STAFF REPORT 10

To: Municipal Planning Prepared By: Ronald M. Traub, Director

Commission Economic & Community Development

Meeting Date: May 4, 2017

Applicant: Paul Stefanko of Lake County Telecommunications Department and City of Painesville
Status of Applicant: Operator and Property Owner
Requested Action: Miscellaneous Review
Purpose: To install a 100 foot telecommunications tower
Existing Zoning: R-2, Single Family Residential
Parcel ID Number: 16-D-119-0-00-007-0
Location: 9565 Headlands Road
Size: 10.15 acre site
Existing Land Use: City of Painesville Water Plant
Surrounding Land

Use and Zoning: North: Lake Erie

East: Mentor Headlands State Park; zoned C-1, Conservation

South: Single-family homes; zoned R-2, Single Family Residential

West: Single-family homes; zoned R-2, Single Family Residential

Zoning History: The City of Painesville Water Plant was constructed in 1925.
Applicable

Regulations: 1135 Conditional Use Permits

1155.01 Schedule of District Regulations (o)

Public Utilities: Existing utility service to the building from the right-of-way is underground.
Engineering Comments:

BUILDING

(B6) A building permit is required for new towers. Plans shall be submitted for permit review by the Chief
Building Official for conformance with the Ohio Building Code and necessary permits obtained.

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CIVIL/SITE

Provide a complete site plan indicating location of tower and any site improvements, drives, etc. Site
plan shall be sealed by a licensed civil engineer.

Applicant shall provide written confirmation and plan modifications with next submittal as to the disposition
of each of the above comments.

Fire Department Comments:

No comments

Police Department Comments:

No comments

Analysis: The applicant is requesting to install a 100-ft. self-supporting telecommunication tower at 9565
Headlands Road. The site is located on the north side of Headlands Road east of the intersection of
Jordan Drive and is zoned R-2, Single Family Residential. The tower will provide the necessary
connection and bandwidth for their telephone, data and potential video for security. The tower was
not designed to support additional carriers or cell phone service. A microwave system will be
installed at the top of the tower and communicates via line of sight with another microwave system
installed on the top of the Lake County Courthouse building. The proposed microwave will clear
the existing trees by approximately ten (10) ft.
Per 1157.13 Radio Antennas, the main supporting structure of antennas for the transmission and/or
reception of radio, television or other electromagnetic radiation in any residential district shall be
located behind the line described by the front of the primary dwelling structure, or the front
setback line, whichever is greater. The existing water treatment plant is setback approximately 220
ft. from the street right-of-way on Headlands Road. Locating the tower adjacent to the building
would require additional height due to the change in elevations from the street to the front of the
building which drops off from 614 ft. adjacent to the street right-of-way to 580 ft. at the front of
the building (see topo map). The tower height would have to be increased in excess of 34 ft. in
order to communicate with the existing microwave system installed on the Lake County
Courthouse building. The Administration is recommending the proposed tower structure be
located adjacent to the building and the tower height increased. Locating the tower adjacent to the
street right-of-way on Headlands Road adjacent to single-family homes would detract from the
residential character of the neighborhood. It may also provide additional security to locate the
proposed tower inside of the existing fencing surrounding the water treatment plant.
A site plan indicating the location of tower and any site improvements, drives, etc. will need to be
provided for review prior to the issuance of a building permit. The site plan shall be sealed by a
licensed civil engineer.
Conditions:

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1. The applicant shall provide written confirmation as to the disposition of each of the City Engineer's
comments and shall be included as parts of any Building Permit application.
2. The proposed tower shall be located adjacent to the water treatment building and the height of the tower
shall be increased to an appropriate height to clear the trees in order to obtain line of sight with the existing
microwave system located on the Lake County Courthouse building.
Exhibits: Cover letter, Site Plan, Preliminary Construction Plans, GIS Map

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