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2004-11-17 - Appearance Review Team - Minutes Board or Commission: ❑Appearance Review Team Document Type: ❑Agenda 0 Minutes Meeting Date: 11/17/2004 Type of Meeting: ❑ Regular Meeting Appearance Review Team (ART) Meeting 6:30 p.m., 11/17/2004 Proposed Cellular Towers, Busch Grove, Rolling Hills North & Bison Parks Petitioner: Michael Rylko, Buffalo Grove Park District ART TEAM: Susan Kenski-Sroka, Plan Commissioner Howard Teplinsky, Plan Commissioner Robert Pfeil, Village Planner Greg Summers, Associate Planner ALSO PRESENT: John Green, Groundwork Limited Michael Rylko, Buffalo Grove Park District Michael Howley, Insite (Representing T-Mobile) CC: Jeff Braiman, Trustee Liaison to the Plan Commission Bruce Kahn, Trustee Liaison to the Plan Commission Plan Commission SUBJECT SITE Busch Grove, Rolling Hills North and Bison Parks PETITIONER REQUEST The Buffalo Grove Park District, is seeking approval to construct three telecommunications towers in Busch Grove, Rolling Hills North and Bison Parks. Although discussion was held simultaneously, for the purposes of the ART recommendation each of the park sites is considered independently. John Green provided an overview of each site: BUSCH GROVE PARK OVERVIEW Busch Grove Park is the Park District's largest park and is adjacent to single family homes, townhomes, condominiums, other parks, office, and commercial properties. A 120 foot monopole is proposed. A second user can be accommodated on this pole at a 110 foot height. The pole will replace one of two outfield light poles on the southeast baseball field located adjacent to the golf dome facility. The existing baseball field lights are 70 feet high and would be remounted on the new monopole at the identical height. The site is screened by trees on the east and north that vary from approximately 80 feet to 95 feet in height. The tower finish will be identical to the metal finish on the existing baseball field light poles and the equipment shelter will be 10 feet by 20 feet and constructed of the same materials as the adjacent splash pad restroom facility. According to the materials sheet provided by the petitioner this includes walls constructed of Northfield Block color A-7 and Northfield Block color Cocoa. The doors, trim, and fascia would be painted Sherwin Williams color Tony Taupe (SW 7038). The building would have a 6-8 pitch metal roof by PAC-Clad color Colonial Red. The overall building height would be 12 to 14 feet depending on the final selected roof pitch. A 24 foot by 58 foot area of 6 foot chain link fence will surround the building and base of the tower. The fenced area will be screened with 21 arborvitae plants at least 6 feet in height at the time of planting. The plants will grow to 8 feet within several years of planting and will reach an ultimate height of approximately 15 feet at maturity. ROLLING HILLS NORTH PARK OVERVIEW Rolling Hills North Park is a five acre triangular site adjacent to single family homes to the north and east and Commonwealth Edison power lines to the south and west. A 90 foot lattice tower is proposed. The lattice tower was selected to blend with the lattice towers used for the power lines. As a point of reference, the two sets of power lines are 75 feet and 90 feet high and the Commonwealth Edison right-of-way is 210 feet wide. The finish of the proposed tower will be identical to the metal finish on the Commonwealth Edison lattice towers. The equipment shelter will be 10 feet by 20 feet and constructed of the same materials as the shelter at Busch Grove Park with the exception that a flat roof is proposed for this location. A 24 foot by 58 foot area of 6 foot chain link fence will surround the building and base of the tower. The fenced area will be screened with 32 arborvitae plants at least 6 feet in height at the time of planting. BISON PARK OVERVIEW Bison Park is adjacent to commercial uses to the west, single family homes to the east, condominiums to the south, and Dundee Road and condominiums to the north. An 80 foot monopole is proposed. The tower is proposed to be as close as possible to the west commercial property line, tucked behind existing large deciduous trees and adjacent to the car lot light poles. As a point of reference, the existing deciduous trees are 45 to 55 feet in height. This tower would not have a traditional antenna array; the equipment would be hidden inside the pole. The tower will have a brushed aluminum finish which is intended to minimize visibility. The equipment shelter, fenced area, and plantings would be identical to that proposed for the Rolling Hills North Park. ART RECOMMENDATION / NOTES Mr. Howley added that in addition to the specified tower heights the lighting rods stand 4 to 5 feet taller than the poles. Commissioner Kenski-Sroka commented that 2 out of the 3 sites are camouflaged in some manner (Rolling Hills lattice tower, Busch Grove baseball light pole), but Bison Park is not. She believes that all of the sites should be camouflaged to the greatest extent possible. Commissioner Teplinsky asked about time to construct each site. Mr. Howley responded that it typically takes about two to three weeks to complete an installation. The towers can sometimes be erected in a day. Mr. Summers asked about the connection between the equipment shelter and the towers. The materials submitted for the ART meeting depict an underground coax connection whereas the Plan Commission Public Hearing documents depict an overhead ice bridge. Mr. Green explained that they will use an ice bridge which is approximately 8 to 9 feet to the top. Mr. Summers stated that his concern is two fold 1) the ice bridge exceeds the height of the adjacent fence and landscaping adding to the site's detrimental aesthetic impact and 2) the Appearance Plan states that such connections shall be underground. Mr. Howley indicated they will revise the plans to depict underground coax connections. Commissioner Kenski-Sroka asked about alternatives to the chain-link fence. She is concerned that chain link fence is not the most attractive option. Mr. Green indicated that chain link fence provides the most effective solution. Commissioner Teplinsky asked if the fence would have barbed wire at the top. Mr. Green stated that barbed wire is prohibited by Village Ordinance. Mr. Summers stated that the Telecommunications chapter of the Zoning Ordinance specifically calls for pitched roof equipment shelters for cellular tower sites to assist in their blending in with adjacent areas. He feels this is particularly important in the residential settings of the Rolling Hills North and Bison Park sites. Mr. Green replied that they are willing to do that, but they felt the selected roof color would be a problem. Mr. Summers suggested that they use the Colonial Red roof at Busch Grove Park, where it matches the adjacent restroom facility, and use a beige, tan or taupe color to blend with the block walls for the Rolling Hills North and Bison Park sites. The ART recommendation (by a vote of 3 to 1) was for all three equipment shelters to have a pitched roof: red at Busch Grove; beige, tan or taupe at the other two sites. Mr. Green stated that they could do that and selected PAC-Clad color Sierra Tan for the Rolling Hills North and Bison Park sites. Commissioner Teplinsky asked if the lattice tower could be climbed by unauthorized persons. Mr. Howley indicated that bars can be installed at 8 to 9 feet above ground to discourage climbers. Commissioner Kenski-Sroka asked about signage on the tower, building, and fence. Mr. Howley stated that they will have only signage as mandated by the FCC. This will include a danger warning, FCC tower number, and address signage. No site lighting will be provided unless the Village wants a motion sensor light. Mr. Pfeil asked if the Busch Grove Park tower would be visible to Hidden Lake and Cherbourg residents to the east. Mr. Green responded that approximately the top 10 feet of the tower would be visible from those locations. The pole is set into a pocket of trees that screen the location adequately. The meeting adjourned at 7:20 p.m.