PRESENT: Frances Marella, Chairperson
Carole
Schwartz, Vice-Chairperson
Robert
M. Campbell, Secretary
Joann
Granata
Michael
Nickerson
Paul
D. Woodring
ABSENT: Ramon C. Young
STAFF: Mark F. Miller,
Assistant Director
DEPT.
OF PLANNING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Mr. Marella called the meeting to order at 3:05 p.m.
PART OF 3.6 ACRES FRONTING THE SOUTH LINE OF HALL ROAD (M-59), EAST OF
TRINITY DRIVE (SECTION 3)
-- APPEAL: AT&T WIRELESS ANTENNA @ NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS
FILE #5244: AT&T WIRELESS SERVICES
REPRESENTATIVE: RICHARD CONNOR RILEY & ASSOCIATES
Pertinent correspondence was read and entered into the record. Mr. Campbell indicated that there were no written replies received in response to the mailing of the Notice of Public Hearing to the owners and occupants within 300 feet of the land in question.
Lauren Cato, of Richard Connor Riley & Associates, 30150 North Telegraph Road, Bingham Farms, Michigan 48025, representing the petitioner, thanked the Board members for holding this Special Hearing. She indicated that they are now proposing to co-locate with Nextel Communications on the Nextel site in order to avoid having to put up another tower in such a close proximity. She informed that AT&T had previously chosen a site at C.J. Barrymores and would have built the tower at a height of 125 feet, which would have been sufficient. They soon discovered that Nextel had a 125-foot tower and would agree to a co-location; however, AT&T would have to locate on that tower at a height of 115 feet. Ms. Cato indicated that this height will not afford sufficient coverage. They are therefore proposing to raise the tower to 150 feet, which would also eliminate their need for an additional tower at the Clinton Township Fire Station site. She replied to inquiry that if they find they still do not have adequate coverage, they would be willing to co-locate on the Ameritech tower at a lower height.
Ms. Cato demonstrated on the "propagation maps" the "before" and "after" coverage with the proposed tower, although she added that the computer maps often do not effectively show the changes.
Mr. Campbell pointed out that the AT&T tower referred to at Hayes and Canal is actually located at Garfield and Canal. He suggested that Ms. Cato point this out to the engineers so they can correct their database to indicate the correct location.
Motion by Ms. Granata, supported by Mr. Campbell, with reference to File #5244 and application from AT&T Wireless Service, 26877 Northwestern Highway, #420, Southfield, Michigan 48034, as represented by Lauren Cato, Richard Connor Riley & Associates, 30150 Telegraph Road, #420, Bingham Farms, Michigan 48025, for variance to Clinton Township Planning and Zoning Code (Reference Ordinance #260), Chapter 1298.02-(a)-(11A)-E, Supplementary Regulations; Uses Requiring Special Approval; Procedure, concerning part of 3.6 acres located south of Hall Road (M-59), east of Trinity Drive (Section 3), that variance be granted to permit installation of a cellular telephone antenna (Co-location of AT&T Wireless Service on a Nextel antenna) on a vacant parcel of land in the I-1 Light Industrial District with height of 153 feet being 28 feet in excess of the maximum permitted 125 feet; further, this grant of variance is based on practical difficulty that an attempt is being made to minimize the construction of additional towers by co-locating on existing towers and the additional height is necessary to do this; further, this grant of variance is contingent upon compliance with all other requirements of Township ordinances. Roll Call Vote: Aye - Granata, Campbell, Nickerson, Schwartz, Woodring, Marella. Nay - None. Absent - Young. motion carried.
ADJOURNMENT
Motion by Ms. Schwartz, supported by Mr. Marella, to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at 3:18 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Robert M. Campbell, Secretary
CLINTON TOWNSHIP BOARD OF APPEALS