.fcc.gov/siting/`­`­`local-state-gov.htmi). <br />City Zoning Regulations <br />Section 1325.09, Subd 1 of the City's Zoning Code states that a purpose of regulating <br />antennas, dish antennas, and towers within the City is to "maximize the use of existing and <br />approved towers and buildings to accommodate new personal wireless service antennas in <br />order to reduce the number of new towers necessary to serve the community." Essentially, it <br />has been the City's desire to encourage new antennas to be located on existing platforms (i.e. <br />water tower, antenna tower, or building) where feasible instead of building new antenna <br />towers or monopoles throughout the City. Cities are allowed to regulate towers in such a <br />manner provided it does not purposely leave gaps in wireless services. <br />In August 2009, the City updated the Zoning Code to include a priority list for the placement <br />of new antennas (Section 1325.09 Subd 6). Again, the goal is to encourage the grouping of <br />antennas to minimize the construction of new antenna towers and limit the impact on the <br />public health, safety and welfare, which includes the aesthetic impact. The code states that <br />new antennas shall be located on City water tower sites unless the applicant shows, to the <br />reasonable satisfaction of the City, that the City water towers cannot be feasibly used from an <br />engineering standpoint. If the City water tower site is not feasible, the Code requires the <br />applicant to consider the following locations in order of priority: <br />1. On existing towers or structures within any industrial, civic center, or business <br />district; <br />2. On new towers in any industrial civic center, or business district; <br />3. Any existing towers or structures located within any residential district; then, <br />4. Any new towers or structures located within any residential district. <br />As stated above, the Zoning Code requires applicants to consider existing tower sites before <br />considering a new tower in a different location, which excludes the Reiling Tower as it is <br />considered legally non -conforming under the code. This creates a contradiction in the <br />Zoning Code because if the water tower sites were deemed infeasible from an engineering <br />standpoint, a potential applicant would not be able to consider the Reiling Tower due to its <br />non -conforming status. This could result in a request for a new antenna tower, which the <br />City is trying to avoid when possible. <br />The height requirements within the code are also contrary to the purpose of reducing the <br />number of towers necessary to provide suitable service. Generally speaking, taller antennas <br />could potentially provide cell services for a larger area, thus reducing the number of towers <br />needed to provide complete coverage. Moreover, permitting antennas on existing towers at <br />heights greater than 75 feet would allow better utilization of existing tower space and may <br />reduce the need for new towers elsewhere in the City. <br />City of Arden Hills <br />Planning Commission Meeting for February 3, 2010 <br />IlMetro-inet.uslardenhillslPlanninglPlanning Cases 12009109-023 Refiling Tower Zoning and CUPAmendment (Pending)102-03-10 - <br />_PC Report---Reiling_ Tower CUP Amendmentl.doc Page 4 of 9 <br />