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<br />PUBLIC HEARING <br />SP-57 <br />November 12, 1974 <br />8:10 P.M. <br /> <br />Request: Approval of special use permit for two radio towers <br />in excess of height limitations. <br /> <br />Applicant: Northwestern College <br /> <br />Location: Northwest quadrant of I-35W and I-694 behind post office <br /> <br />Discussion: <br /> <br />The proposed development which is described on the <br />attachments, basically involves construction of a 567' radio <br />tower, a 250' tower and a small 10' x 10' equipment building. <br />The larger tower is proposed to eventually be extended to a <br />700' height. As a point of comparison, the WAYL tower is 450 <br />high. <br /> <br />Section 10-140 (a) of the Zoning Code specifies that radio <br />towers shall not be subject to height limitations unless in the <br />opinion of the Building Inspector, such structure might be <br />dangerous or in other ways detrimental to surrounding property, <br />in which case a special permit from the Council is required. It <br />was the opinion of this department that the proposed towers were <br />potentially dangerous and detrimental to surrounding properties <br />in a number of ways. <br /> <br />We are concerned that the proposal will be detrimental to <br />the City's efforts to upgrade the "downtown". The area where <br />the towers are proposed to be located is one with excellent <br />visibility from the two freeways and one with a strong visual <br />connection to the a own town area south of I-694. The use which <br />is made of this land should be compatible with whatever redevelop- <br />ment plan is created for that area and should be compatible <br />with surrounding uses planned for the area. It is highly <br />probable that such a tower would be an aesthetic detriment to <br />efforts to redevelop the surrounding area with attractive uses, <br />especially if it is felt that the best uses of these areas are <br />non-industrial. <br /> <br />Past reports by this office and by the Citizen's Study <br />Committee have suggested that the study area for the redevelopment <br />study go at least as far north as the Butcher's Spur and possibly <br />to Highway 96. The site of the proposed towers would be within <br />such a study area. It would be unfortunate, if at this late date, <br />development totally inconsistent with a redevelopment plan were <br />to take place on a major parcel within the study area. On this <br />