[II.b. CitySwitch, applicant, has requested a conditional use permit to construct a new wireless telecommunications facility within an I – Institutional zoning district on the railroad right-of-way, which is owned by CSX Transportation, Inc., and accessed via Maediris Drive, Decatur GA.]

TELECOMMUNICATIONS FACILITY WITHIN AN INSTITUTIONAL I'M SORRY, INSTITUTIONAL ZONING DISTRICT ON THE RAILROAD RIGHT OF WAY, WHICH IS OWNED BY CSX TRANSPORTATION INC.

AND ACCESSED THROUGH THE MAEDIRIS DRIVE DECATUR, GEORGIA.

AND I SEE THE APPLICANT IS HERE.

IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO MAKE YOUR PRESENTATION.

WHAT I WILL ASK YOU TO DO, BECAUSE I KNOW FROM YOUR LAST PRESENTATION THAT YOU TEND TO BE VERY THOROUGH.

SO IF WE COULD FOCUS YOUR PRESENTATION ON THE ISSUES THAT CAME UP LAST TIME AND WHAT YOU'VE DONE TO ADDRESS THOSE AND ANY NEW INFORMATION.

SURE. THANK YOU, CHAIRMAN BUCKLEY.

SO WE DID A LETTER TO MS. THREADGILL THAT PROVIDED OUR RESPONSES TO THAT INFORMATION.

AND I GUESS MY QUESTION WOULD BE, HAVE YOU HAD WAS THAT INFORMATION DISSEMINATED TO YOU? YES. AND SPEAKING FOR MYSELF, I HAVE READ IT.

OKAY. I JUST WANT TO I DIDN'T WANT TO WASTE YOUR TIME HANDING OUT A BUNCH OF HANDOUTS BECAUSE I GOT COPIES OF EVERYTHING IF ANYBODY NEEDS IT.

[00:05:08]

SO IF YOU ONE OF THE FIRST THINGS WE WERE ASKED WAS ABOUT THE RAZOR WIRE.

THERE WAS A RAZOR WIRE OR BARBED WIRE FENCE ON TOP OF THE FENCE AND COULD WE ELIMINATE THAT? AND THAT WAS ELIMINATED.

IF YOU LOOK IN WHAT IS EXHIBIT A TO THE LETTER, YOU WILL SEE THE CONSTRUCTION PLANS HAVE BEEN AMENDED SUCH THAT THE FENCE DETAIL.

IT'S NOW A REALLY TIGHT MESH FENCE, LIKE IT'S A ONE INCH MESH FENCE.

AND SO IT'S AN ANTI-CLIMB FENCE.

INSTEAD OF HAVING AN ANTI-CLIMB DEVICE ON TOP OF A STANDARD FENCE.

AND SO THAT WOULD ALSO OFFER ENHANCED SCREENING BECAUSE ANOTHER QUESTION WAS, WITH THE VEGETATION AND THE VEGETATIVE BUFFER, WE HAVE NOW ADDED A VEGETATIVE BUFFER.

WE GOT PERMISSION FROM CSX TO ADD THE VEGETATIVE BUFFER ALL THE WAY AROUND THE ENCLOSURE.

SO IT IS FULLY VEGETATED AND COMPLIANT WITH THE ORDINANCES.

THE OTHER QUESTIONS WE HAVE WAS CONCERNING THE GENERATOR.

AND SO RIGHT NOW, THERE IS NO GENERATOR PLANNED TO BE INSTALLED AT THIS SITE.

HOWEVER, IF A GENERATOR IS INSTALLED, WE HAVE PROVIDED THOSE SPECIFICATIONS TO THE COMMISSION.

IT WOULD BE A GENERIC ENCLOSED GENERATOR THAT HAS NOISE INSULATION AND THE SPECS FOR THE GENERATOR CALL FOR 71DB, WHICH I THINK IS ABOUT THE SOUND OF A HOUSEHOLD VACUUM CLEANER.

AND WE PROVIDED.

A DECIBEL SHEET FROM, I THINK, YALE THAT WE FOUND ONLINE THAT KIND OF REFERENCES WHAT DOES 71DB MEAN? THE NEXT QUESTION WE HAD AND A LOT OF CONCERNS WE HAD CONCERNED THE FALL ZONE AND THE CODES REQUIREMENT OR THE 200 FOOT SETBACK THAT IS SET FORTH.

AND WE WENT BACK TO THE ENGINEERS AND GOT THEM TO CERTIFY THAT THIS THING IS DESIGNED FOR AN ULTIMATE WIND SPEED OF 107 MILES AN HOUR OR 30 MILES AN HOUR PLUS AN INCH AND A HALF OF ICE.

ONE OF THE QUESTIONS THAT THE ENGINEER ASKED ME IS BASICALLY AT THAT POINT, YOU'D PROBABLY ALSO HAVE A CATASTROPHIC CANOPY FAILURE.

SO, I MEAN, YOU'D HAVE TREES EVERYWHERE IF YOU HAD 107 MILES OF WIND IN DECATUR, GEORGIA, BECAUSE IT'S ALL IT'S A CAT TWO HURRICANE, WHICH IS NOT GOING TO REACH THIS FAR INLAND.

SO THAT'S WE AND THEN THE ENGINEER ALSO CERTIFIED, BUT THE MONOPOLE IS DESIGNED SO ANY FAILURE WOULD OCCUR BETWEEN THE SLIP JOINTS BETWEEN 50 AND 100FT.

SO EACH THIRD OF THE WAY UP, THERE'S A JOINT LIKE A SPECIFIED FAILURE POINT.

SO THE TOWER FOLDS ON ITSELF LIKE WE HAD TALKED ABOUT LAST TIME, BUT JUST WANTED TO PAPER THAT SO THAT WE HAD IT IN MORE PLAIN LANGUAGE FROM THE ENGINEER INSTEAD OF THE ENGINEER SPEAK THAT THEY HAD PROVIDED US LAST TIME.

SO WE JUST GOT THAT UPDATED LAST WEEK.

AND SO THEY HAVE CERTIFIED THAT IT WOULD, IF ANY FAILURE WOULD OCCUR NEAR THE SLIP JOINTS BETWEEN 50 AND 100FT AND THEN THE TOP PORTION OF THE MONOPOLE WOULD JUST FOLD ON ITSELF OR IT JUST KIND OF REMAINED STANDING IN A LEANED OVER, YOU KNOW, JUST GET IF IT DIDN'T COLLAPSE, IT JUST LEAN A LITTLE BIT.

AND SO THAT WAS EXPLAINED IN THE LETTER THAT WAS ALSO PROVIDED TO MS. THREADGILL. WE ALSO LOOKED AT THE THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT THE ANTENNAS AND HOW HARD THEY'RE LIKE ATTACHED AND THAT KIND OF THING. THAT'S A DESIGN FUNCTION THAT HAPPENS AFTER APPROVAL, BUT IT HAS TO BE DESIGNED TO THE SAME STANDARDS THAT THE TOWER WAS DESIGNED AND WE PROVIDED YOU WITH ALL THE ENGINEERING INFORMATION ON ANOTHER SAME SABER TOWER THAT THIS COMPANY DID, 150 FOOT MONOPOLE IN ANOTHER JURISDICTION.

I THINK IT WOULD HAPPEN TO BE IN TENNESSEE, BUT YOU HAVE ALL THE INFORMATION ON THAT.

SO IT WOULD BE DESIGNED SUCH THAT IT'S A CONTINUOUS UNIT.

AND IF YOU HAD OF THE KIND OF THE SAFETY STANDARDS AND THE FAILURE STANDARDS WOULD ALL BE DESIGNED FOR THIS 107 MILE AN HOUR WIND EVENT. IF IT EVER HAPPENED.

WE HAVE PROVIDED ALL OF THIS INFORMATION WITH MR. PHILIP MCGINNIS, WHO'S THE PRESIDENT OF THE WESTCHESTER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

AND I PROVIDED THIS INFORMATION TO MR. BOWES, WHO HAS THE HOUSE THAT'S NEAREST TO THE INFORMATION.

I DIDN'T GET ANY FEEDBACK, BUT AT SOME POINT HE TOLD ME HE DIDN'T HAVE QUESTIONS AND I'M SURE YOU ALL HEAR FROM THEM LATER ON.

SO I DON'T WANT TO SPEAK TO THEIR BEHALF.

THE NEXT THING IN OUR LETTER HAD TO DO WITH VEGETATION.

AND SO WE'VE TALKED ABOUT THAT.

