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Regular City Council Meeting <br />Monday, January 11, 2010 <br />Page 15 <br />accommodate the necessary power and utility support equipment on open land, <br />while not severely impacting the park's current or future uses. <br />Further discussion included the number of proposed users, with one confirmed <br />(Clearwire) and the tower engineered for future expansion up to 150' if approved <br />by the City Council; and access for service for the tower from an 8' wide pathway <br />leading to the proposed site, with construction of the tower proposing a challenge. <br />Public Comment <br />Mark Connolly, 240 County Road C <br />Mr. Connolly spoke in opposition to this request, as a 35-year resident in this lo- <br />cation. Mr. Connolly advised that homeowners had never been asked about this <br />proposal, and that neither the Planning Commission nor the Parks and Recreation <br />Commission were supportive. Mr. Connolly opined that, as an engineer, he <br />thought there were alternative locations, such as Lady Slipper Park, since it is less <br />amenable in appearance with existing rail and power lines in addition to being a <br />less-populated area. Mr. Connolly further opined that it didn't make sense to put <br />a commercial enterprise in a park used by residents from the community and <br />wider area as well. <br />Additional discussion among Councilmembers and staff included the status and <br />timeline of the Master Plan process for parks. <br />Parks and Recreation Director Brokke advised that it was about midpoint, with <br />anticipated completion by June or July of 2010. Mr. Brokke advised that the lead- <br />ing factor for consideration in the planning effort was if the park were to be re- <br />tasked, then the tower may preclude that retasking. Mr. Brokke noted that the <br />original location adjacent to the hockey rink was the least obtrusive and would <br />serve to accommodate lighting as well; however, he noted that the co-location <br />considerations gave the concept an entirely different look and extended the <br />ground space requirements, and extending the height caused some concerns. <br />Mr. Heiser addressed the gap area and potential locations and the inability of <br />Lady Slipper Park to accommodate a tower based on the lack of available dry land <br />to construct a tower. Mr. Heiser advised that other potential locations in that area <br />put the tower even closer to residential properties. Mr. Heiser also addressed the <br />suggested Walgreen's commercial site noting that it had been considered; how- <br />ever, anywhere on that parcel would severely impact adjacent residential proper- <br />ties in attempting to maintain a setback from Rice Street and accommodate park- <br />ing considerations for the businesses. <br />Johnson questioned why, based on the recommendation of the Planning Commis- <br />sion and Parks and Recreation Commission, as well as the status of the Master <br />Plan process, this request could not be delayed until the planning process was <br />completed and why there seemed to be such urgency with the request. <br />