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Home My WebLink About2014-07-24 - Planning Commission Minutes117 NW Lafayette Avenue Bend Oregon 97701-1925 (541)388-6575 FAX(541)385-1764 http://www.co.deschutes.or.us/cdd/ MINUTES DESCHUTES COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION DESCHUTES SERVICES CENTER 1300 NW WALL STREET, BEND, OREGON, 97701 JULY 24, 2014 — 5:30 P.M. I. CALL TO ORDER Meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m. by Chair Christen Brown. Members present were Vice Chair Hugh Palcic, Steve Swisher, James Powell, Todd Turner and Ed Criss. Staff present were Nick Lelack, Planning Director; Cynthia Smidt, Associate Planner; and Sher Buckner, Administrative Secretary. Minutes of June 26, 2014 were approved. II. PUBLIC HEARING: TA -14-5 - An application to amend the Sunriver Community General District (SUCG) zone to allow wireless telecommunication facilities as a conditional use — Cynthia Smidt, Associate Planner (1 hour). Vice Chair Palcic recused himself because of a conflict of interest. Cynthia discussed the proposal and presented slides. There has been one comment received in opposition to the proposal, regarding health and property value concerns. Commissioner Powell and Cynthia discussed height regulations and Code provisions. Commissioner Turner mentioned a previous proposal regarding a ham radio tower and asked about setbacks — when are they identified? Cynthia said they are part of the conditional use criteria. Cynthia also discussed screening including planting of trees, use of an earth tone color, and co -location availability on the structure. Commissioner Turner asked whether there would be an additional small equipment building if another provider co -located. Cynthia said that would be reviewed under conditional use and it has to be screened or fenced. Nick added that Sunriver requirements would have to be complied with as well, and their internal process often addresses many issues before we received the application. Chair Brown asked about other cell towers in Sunriver. Cynthia said there is one in the Sunriver forest district; the Sunriver Fire Department wants to add a training facility which would include a cell tower. The Sunriver Mall has a Tier 1 facility in the northern section, and there may be others because they are permitted outright. Public Testimony: Ken Lyons spoke on behalf the applicant, AT & T. A full conditional use permit and community meetings will be required, and proof of the need for service must be provided. Demand for service is growing at an exponential rate — as much as 50,000% (fifty thousand percent) because people use their phones for so many things besides voice. Sunriver has a large and growing tourist population and businesses needing service, and over 70% of emergency calls are now sent through wireless. Regarding setbacks, the Code Section 18.116.250, shows specifics. A Tier 3 facility would require demonstrating why a 1:1 setback is not appropriate, such as locating it near a strand of trees to provide aesthetic screening. Sunriver also has a rigorous process for complying with CCNRs, design standards/design review; the parcels that would be under consideration are owned by the Sunriver Owners' Association (SROA) which provides an additional layer of consideration. Commissioner Powell asked what type of emergency redundant system AT & T might put in, since this area is subject to floods and wildfires. In the past, there has been spotty cell coverage and in the event of a power loss, cell coverage is lost, too. Ken said that most of AT & T's sites have a four-hour battery backup, and they are now installing more generators for situations such as these on a regular basis. Chair Brown asked if we should be looking at anything broader than this proposal, or only this specific proposal. Cynthia said that many of the zones in the County already accommodate wireless facilities as a conditional use. Sunriver is more limited on what they allow, and in this case the applicant has a specific request. Nick added that over the next month or so, we can do a quick audit of zones and see where telecommunications facilities are allowed, but Chair Brown felt that wasn't necessary at this time. Commissioner Criss asked if this covered all wireless services or only phones; Ken said it covers all wireless including home security systems — it is no longer just people. Commissioner Criss thought that this might relate to better coverage for La Pine, eventually. Ken said that the cost of wireless is coming down and people are going wireless all the time, giving up land lines, etc. Commissioner Criss mentioned the opposing letter we received regarding health issues. Ken said that the FCC has had limitations on the amount of emissions that can come from facilities; there are a lot of studies that talk about how emissions are regulated including from the FCC. AT & T, on most of its sites, only emits a fraction of those emissions permitted by the FCC. Commissioner Criss asked how many of the Sunriver zones may be used, and Ken said probably only one, although it is up to the SROA. At the present time they are only considering one facility. Also, the facilities can be in different forms such as flagpoles, not just cell towers. Chair Brown and Ken talked about the potential height of the tower which has not yet been discussed with the SROA. Chair Brown and the Commissioners agreed to close the oral and written testimony. 2 Deliberations: Commissioner Turner felt that he understood what applicants of this type would be up against when they pick a location, and this is what the conditional use process covers — the opportunity to try and provide service for the community. He feels comfortable moving this forward with a recommendation. Chair Brown agreed that this is an application to submit to the public process and he was in favor of forwarding it to the Board recommending approval. Commissioner Swisher and Commissioner Criss agreed. Motion: Commissioner Criss motioned to move TA -14-5 forward to the Board with recommendation for approval. Seconded by Commissioner Swisher. Motion passed. III. PUBLIC COMMENTS None. VI. PLANNING COMMISSION & STAFF COMMENTS Nick said that the recruitment for the Redmond area Planning Commissioner vacancy is open until 5:00 tomorrow. So far we have two applicants, and the Board would like to have a Planning Commissioner and Board member participate in the interviews. The next joint meeting on agricultural lands will be September 25. We are looking at different ways to present the opening statement for public hearings — we can discuss changing procedures with the Planning Commission as well as the Board, or keeping things the way they are. With Kevin Harrison's retirement at the end of August, we are hiring a senior planner and have offered the position to Anthony Raguine who formerly worked for CDD and will be starting in mid-August. Chair Brown said that a Board member had contacted him and asked him to attend the work session on TA -13-4, the COID canal piping proposal. He prepared a summary which is in the record. Nick said that a meeting has not yet been scheduled. Commissioner Swisher said he would be absent for the first Planning Commission meeting in September. V. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully submitted, `'I Sher Buckner Administrative Secretary The video record of this meeting can be located at: http://deschutes.granicus.comNiewPublisher.php?view—id=5 3