WE ADDED THE FULL VEGETATION PACKAGE AROUND THE ENTIRE TOWER.

[00:10:02]

THERE WERE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE THE MONOPOLE AT PUBLIX.

THAT TOWER IS PRIVATELY OWNED AND THERE'S NO PUBLICLY AVAILABLE INFORMATION.

BUT OUR CLIENT WAS APPROACHED BY DISH BECAUSE DISH WAS UNABLE TO SECURE A LEASE WITH REASONABLE TERMS ON THE PUBLIX SITE.

SO THEY WANT TO MOVE OFF OF THAT SITE, WHICH WOULD MEAN THERE'D BE NO REASON FOR THAT TOWER TO CONTINUE TO EXIST IF THERE'S NO CELLULAR CUSTOMER WHO'S RENTING ON IT. SO WE UNDERSTAND THAT IT'S SUPPOSED TO BE DECOMMISSIONED AND TAKEN DOWN IN THE NEXT TWO YEARS.

THAT'S WHAT WE UNDERSTAND.

THEN THERE WAS A QUESTION ABOUT ALTERNATIVE SITES FOR MONOPOLE COMMUNICATIONS TOWER WITHIN THE RAILROAD CORRIDOR, AND WE HAVE PROVIDED YOU WITH OUR SITE STUDY.

SO WE WENT THROUGH AND HAD OUR RF ENGINEERS DESIGN A WELL THE RF WE DIDN'T TELL THEM WHAT TO DO.

THEY DESIGNED A STUDY AREA WITHIN I THINK IT'S A HALF MILE OR SO.

AND THEN WE WENT AND APPROACHED VARIOUS PRIVATE PROPERTY OWNERS WITHIN THAT HALF MILE RING, MOST OF WHICH YOU'D SEE WERE CLOSER TO THE COMMERCIAL NODE TO THE NORTH OF THE SITE.

AND THEY EITHER DIDN'T RESPOND OR THEY TOLD US THAT THEY WERE NOT INTERESTED.

SO THIS WAS THE LAST ONE.

AND EVERYTHING SOUTH IN THAT SEARCH RING WOULD HAVE BEEN EVEN MORE RESIDENTIAL.

SO WE'VE DONE EVERYTHING WE COULD DO TO LOCATE IT TO THE NORTH.

I DO THINK ONE THING THAT WAS NOT ADDRESSED IN THE LETTER IS SOMEBODY HAD ASKED IF WE COULD MOVE THE COMPOUND, LIKE TO THE NORTH WITHIN THE CSX PROPERTY.

WE LOOKED AT THAT.

WE WERE UNABLE TO DO THAT BECAUSE IT WOULD BASICALLY REQUIRE A NEW LEASE, NEW ZONING APPLICATION, ETCETERA.

SO THAT WAS SOMETHING THAT WAS CONSIDERED AND WE WERE NOT ABLE TO ACCOMMODATE THAT.

WE ALSO, AT THE REQUEST OF MISS THREADGILL DID PHOTO SIMULATIONS.

SO WE HAD SOMEBODY GO OUT AND PARK A DRONE AT 150FT AND THE DRONE WAS VISIBLE.

I THINK SHE WAS ACTUALLY OUT THERE DURING THE TEST AND SO SHE COULD SEE THAT IT WAS DONE APPROPRIATELY OR NOT, ACCORDING TO HER.

AND SO WE HAVE PROVIDED A SERIES OF PHOTO SIMULATIONS.

AND WHILE THE ANTENNA IS VISIBLE FROM SEVERAL SPOTS, THE ANTENNA IS ALSO NOT VISIBLE FROM SEVERAL SPOTS JUST DUE TO THE TREE COVER AND THE CANOPY AND KIND OF THE TREE NATURE OF THIS PART OF THE CITY.

THERE ARE A LOT OF TREES AND THEY KIND OF INTERFERE WITH THE VISIBILITY OF A CELL TOWER.

IT'S ON THE EDGE OF THE CITY LIMITS.

SO WE'VE PUSHED IT OUT AS FAR AS WE CAN.

WE'VE PUSHED IT INTO ANOTHER INDUSTRIAL USE NEXT TO THE TRAIN TRACK AND HAVE TRIED TO KIND OF TUCK IT UP NEAR A COMMERCIAL AREA SO THAT IT'S ZONED WITH LIKE STUFF.

SO. I DON'T WANT TO BOMBARD Y'ALL WITH STUFF YOU'VE ALREADY READ, BUT IF YOU'VE GOT ANY QUESTIONS, IF THIS IS THE APPROPRIATE TIME, I'D BE HAPPY TO TAKE THOSE OR BE HAPPY TO SIT DOWN.

JUST A QUICK QUESTION ON THE BALLOON TEST, BECAUSE I LOOKED AT THOSE PHOTOGRAPHS AND IT WASN'T QUITE CLEAR.

BUT I THINK I UNDERSTAND NOW THAT YOU'VE REMARKED ON IT.

IT'S BASED ON YOUR REMARKS.

IF THERE'S A PHOTOGRAPH WITH AN ARROW IN IT, THAT'S A VIEW FROM WHICH YOU CAN SEE THE BALLOON.

BUT IF IT DID NOT HAVE AN ARROW, YOU COULD NOT.

IS THAT CORRECT? THE ONE I HAVE ACTUALLY DEPICTS THE TOWER WITHOUT ARROWS. STAFF REPORT HAD THE ARROWS.

OH, THE STAFF REPORT. OKAY.

YEAH, SORRY ABOUT THAT.

NO THAT'S FINE. SHOULD BE ASKING ANGELA THAT QUESTION.

NO, THAT'S SO MINE, I THINK MORE ATTEMPT TO PORTRAY THE ACTUAL VIEW WITHOUT THE ARROW FOR THE EMPHASIS.

I CAN'T UNDERSTAND WHY YOU'D WANT THE ARROW.

BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO SEE AND IT'S NOT PRESENT IN SEVERAL OF THEM WHERE YOU THINK IT WOULD HAVE BEEN PRESENT.

SO YEAH, I DON'T, HAVE THE ARROW, I JUST HAVE THE ONES WHERE IT'S NOT VISIBLE.

IT JUST SAYS NOT VISIBLE.

THAT WAS MY MISTAKE.

I MIXED UP THE MATERIALS IN MY HEAD.

DID ANYBODY ELSE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS? I'VE GOT A QUESTION.

I'M INTRIGUED.

WHY NO GENERATOR? WHY IS A CITY SWITCH NOT PLANNING? I MEAN, SO IT LOSES POWER.

THIS CELL NETWORK GOES DOWN, THIS PIECE OF THE CELL NETWORK WOULD GO DOWN.

SO, I MEAN, AND I HONESTLY CAN'T ANSWER THAT.

THE CSX EQUIPMENT DOES NOT NEED BACKUP POWER.

I JUST DON'T HAVE AN ANSWER.

I MEAN, I'VE BEEN TOLD THERE IS NO GENERATOR. I FIND THAT CURIOUS THAT THIS WOULD BE PROBABLY ONE OF THE FIRST CELL TOWERS I'VE EVER SEEN WITHOUT A GENERATOR SITTING THERE, SO. OKAY. YEAH.

ANYONE ELSE? YES.

[00:15:02]

YOUR ENGINEER'S LETTER.

THE ENGINEER IS FROM THE MANUFACTURER SABER.

BAUER. YES. IT'S NOT AN INDEPENDENT ANALYSIS.

IT'S FROM THE TOWER MANUFACTURER.

CORRECT. OKAY.

SO WOULD IT BE FAIR TO SAY THAT THE ENGINEER COULD ONLY ANALYZE THE PRODUCT THAT THE TOWER MANUFACTURER MAKES AND NOT THE FULLY ERECTED CONSTRUCTED POLE? BECAUSE THAT DEPENDS ON THE WORKMANSHIP WHEN IT'S INSTALLED? IN OTHER WORDS, THERE'S NO ANALYSIS OF FAILURE AT THE BASE OR THE FOUNDATION.

THIS ALL INCLUDES THE FOUNDATION AND THE BASE AND THE CELL TOWER.

THE TOWER COMPANY MAKES THESE.

AND SO THEY'RE GOING TO BE THE MOST RESPONSIBLE IF IT WERE TO COLLAPSE.

SO THERE, I WOULD SAY, KEENLY INVESTED IN MAKING SURE THEY GET IT RIGHT.

BUT IN THE LETTER I SEE A LOT OF LANGUAGE LIKE MOST LIKELY AND HIGHLY UNLIKELY.

ARE THERE ANY PERCENTAGES OR NUMERICAL RISK FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH THAT LANGUAGE? I'VE PROVIDED YOU EVERYTHING THEY'VE PROVIDED ME.

OKAY. AND TO THE EXTENT THEY'VE TOLD ME ANYTHING, I THINK I MEAN, WHEN YOU START GETTING INTO STATISTICAL ANALYSIS AND ENGINEERING, IT GETS MORE CONFUSING THAN IT HELPS.

IN MY, TO ME BECAUSE I MEAN, THEY START GETTING INTO WEATHER EVENTS AND 3000 YEAR WEATHER EVENTS AND STUFF THAT IT WOULD TAKE A DEGREE IN STATISTICS TO UNDERSTAND.

SO THE STUDY WAS BASED ON POSSIBLE WEATHER EVENTS CALCULATED FOR THE LOCATION HERE IN THE ATLANTA, GEORGIA AREA AND NO OTHER POSSIBLE LOAD FACTORS.

PERHAPS I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING BESIDES WEATHER.

AND WHAT I SEE.

EARTHQUAKES. EARTHQUAKE.

I SEE THIS IN PROXIMITY TO THE FREIGHT RAIL LINE.

THERE ARE ALWAYS POSSIBILITIES OF DERAILMENTS OR ACCIDENTS INVOLVING FLAMMABLE MATERIAL.

WHICH WOULD POSSIBLY IMPACT THE TOWER AND ITS ABILITY TO HOLD UP ITS STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY.

THERE HAVE BEEN ANY.

THERE'S NO FURTHER ANALYSIS OF HOW IT WOULD PERFORM IN THE SITUATION WHERE A FLAMMABLE LOAD COULD CATCH FIRE ON THE NEARBY RAIL LINE.

THE ANALYSIS WAS DONE FOR THE MOST PROBABLE EVENTS THAT WOULD BEFALL THE TOWER.

RIGHT. OKAY, GO AHEAD.

GO AHEAD. NO, NO.

I'LL PAUSE. HAND IT OFF.

NO, I DON'T WANT TO CUT YOU OFF. YOU KNOW, I UNDERSTAND THE MONOPOLES.

THEY DO HAVE THE MOST PROBABLE FAILURE AT THE JOINTS.

AND IT'S BEEN DESCRIBED AS LIKE A BENT STRAW WHEN THEY FAIL TYPICALLY FROM A WIND EVENT.

THE LETTER MENTIONS THAT THE TWO LOCATIONS WHERE THE SLIP JOINTS ARE 50FT TO 100FT OFF THE GROUND.

THAT'S TWO DIFFERENT FAILURE LOCATIONS.

IF IT WAS TO FAIL AT THE 50FT OFF THE GROUND, THAT'S 100FT OF POLE THAT'S ABOVE THAT POINT OF FAILURE.

IF THAT FALLS.

HOW CAN THIS LETTER SAY THAT IT IS MOST LIKELY FOR THE TOWER TO BE CONTAINED WITHIN THE 50 FOOT BY 60 FOOT COMPOUND? BECAUSE I THINK YOU'RE LOOKING AT ONE EXTREME EVENT IN ISOLATION WHERE YOU A REAL FAILURE WOULD HAPPEN.

THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT WE HAVE TO EXAMINE.

THE POSSIBILITY OF EVENTS.

I JUST WOULD SAY IT'S HIGHLY IMPROBABLE.

OKAY. SEE MORE.

COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS REGARDING THE LANDSCAPE BUFFER.

LOOKING AT SHEET L ONE THAT THAT YOU PROVIDED, THE CITY REQUIREMENT IS THAT TEN FOOT BUFFER.

AND WHAT I'M SEEING IS A FIVE FOOT BUFFER SHOWN ON L ONE.

WITH A SINGLE ROW OF THE [INAUDIBLE] THIS.

THE [INAUDIBLE]. WELL, MY UNDERSTANDING IS WE PROVIDED THE MAXIMUM THAT WOULD FIT IN THE SPACE.

WE ORIGINALLY DID NOT HAVE ONE BECAUSE IT WAS A CONSTRAINED SITE AND WE'RE TRYING NOT TO DISTURB ANY MORE OF THE TREES THAN WE HAVE TO.

[00:20:02]

OKAY. I THINK THAT MIGHT BE A NOTE.

WE SHOULD. I'M NOT SURE YOU HAVE TREES WITHIN FIVE FEET OF THAT FENCE RIGHT NOW.

SO. SECOND THING ON THAT SAME SHEET, THERE'S A NOTE THAT SAYS LANDOWNER WILL BE RESPONSIBLE FOR MAINTAINING AND WATERING ALL LANDSCAPING ON SITE.

IS CITY SWITCH THE LANDOWNER IN THIS CASE.

MY UNDERSTANDING IS THAT CITIES WHICH WILL HAVE A LEASE WITH CSX.

AND SO WILL BE THE LANDOWNER IN THIS IN THE CONTEXT OF THAT NOTE.

THEY WILL BE THE LANDOWNER.

THAT'S I MEAN, THIS WAS DESIGNED FOR CITY SWITCH WHICH SO THAT'S MY UNDERSTANDING IS CITIES WHICH IS RESPONSIBLE FOR ALL THE IMPROVEMENTS THAT GET INSTALLED WITHIN THE LEASE, MAINTAINING THE LANDSCAPE BUFFER BE INCLUDED IN THAT FOREVER AND A DAY.

SO THAT THEIR TOWER CONTINUES TO BE COMPLIANT WITH YOUR ZONING ORDINANCES.

I HAVE A QUESTION RELATING TO THE PUBLIX TOWER FROM THE WORDING IN THE LETTER THAT YOU SUBMITTED.

OUR CLIENT WAS UNABLE WAS APPROACHED.

SORRY. HOLD ON. THERE WE GO WAS UNABLE TO SECURE A LEASE WITH A REASONABLE TERM ON THE PUBLIX SIDE.

DOES THAT MEAN THAT THEY WERE OFFERED A LEASE ON THE PUBLIX SITE? HOWEVER THEY DEEMED THE TERMS NOT TO BE REASONABLE? I THINK IT COULD BE READ THAT WAY.

IT'S ALSO A MUCH SHORTER TOWER.

AND IT ALSO ONLY HAS ONE POSITION WHERE THIS WOULD HAVE FOUR.

ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

IS THERE ANYONE PRESENT OR ONLINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN SUPPORT OF THIS APPLICATION? ALL RIGHT. SEEING NONE, WE WILL MOVE TO THE OPPOSITION.

WHAT I WILL ASK IS THAT ANYONE HERE IN OPPOSITION TO THE APPLICATION LINE UP ON THAT SIDE OF THE ROOM ALONG THE WALL SO THAT WE CAN HAVE A SMOOTH TRANSITION FROM ONE SPEAKER TO THE NEXT? ALL RIGHT. WHEN YOU START YOUR REMARKS, PLEASE REMEMBER TO LET US KNOW YOUR NAME AND YOUR ADDRESS.

AND WHEN YOU HIT YOUR TWO MINUTE MARK, I'LL GIVE YOU AN INDICATION SO THAT YOU KNOW THAT YOU HAVE ONE MINUTE LEFT.

ALL RIGHT. THANK YOU. MY NAME IS PHILIP MCGINNIS.

I'M AT 413 WESTCHESTER DRIVE.

I'M ALSO THE CURRENT PRESIDENT OF THE WESTCHESTER NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION.

A LOT OF THE COMMENTS THAT I HAVE HERE TONIGHT YOU ALL HAVE ALREADY ADDRESSED.

I'M GOING TO KIND OF KEEP THIS BRIEF.

I'VE GOT IT WRITTEN OUT.

REGARDING THE 200 FOOT SETBACK.

I SUBMITTED THREE EXAMPLES OF TOWERS THAT HAVE FALLEN IN A LINEAR FASHION AS WELL.

AND ALL THREE OF THOSE HAVE HAPPENED SINCE SEPTEMBER OF 21.

THE SETBACK THAT THEY'RE PROPOSING WOULD BE 42FT FROM THE YMCA, AND THAT'S A 79% REDUCTION IN THE 200 FOOT SETBACK.

ADDITIONALLY, IT'LL BE 68FT FROM 235 MAEDIRIS AND THAT WOULD BE A 66% REDUCTION IN THE SETBACK.

AND THAT'S THAT VARIANCE REQUEST IS EXCESSIVE AND SHOULD BE DENIED.

REGARDING THE BUFFER AREA, THE ENTIRETY OF THE SITE IS IN AN EXISTING BUFFER BETWEEN THE CSX RAILROAD AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

IF THIS WAS TO BE BUILT, IT WOULD BASICALLY EQUATE TO A 70% REDUCTION IN THAT BUFFER ALONE.

AND THEN THE QUESTION WAS ADDRESSED ABOUT THE FIVE FOOT LANDSCAPING.

THAT'S ONLY 50% OF WHAT WAS RECOMMENDED OR STATED AS A REQUIREMENT IN THE STAFF REPORT.

IN TERMS OF THE GENERATOR.

A GENERATOR HAS COME INTO THIS SITE.

THEY'VE GOT A FIVE BY FIVE PAD ON THEIR SITE PAD.

SO IT'S JUST A MATTER OF TIME WHEN THEY'RE GOING TO PUT IT IN.

A PRIME EXAMPLE OF THIS WOULD BE SUNRISE ASSISTED LIVING.

THEY DIDN'T PLAN ON PUTTING IN A GENERATOR, BUT THEN THEY LATER DID.

AND OUR NEIGHBORHOOD HAS SUFFERED FROM THAT.

SO WE WOULD HAVE TWO GENERATORS SANDWICHING OUR NEIGHBORHOOD REGARDLESS OF THE DECIBEL.

YOU CAN STILL HEAR IT.

I PROMISE YOU THAT.

THE POSITIONING OF THEIR PLANNED BUILDINGS WOULD KIND OF CREATE A DIRECTIVE WHERE THAT SOUND WOULD REFLECT OFF THOSE BUILDINGS TOWARD THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES ON MAEDIRIS AND DOGWOOD.

REGARDING PUBLIX, I CALLED AND I SPOKE WITH THE OWNER OF THE EMORY COMMONS SHOPPING CENTER.

AND THERE'S CONTRADICTORY INFORMATION THAT I WAS TOLD FROM THEM.

I WAS TOLD THAT THE TOWER IS NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

IT'S AN ECONOMIC INTEGRAL PART OF THEIR CENTER AND THAT IT IS A LONG TERM LEASE.

NOW, THEY DO HAVE SUB TENANTS ON THERE WHICH WOULD BE DISH.

SO, YOU KNOW, THEY SAID THAT IT'S NOT GOING ANYWHERE.

THEY DO HAVE A LEASE ON THE ON THE TOWER EXISTING.

[00:25:04]

GOT ONE MINUTE.

OKAY. THANK YOU. AND THEN EARLIER, I PROPOSED AN ALTERNATE LOCATION NORTH IN DEKALB COUNTY.

BUT I'D LIKE THE PLANNING COMMISSION AND CITY OF DECATUR TO SERIOUSLY CONSIDER THE OLD DEKALB COUNTY WATER TOWER SITE AT EAST LAKE FOR A PROPOSED TOWER THERE THAT WOULD THAT WOULD EFFECTIVELY FILL THE LOW LYING AREAS OF PARKWOOD AND CHELSEA HEIGHTS, WHICH A LOT OF PEOPLE HAVE SAID THAT'S A DEAD ZONE.

THEY'RE NOT GETTING CELL SIGNAL IN THERE.

IF YOU LOOK AT THE TOPOGRAPHY, IT SHOOTS STRAIGHT UP THAT VALLEY ALL THE WAY UP INTO THE HIDDEN COVE PARK AND TRAIL.

AND THEN FINALLY, I DID SUBMIT A PETITION WITH 230 SIGNATURES AGAINST THIS PROPOSAL, AND THAT WAS PRESENTED BY CREATED AND PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR TIME.

GOOD JOB. I WAS ABOUT TO CALL TIME.

THANK YOU. YES.

COME UP, PLEASE. HELLO AGAIN.

MY NAME IS SORO BOSE.

I'M THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY ON 235 MAEDIRIS DRIVE, WHICH IS THE CLOSEST PROPERTY TO THE PROPOSED SITE, AS YOU KNOW, AND THEREFORE THE MOST IMPACTED. I SPOKE AT THE LAST HEARING, SO I'LL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF AND GO OVER SOMETHING THAT MR. MCGINNIS DID NOT COVER.

SINCE THAT TIME OF THE LAST MEETING, I HAVE RECEIVED INFORMATION PRESENTED FROM CITY SWITCH REPRESENTATIVES WHICH HAD VERY LITTLE TIME TO GO OVER.

BUT I DID SPOKEN TO MY NEIGHBORS AND HAVE DONE EXTENSIVE RESEARCH ON THIS ISSUE.

MY OPINION REMAINS THAT THE PROPOSAL WILL HAVE A NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF MY FAMILY, WHICH IS MY PRIMARY CONCERN.

THE CELL PHONE INDUSTRY CLAIMS THAT THE RF RADIATION EMITTED BY TOWERS ARE SAFE.

HOWEVER, THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION HAS CLASSIFIED RF AS A POSSIBLE HUMAN CARCINOGEN.

THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF PEDIATRICS RECOMMENDS THAT CHILDREN'S RF EXPOSURE BE MINIMIZED.

SCIENTISTS AND HEALTH EXPERTS HAVE RECENTLY URGED THE FCC TO PROPOSE MORE STRICT SAFETY MEASURES ON RF RADIATION.

MY WIFE AND I ARE EXPECTING OUR FIRST CHILD LATER THIS YEAR AND OUR ELDERLY PARENTS WILL BE LIVING WITH US AT 235 MAEDIRIS.

DECATUR WILL BE OUR FOREVER HOME.

AND IT PAINS ME THAT TO THINK THAT I WILL BE PUTTING THEIR HEALTH IN DANGER.

HIGHLY IMPROBABLE IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME OR MY FAMILY.

AS I'M SURE IT WOULD NOT BE GOOD ENOUGH FOR YOU OR YOURS.

I URGE THE COMMISSION TO REJECT THIS PROPOSAL.

ESPECIALLY WHEN ALTERNATE LOCATIONS ARE POSSIBLE.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME.

THANK YOU. NEXT SPEAKER.

HI, MY NAME IS JOHN BENNETT.

I LIVE AT 224 WESTCHESTER DRIVE IN DECATUR AND I AM VERY MUCH AGAINST THIS.

WE CALL IT A CELL PHONE TOWER, BUT I DON'T KNOW IF IT'S GOING TO BE A CELL PHONE TOWER BECAUSE THEY HAVEN'T REALLY TOLD US WHAT'S GOING TO BE IN IT.

BUT THE STANDARD OF THE 200FT PROPERTY OWNERS DON'T GET TO IGNORE THAT.

IF THEIR LOT DOESN'T ACCOMMODATE THAT 200FT STANDARD.

THERE'S A REASON THAT THE CSX PROPERTY DOESN'T ACCOMMODATE THAT IS BECAUSE IT WAS SOLD AND BUILT FOR RAILROADS.

IF THE PLANNING COMMISSION SUPPORTS SOMETHING LIKE THIS, THAT MEANS THAT YOU SET THAT PRECEDENT AND YOU ALLOW RAILROADS TO PUT UP TOWERS WHEREVER THEY ARE THROUGHOUT DECATUR WHICH I THINK IS A HORRIBLE PRECEDENT TO SET, ESPECIALLY IN THE CITY OF DECATUR.

AND I THINK PHILIP COVERED ABOUT EVERYTHING ELSE.

BUT I WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT I GOT THAT IN TAKING THE 200FT SETBACK DOWN TO 60FT ISN'T LIKE A SMALL VARIANCE OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT'S BASICALLY ELIMINATING THE WHOLE STANDARD ALTOGETHER, WHICH I DON'T THINK WE WANT TO DO.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. I'M ANTONIA ANTONELL.

I LIVE IN 213 WESTCHESTER DRIVE.

I'VE READ THROUGH THE MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING AND ON THE SECOND PAGE, FIFTH PARAGRAPH.

MR. [INAUDIBLE], IN REBUTTAL, STATED THAT THE TOWER WILL HAVE NO RADIO WAVES EMITTED FROM IT.

WHICH LEADS ME TO ASK THE QUESTION, WHAT IS THE PURPOSE OF THIS TOWER IF IT'S NOT GOING TO BE A CELL TOWER? THERE IS NO WAY THAT YOU CANNOT HAVE RADIO WAVES FOR WITHOUT A CELL TOWER.

SO, WITHOUT THIS CLARIFICATION MAKES NO SENSE TO HAVE THIS WHOLE STRUCTURE IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I'M VERY MUCH OPPOSED TO IT.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

[00:30:02]

NEXT SPEAKER.

THREE MINUTES. THREE MINUTES.

I'M GOING TO TAKE THAT MUCH. I JUST WANTED TO.

HI, MY NAME IS DAN RICE. I'M AT ONE, TWO, FOUR DOGWOOD WAY, DECATUR, GEORGIA.

AND I WANTED JUST TO TOUCH ON WHAT MR. CHILIK MENTIONED, THAT ABOUT EXTREME EVENTS AND HIGHLY UNLIKELY THINGS.

YOU KNOW, WE HAVE THINGS LIKE HUNDRED YEAR FLOOD PLAINS, 500 YEAR FLOOD PLAINS FOR A REASON.

THE ENGINEERS USE THOSE TO DESIGN TO MAKE SURE THAT THEY ARE NOT STRESSED BY THOSE EXTREME EVENTS.

IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THE ENGINEERS HERE THAT SUPPORT THE THEY WORK FOR THE TOWER COMPANY NECESSARILY COULD EVALUATE THOSE EXTREME EVENTS WITH AS MUCH INDEPENDENCE AS AN INDEPENDENT ENGINEER.

I WOULD ALSO ASK, YOU KNOW, THE NOT MANY PEOPLE HAVE TALKED ABOUT THE WHY, BUT OBVIOUSLY THE DECATUR Y IS ONE OF THE JEWELS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

IT SUPPORTS SO MANY FAMILIES.

IT IT PROVIDES SO MUCH RECREATION FOR SO MANY CHILDREN.

THAT AREA IS RIGHT ADJACENT.

ACTUALLY, THE PROPERTY OF THE Y IS ADJACENT TO WHERE THIS TOWER WOULD BE.

SO IN ADDITION TO, YOU KNOW, THE RADIO WAVES AND THINGS LIKE THAT, IT'S JUST A VISUAL EFFECT TO THAT WHOLE SORT OF WONDERFUL COMMUNITY OF, YOU KNOW, A PROGRAM THAT THAT THE Y OFFERS.

AND I SEE THAT AS SORT OF AN INTANGIBLE THING THAT WOULD ASK THE COMMISSION TO LOOK AT.

ALSO, YOU KNOW, A LOT OF THOSE HOUSES ARE, YOU KNOW, 1950S.

SO, YOU KNOW, YOU HAVE A FAIRLY HISTORIC NEIGHBORHOOD THERE.

AND I KNOW VIEWSHED AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE OFTEN THINGS THAT PEOPLE LOOK AT WHEN TOWERS, WHEN TELEPHONE, WHEN POWER STRUCTURES AND THINGS LIKE THAT ARE GOING UP.

SO I WOULD ASK YOU TO LOOK IN ADDITION TO THESE TECHNICAL THINGS THAT JUST THE INTANGIBLE NATURE OF SOME OF THESE THINGS AND HOW WILL IMPACT THE CITY OF DECATUR AND ALL THE WONDERFUL BENEFITS THAT WE WE HAVE NOT ONLY IN THAT COMMUNITY, BUT IN THE ENTIRE CITY.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS JIM LUDLUM.

I'M THE OWNER AND RESIDENT AT 105 DOGWOOD WAY, WHICH IS ON THE CORNER OF MADEIRA AND DOGWOOD WAY.

I THINK MY HOUSE IS WHERE THE PARTICIPANTS BUTTON IS ON THE ZOOM.

SO, I THINK I MIGHT BE THE THIRD CLOSEST TO WHERE THIS TOWER IS GOING TO BE.

PHIL MENTIONED ALMOST ALL THE THINGS THAT I WOULD WANT TO TALK ABOUT, BUT I DID WANT TO RAISE THREE, MAYBE FOUR THINGS, BUILD ON SOME QUESTIONS.

ONE ABOUT THE CHANGE TO THE FENCE DESIGN.

I'VE LIVED HERE FOR 20 YEARS AND THE END OF THAT STREET IS A LITTLE DARK.

I DON'T KNOW HOW FAMILIAR YOU ALL ARE WITH IT.

IT'S A LITTLE DARK. IT'S A DEAD END.

AND THERE'S THE RAILROAD TRACKS THERE AND THE RIGHT OF WAY.

AND BASICALLY IT'S A PLACE WHERE A LOT OF KIDS COME, SMOKE, DRINK, DO WHATEVER.

WE'VE HAD TO CALL THE POLICE A COUPLE TIMES.

I THINK THE FOLKS IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD PROBABLY KNOW ABOUT THIS.

THAT HAPPENS USUALLY BY THE BEGINNING OF THE SUMMER, NOT DECATUR STUDENTS.

USUALLY IT'S DRUID HILL STUDENTS.

I WILL SAY THAT. BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR ABOUT THAT.

BUT I WILL SAY THERE'S A RANDOM GROUP THAT TENDS TO HANG OUT THERE AND THIS COULD BE POTENTIALLY AN ATTRACTIVE NUISANCE FOR IT.

SO WHATEVER KIND OF ANTI-CLIMBING FACILITIES, BUT WE WANT TO TAKE THAT IN MIND.

OBVIOUSLY, RAZOR WIRE IS NOT GOING TO LOOK GOOD, BUT ALSO YOU DON'T WANT SOMETHING WHERE KIDS CAN CLIMB UP THIS THING, HURT THEMSELVES OR HURT SOMEBODY ELSE.

SECOND, THE BUFFER TREES.

THEY DO REALLY WORK TO QUIET THE THE TRAINS THAT ROLL THROUGH.

AND I WILL SAY THIS, 4 OR 5 MONTHS OF THE YEAR, THEY DON'T WORK BECAUSE IT'S THE WINTER TIME.

THERE ARE A LOT OF DECIDUOUS TREES THERE THAT LOSE THEIR LEAVES AND THERE'S A LOT OF IVY AND KUDZU THAT'S CRAWLED BACK.

CSX DOES SOME OF THAT THEMSELVES, BUT DURING THE SUMMER, THEY REALLY JUST LET IT GROW OVER.

SO, IT CAN BE VERY, VERY LOUD AT TIMES.

YOU HEAR THE TRAINS, YOU FEEL THE TRAINS MOVE.

SO JUST SO YOU KNOW, THE TAKING OUT A LOT OF TREES FOR THIS BUFFER, IT'S GOING TO AFFECT THINGS FROM THE RAILROAD'S PERSPECTIVE AS WELL AS THE SIGHT AND SOUND OF THE TOWER. ONE MINUTE CATASTROPHIC FAILURE.

THAT'S THE THING THAT KEEPS COMING TO MY MIND.

WE HAVE A 200 FOOT SETBACK FOR A REASON.

SAFETY. SAFETY OF PEOPLE'S FAMILIES.

SAFETY OF. I THINK THERE NEEDS TO BE A REALLY COMPELLING REASON TO ABROGATE THAT RIGHT THERE.

AND FROM THE MATERIALS THAT I'VE READ, THE.

TOWER BUILDERS OWN ENGINEER.

NOT AN INDEPENDENT PERSON.

I FEEL LIKE THEY'RE JUST TRYING TO SAY JUST TRUST US AND WHEN A TOWER IS GOING TO FALL ON YOUR HOUSE AND MAYBE HURT YOUR KIDS.

YOU DON'T REALLY WANT TO JUST TRUST SOMEBODY ON THAT.

I THINK WE WE SHOULD STICK WITH THE 200 FOOT THING.

THAT'S A REASON. AND I'D EVEN ASK THE TENNESSEE EXAMPLE OF A MONOPOLE.

WHAT KIND OF SETBACK IS USED THERE? IS IT A STANDARD 200 FOOT ONE LIKE A LOT OF MUNICIPALITIES LIKE US USE, OR IS IT SOMETHING MUCH SMALLER? AND AND I WORRY ABOUT WORSE WEATHER COMING THROUGH.

I'VE SEEN THREE VERSIONS OF A TROPICAL STORM COME THROUGH AND THE SNOWMAGEDDON, SO BAD THINGS CAN HAPPEN

[00:35:09]

AND I DON'T WANT THIS TO HAPPEN ON OUR PROPERTY IN OUR TOWN.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

GOOD EVENING. MY NAME IS KATIE ANDERSON AND I LIVE AT 413 WESTCHESTER DRIVE.

I'VE LIVED THERE FOR ABOUT 20 YEARS ALMOST.

AND I WAS WAITING TO HEAR IF THIS ONE LAST POINT WAS MENTIONED.

BUT I JUST WANTED TO BRING UP THE THE TOPIC OF ESTHETICS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THE BALLOON TEST PROVED TO ALL THAT WENT AND SAW THAT THAT THE ENTRANCE POINT ON MADEIRAS DRIVE DRIVING STRAIGHT DOWN INTO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD, THAT CELL TOWER WOULD BE VERY VISIBLE.

AND CURRENTLY IT'S A VERY BEAUTIFUL CANOPY OF TREES.

AND THAT CELL TOWER WOULD STICK UP ABOVE IT.

AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT PARTS OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD IS THAT IT'S FULL OF WOODS AND NATURAL FEATURES.

WE HAVE HIDDEN COVE PARK.

WE HAVE THE TRAIN EASEMENT.

AND THAT'S ONE OF THE THINGS THAT OUR NEIGHBORHOOD LOVES ABOUT WHERE WE LIVE.

AND I JUST CAN'T IMAGINE PULLING INTO MY NEIGHBORHOOD EVERY SINGLE DAY, STARING STRAIGHT AT A CELL PHONE TOWER, POKING UP ABOVE THE TREES.

AND I JUST THINK THAT THIS IS AN UNSUITABLE SITE.

THERE ARE OTHER SITES THAT SHOULD BE EXPLORED.

THERE'S TOO MANY VARIANCES BEING REQUESTED FOR THIS SITE.

AND SO I URGE THE CITY OF DECATUR COMMISSION TO DISALLOW THIS THIS CELL TOWER FROM OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU SO MUCH.

NEXT SPEAKER. HELLO, MY NAME IS ANDRE ROEDERSTEIN OF 203 WESTCHESTER DRIVE.

AND I WOULD LIKE TO BUILD UP BUILD OFF OF THE SOME PREVIOUS SPEAKERS WHO HAVE SAID ABOUT THE BUFFER OF THE TREES.

MY HOUSE IS CLOSE TO A GENERATOR BUILT BY, OWNED BY SUNRISE.

AND RECENTLY THEY HAVE REMOVED SEVERAL TREES THAT WERE ACTING AS A KIND OF NOISE CANCELER.

AND THE DIFFERENCE IS VERY NOTICEABLE.

IF. A SECOND GENERATOR WAS ADDED AT THE CELL TOWER AND MORE TREES WERE REMOVED.

I THINK IT WOULD MAKE AN INCREDIBLY NOTICEABLE DIFFERENCE AND IT WOULD DEEPLY AFFECT THE QUALITY OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU. MAY I? IF YOU MAY INDULGE ME.

ARE YOU YOUNGER THAN 18? YES. I WOULD LIKE TO COMMEND YOU ON YOUR PRESENTATION.

IT WAS SPECTACULAR AND WE VERY MUCH BENEFITED FROM YOUR POINT OF VIEW.

HI, I'M JOSH RICH.

I LIVE AT 1027 CLAREMONT AND I'VE LIVED IN DECATUR FOR A LITTLE OVER TWO YEARS.

AND ONE THING THAT REALLY DREW ME TO DECATUR WAS THE CHARM.

THE CHARM OF THE TREES.

THE CHARM OF, YOU KNOW, THAT SPECIFIC AREA OF CLAREMONT.

THE HISTORICAL PIECE AND ONE THING THAT REALLY.

FRUSTRATES ME ABOUT THE PROPOSED SITE IS THAT WHEN I LOOK OUT MY FRONT DOOR, I'M GOING TO SEE THIS BEAUTIFUL CELL TOWER POPPING UP OVER THE TREES BECAUSE I'M RIGHT ACROSS FROM THE Y.

AND KNOWING HOW STRICT OUR OUR GUIDE GUIDELINES ARE FOR THE HISTORICAL OVERLAY AND THE IMPORTANCE OF THAT. THEY DIDN'T HAVE CELL TOWERS IN 1930.

AND A LOT OF THE.

THE GUIDELINES THAT WE'RE ASKED TO TAKE, IN EFFECT, WAS KEEPING IT ORIGINAL TO OUR HOUSES.

AND I JUST DON'T UNDERSTAND THE.

THE ASK TO PUT THIS CELL TOWER RIGHT THERE WHERE EVERYBODY CAN SEE IT FROM A HISTORICAL DISTRICT WHEN THERE'S SO MANY OTHER LOCATIONS THAT IT COULD GO AND NOT NECESSARILY BE AN EYESORE FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND WITH THAT, I ASK THAT YOU DENY THE REQUEST.

THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

IS THERE ANYONE ELSE PRESENT WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? I MEAN, DO WE HAVE ANYBODY ONLINE WHO'S INDICATED THEY WANTED TO SPEAK IN OPPOSITION? YES, WE HAVE TO.

OKAY. CAROL MORGAN.

CAROL MORGAN, IF YOU WOULD, UNMUTE YOURSELF.

WE WOULD LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.

GREAT. HI. THANK YOU.

I'M CAROL MORGAN.

I LIVE AT 124 HAROLD BYRD DRIVE, AND I'VE LIVED IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD FOR OVER 40 YEARS.

SO I JUST WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE HISTORICAL PERSPECTIVE.

THIS IS A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS A HISTORY OF WORKING WITH DEVELOPERS.

WE HAVE WORKED TO RESOLVE DIFFERENCES AND TO FIND WAYS TO MINIMIZE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

WHEN SUNRISE WAS DEVELOPED ON THE CORNER OF CLAREMONT AND SCOTT BOULEVARD, AND THEN WHEN AN INFILL DEVELOPMENT WAS PLANNED ON

[00:40:06]

SCOTT ON CLAREMONT, JUST A FEW DOORS DOWN FROM SUNRISE, WE AGAIN WORKED WITH THE CITY, WORKED WITH THE DEVELOPER TO RESOLVE OUR DIFFERENCES AND TO FIGURE OUT WAYS TO MINIMIZE NEGATIVE IMPACTS ON OUR COMMUNITY.

WE'VE ALSO WORKED WITH THE YMCA WHEN THEY WANTED TO EXPAND THEIR PARKING LOT AND WE WORKED WITH THEM AND RESOLVED OUR DIFFERENCES AND FIGURED OUT WAYS TO MINIMIZE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THIS IS A SITUATION WE CAN'T FIGURE OUT A WAY TO MINIMIZE NEGATIVE IMPACTS TO OUR COMMUNITY.

THEY'VE BEEN OUTLINED FOR YOU VERY ELOQUENTLY TODAY, AND WE ARE NOT A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT JUST OBJECTS TO THINGS.

WE ARE A NEIGHBORHOOD THAT HAS TRIED TO COLLABORATE AND WORK WITH REASONABLE DEVELOPMENT IN OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

THIS IS NOT REASONABLE DEVELOPMENT.

THIS IS NOT AN APPROPRIATE OR SAFE ADDITION TO THIS COMMUNITY.

AND IT'S CLEAR CITY SWITCH HAS A PROBLEM.

IT'S A BUSINESS PROBLEM.

IT'S NOT OUR PROBLEM, AND WE DON'T SEE A WAY TO FIX THEIR PROBLEM.

SO, I THINK WHAT I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO DO IS TO REJECT THIS APPLICATION.

THERE'S NOT A WAY TO FIX IT AND TO ACCOMMODATE THEM IN A SAFE WAY FOR US.

SO I WOULD ENCOURAGE YOU TO REJECT IT AND AND I THINK THERE ARE ALTERNATIVES.

MAYBE THEY'RE A LITTLE MORE EXPENSIVE.

MAYBE THEY AREN'T EXACTLY THE PERFECT THING, BUT THERE ARE OTHER ALTERNATIVES THAT WILL WORK MUCH BETTER.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

LAURA SCARLATA IF YOU WOULD UNMUTE YOURSELF, WE'D LIKE TO HEAR YOUR COMMENTS.

AND SORRY ABOUT THAT.

I HAD TO PULL OVER.

I HAD TO DRIVE TO PICK UP KIDS.

THIS IS LAURA WILKINS, SCARLATA.

AND WE LIVE AT 119 DOGWOOD WAY.

SO WE'RE ABOUT THREE HOUSES OVER FROM THE LUDLUM'S AND KITTY CORNER NEIGHBORS TO STEVE'S HOME, WHICH WOULD BE RIGHT NEXT TO THE TOWER.

AND I JUST WANTED TO POINT OUT EVERYONE HAS MADE ALL OF THE POINTS THAT NEED TO BE SAID, EXCEPT ONE THING TO THINK ABOUT IS THAT ONE OF OUR BIG GOALS IN DECATUR AND ONE OF THE THINGS THAT REALLY DOES MAKE IT GREAT IS THE FACT THAT WE TRY TO KEEP THE GREEN.

WE MAINTAIN OUR HOMES AND OUR TREES, AND WE SPEND THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS EACH YEAR ON ARBORISTS TO MAKE SURE THEY COME OUT AND THEY TAKE CARE OF OUR TREES.

AND I SEE NEIGHBORS DOING THE SAME THING.

AND IT'S NOT A SMALL EXPENSE.

WE ACTUALLY INTENTIONALLY KEEP THE BACK PART OF OUR LOT BEYOND OUR SMALL FENCE, WHICH ALSO BELONGS TO US RIGHT UP TO CSX LINE AND NEIGHBOR STEVE.

WE INTENTIONALLY KEEP IT GREEN AND FOREST LIKE WITH AND WE WE TAKE CARE OF THOSE TREES BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAINTAIN THAT SOUND BUFFER TO THE RAILROAD TRACKS.

AND WE WANT TO KEEP THE LOOK OF OUR NEIGHBORHOOD.

AND I SAW THE BALLOON AND I SAW THE PICTURES THAT PHILIP TOOK.

AND I THINK THIS THING WOULD TOWER OVER THE ENTIRE NEIGHBORHOOD, PARTICULARLY IF ANYTHING WAS REMOVED AND IF THE LEAVES AREN'T ON THE TREES.

SO, THANK YOU FOR HEARING US, BECAUSE THIS IS A SOLIDLY RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD THAT IS, AS CAROL NOTED, VERY BEEN VERY COOPERATIVE WITH EDGES, YOU KNOW, ACCOMMODATING THE Y AND AND WESTCHESTER ELEMENTARY.

AND WE'VE ONLY LIVED HERE ABOUT EIGHT YEARS.

BUT AND CONSISTENTLY WE'VE BEEN HELPFUL.

BUT THIS NEEDS TO BE IN A BUSINESS DISTRICT, NOT IN A RESIDENTIAL NEIGHBORHOOD.

THANK YOU. THANK YOU SO MUCH.

EILEEN, IS THAT THE LAST PERSON ON THE LINE WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK? YES. FOR THIS PROJECT? YES. OKAY.

SO GIVEN THAT I WILL GIVE THE FLOOR BACK TO MR. CADLE FOR HIS OPPOSITION, HIS REBUTTAL.

EXCUSE ME. THANK YOU.

A CITY WHICH HAS DONE THE BEST IT CAN TO DESIGN A MONOPOLE THAT IS THE MINIMUM HEIGHT THAT IS NEEDED IN ORDER TO SERVICE THE AREA THAT IT WILL BE DESIGNED ACCORDING TO FCC STANDARDS.

IT WILL HAVE RADIO WAVES.

I'M NOT SURE IF I MISSPOKE OR SOMETHING, BUT IT IS DESIGNED TO HELP EVERYBODY WHO'S GOT A CELL PHONE IN THEIR POCKET SO THAT YOU HAVE CONTINUED CELL SERVICE AND TELECOMMUNICATIONS, ETCETERA.

AND WE'VE WE'VE DESIGNED THE BEST TOWER WE CAN.

AND WE ASKED YOU TO APPROVE IT.

WITH THAT, I HAD A QUESTION ABOUT THE BALLOON TEST.

HOW DID YOU GO ABOUT OR DO YOU KNOW HOW YOUR CONSULTANT WENT ABOUT CHOOSING THE SITES FROM WHICH THEY WOULD TAKE THE PHOTOS? BECAUSE IT SOUNDS I SAW THE PHOTOGRAPHS AND THE PHOTOGRAPHS DIDN'T LOOK THAT INTRUSIVE.

BUT WHAT I'M HEARING IS THERE MAY BE OTHER ANGLES THAT MIGHT BE.

WE HAVE A COMPANY THAT DOES THOSE THAT DID IT.

MS. THREADGILL WAS THERE, SO I WAS NOT THERE TO FIGURE OUT WHERE TO GO.

[00:45:01]

I LOOKED AT THE ANGLES THAT WERE SELECTED AND THEY LOOKED TO BE A PRETTY REASONABLE.

KIND OF GROUPING OF WHERE YOU MIGHT SEE THE TOWER FROM.

TO ME, I MEAN, YOU OBVIOUSLY CAN'T DO IT FROM EVERY VANTAGE, BUT THERE ARE 4 OR 5, I THINK DOWN ON WESTCHESTER, THERE WERE AT LEAST A COUPLE ON MADEIRA'S. THERE WERE THREE OVER ACROSS IN THE OTHER SUBDIVISION.

THERE WERE SOME LOOKING FROM THE COMMERCIAL AREA AND THEN SOME OF IT YOU WANT TO PICK SO THAT YOU CAN SEE THE TOWER AND SHOW WHAT THE TOWER WOULD ACTUALLY LOOK LIKE INSTEAD OF HAVING A BUNCH OF THEM WHERE YOU CAN'T SEE IT.

ANGELA, DID YOU? IT LOOKS LIKE YOU MIGHT HAVE HAD SOMETHING TO SAY ABOUT THAT.

YES. SO, IN THE PACKET THAT WAS SUBMITTED BY MR. CADLE, THAT INCLUDES A LETTER FROM MR. GOULD, WHO WAS THE DRONE OPERATOR.

AND SO YOU'LL SEE THE KIND OF SUGGESTED SITE PHOTOGRAPHY MAP AS PART OF THAT LETTER.

AND, YOU KNOW, AT LEAST TEN SITES WERE PICKED OUT.

MR. GOULD JUST BASED ON TOPOGRAPHICAL MAPS, YOU KNOW, THE RESIDENTIAL STREETS, YOU KNOW, NOT ONLY WITHIN THE CITY OF DECATUR, BUT ALSO DEKALB COUNTY, THE COMMERCIAL AREA TO THE NORTH.

SO IT WAS IT WAS HIS PROFESSIONAL OPINION THAT THESE ARE THE SITES THAT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM.

I THINK THERE WERE ACTUALLY MORE SITES THAT HE HAD SUGGESTED THAT.

PHOTOGRAPHS BE TAKEN OF THAT DAY THAT I WAS THERE? I THINK THERE WAS PROBABLY AT LEAST FIVE MORE SITES THAT HE HAD SUGGESTED THAT CITY WHICH TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS FROM.

I STAYED WITHIN THE AREAS OF THE CITY OF DECATUR.

THERE WAS A REPRESENTATIVE FROM CITY SWITCH WHO THEN NOT ONLY TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS FROM THE CITY OF DECATUR SIDE, BUT WENT TO NORTH DECATUR AND THEN INTO THE NEIGHBORHOODS TO THE WEST.

SO I HOPE THAT'S HELPFUL.

IT IS HELPFUL. I DID READ THIS LETTER, BUT I FORGOT ABOUT THAT PART OF IT AND I PULLED IT BACK UP.

AND BASICALLY.

MR.. GOULD SAYS AN ASSOCIATE DROVE AROUND THE SURROUNDING AREA OF EFFECT AND TOOK PHOTOGRAPHS FROM SEVERAL ADJOINING PROPERTIES AND OTHER POINTS OF POTENTIAL VISUAL IMPACT. WELL, THEN HE GOES ON TO SAY, I CREATED SIMULATIONS OF THE VANTAGE POINTS WHERE THE BALLOON WAS VISIBLE TO BETTER REPRESENT THE VISUAL IMPACT OF THE PROPOSED TOWER.

AND IN MY PROFESSIONAL OPINION, THESE PHOTOGRAPHS AND SIMULATIONS REFLECT TO A REASONABLE CERTAINTY THE ANTICIPATED PROJECTION OF THE HEIGHT AND APPEARANCE OF THE TOWER IF CONSTRUCTED AT THE MADEIRAS DRIVE SITE.

SO THAT'S THE ANSWER TO MY QUESTION.

UM. AND THEN ABOUT THE GENERATOR.

IF THEY DO, LET'S SAY SOMETIME IN THE FUTURE, LET'S SAY THEY PUT THE TOWER IN AND THEN FIVE YEARS LATER THEY WANT TO PUT IN THE GENERATOR.

IS THERE ANY? I MEAN, I'M ASSUMING THERE'S NO COMMUNITY.

PARTICIPATION IN THAT PROCESS THAT'S JUST PERMITTING OR DOES THE STAFF HAVE ANY SAY IN THAT PROCESS? WELL, IF THIS DOES MOVE FORWARD AND I WOULD SUGGEST AND YOU ARE RECOMMENDING APPROVAL WITH CONDITIONS, I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT THERE BE A CONDITION PLACED WITHIN THE CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT THAT SPEAKS TO IF AND WHEN THE GENERATOR IS INSTALLED THAT IT BE TO THE SPECIFICATIONS THAT WERE PROVIDED TO YOU IN TONIGHT'S PACKET RELATED TO THE FACT THAT IT IS ENCLOSED, THAT IT DOESN'T EXCEED 71 DECIBELS.

YOU KNOW, BUT I KNOW THAT THAT'S PLAYING THE WHAT IF.

SO THAT'S WHAT I WOULD SUGGEST.

IF THIS IS WHERE THE CONVERSATION LEADS, LET THE CITY NOISE ORDINANCE IS 60DB AT THE PROPERTY LINE.

BUT I WAS I WAS JUST TRYING TO GET TO THE CONCERN THAT THIS IS THE LAST BITE AT THE APPLE AND THEN THE HORSE IS OUT OF THE BARN, TO USE A MIXED METAPHOR.

DOES ANYONE ELSE HAVE ANY FOLLOW UP QUESTIONS FOR MR. CADLE? ALL RIGHT.

HEARING NONE, I WILL CLOSE THE PUBLIC COMMENT PORTION OF THE PUBLIC HEARING AND ALLOW US TO TALK AMONGST OURSELVES.

I CAN SAY THAT I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE CONDITIONAL USE FOR THE 200 FOOT SETBACK AND THE PRECEDENT THAT THAT WOULD SET.

AND I THINK ONE COMMENT BROUGHT IT UP, YOU KNOW.

IF THAT WAS GRANTED, IT IS WITHIN A RAILROAD.

[00:50:01]

SO WHAT? YOU KNOW WHAT MIGHT COME NEXT FOR THAT.

AND THAT WASN'T MY ORIGINAL THOUGHT, BUT I THOUGHT THAT WAS A GOOD, GOOD COMMENT.

BUT I HAVE A LOT OF CONCERNS ABOUT THE PRECEDENT THAT THAT WOULD SET.

JASON. I'M STILL STUCK ON THE.

3.10 A FROM THE STAFF REPORT SAYS EVIDENCE MUST BE SUBMITTED AT THE TIME OF APPLICATION DEMONSTRATING THAT NO EXISTING TOWER CAN ACCOMMODATE THE PROPOSED ANTENNA. AND IT SOUNDS LIKE FROM WHAT THE APPLICANT TOLD US, THE PUBLIX FACILITY CAN HOLD, THE ANTENNA CAN.

THE ANTENNA CAN BE MOUNTED THERE, BUT THEY JUST DIDN'T LIKE THE TERMS THAT WERE PRESENTED TO THEM.

AND SO BECAUSE OF THAT.

SOMEONE HAS, IN ADDITION TO ALL THE OTHER THINGS THAT HAVE BEEN BROUGHT UP.

YEAH. NUMBER OF NUMBER OF CONCERNS.

FIRST AND FOREMOST IS THAT THE 200 FOOT SETBACK NOT COMPLIANT WITH THAT.

I MEAN, THE APPLICANT SAID THIS IS THE BEST THEY CAN DO.

AND IN MY OPINION, THIS THIS IS NOT GOOD ENOUGH.

I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE NEXT TO THIS.

YOU KNOW, THE RISK IS TOO HIGH.

YOU KNOW, WE'RE TALKING ABOUT PEOPLE'S LIVES AND FIND ANOTHER SPOT.

THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT SPOT FOR THIS TOWER.

ONE OTHER THING THAT CAME UP WAS THE COMMENT THAT WE CAN'T RELOCATE THE TOWER OR ELSE WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION.

SO, THEN WE CAN SUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION, LIKE WE CAN HEAR ANOTHER APPLICATION ON ANOTHER LOCATION.

I DON'T SEE THAT AS A REASON THAT.

THIS TIME AS A PRO FOR THIS TOWER WHEN GREG BATTEN CLEAN UP.

IT COMES DOWN TO PROXIMITY TO THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.

200FT IS OUR MINIMUM SETBACK.

THIS STRUCTURE IS 150FT.

IF WE WERE ASKED TO JUST CONSIDER THE HEIGHT OF THE STRUCTURE AT 150FT IS THE VARIANCE, IT STILL SIGNIFICANTLY IMPACTS TO 35 SLIGHT IMPACT AT 231. AND ALSO THAT ZONE IS WITHIN THE PROPERTY OF THE YMCA.

THE THE I FIND THE ENGINEER'S LETTER INSUFFICIENT TO MOVE AWAY FROM THAT 150FT OR EVEN I MEAN WE COULD EVEN CONSIDER CERTAIN POSSIBILITIES LIKE HALF OF THE ELEVATION OF THE THE TOWER.

I KNOW THAT THE CITY OF HALEYVILLE ON ONE OF THEIR CITY PARKS, SO THEY WERE THE CITY OWNER.

THEY GAVE A VARIANCE TO A TOWER AND CONSIDERED THE FALL ZONE TO BE HALF OF THAT.

IT WAS A MONOPOLE.

THE SAME TYPES OF ISSUES.

THE ENGINEER'S LETTER, YOU KNOW, THE GUTS OF IT, VERY TECHNICAL.

THE LETTER ITSELF IS NOT TECHNICAL AT ALL.

IT USES TERMS LIKE HIGHLY UNLIKELY, MOST UNLIKELY EFFECTIVELY RESULT.

IT DOES NOT CONVINCE ME THAT THE ONLY PLACE THAT PORTIONS OF THE STRUCTURE DURING A FAILURE EVENT WOULD FALL OR COME TO REST WOULD BE WITHIN THE 50 FOOT BY 60 FOOT COMPOUND THAT ONLY GIVES 25FT ON ONE SIDE.

WHERE? WE'RE BEING TOLD THAT EVERYTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN WITHIN THIS AREA.

IF THAT WAS THE CASE, THEN COMMUNITIES LIKE OURS WOULD NOT HAVE THESE SETBACK LIMITS EQUAL TO THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER, 10% MORE THAN THE HEIGHT OF THE TOWER OR A MINIMUM OF 200FT.

SO I GO BACK TO THE TOWERS, 150FT, 150FT.

IF IT WAS TO SHEAR OFF AT THE BASE, WOULD IMPACT THE NEIGHBORING PROPERTIES.

AND IN ONE OF THEM BECOME BE VERY, VERY CLOSE PROXIMITY TO THE STRUCTURE THAT'S THERE AT 235.

I HAVEN'T HEARD THAT THE APPLICANT HAS APPROACHED THE IMPACTED PROPERTIES TO DISCUSS ANY MITIGATION, WHETHER THAT BE PURCHASING AN EASEMENT FOR THE PORTION OF THE LAND THAT WOULD POTENTIALLY BE IMPACTED. WE'RE JUST ASKED TO REDUCE THE SETBACK TO, I BELIEVE, 68FT, WHICH IS LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT OUR ORDINANCE STATES. I CAN'T SUPPORT THAT.

AND YOUR OPINION ON THE TECHNICAL MATERIALS IS BASED ON YOUR ENGINEERING BACKGROUND.

AS AN ENGINEERING GRADUATE OF GEORGIA TECH AND A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER, I AM A LICENSED PROFESSIONAL ENGINEER AND EVERYTHING WITHIN THE DOCUMENT IS DONE WELL AND PROFESSIONALLY.

AND THEN AT THE END THERE ARE THE NECESSARY DISCLAIMERS INCLUDING DAMAGED, MISSING OR RUSTED MEMBERS WERE NOT CONSIDERED.

[00:55:03]

NO CONSIDERATION HAS BEEN MADE FOR UNUSUAL OR EXTREME WIND EVENTS.

RHYME/INCLOUD ICE LOADINGS, HARMONIC OR NODAL VIBRATION, VORTEX SHEDDING OR OTHER SIMILAR CONDITIONS.

AND FINALLY THE TOWER OVERALL AMOUNT SUPPORT, STRUCTURE, FOUNDATION, ETCETERA ARE BEYOND THE SCOPE OF THIS ANALYSIS.

SO THIS IS VERY SPECIFIC JUST TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE POLE ITSELF.

DURING THE WIND EVENTS MODELED FOR OUR LOCATION WITH RISK FACTOR TWO.

OKAY. I DON'T DISPUTE THE CONCLUSIONS WITHIN THOSE BOUNDARIES.

SO, IT DOESN'T SOUND LIKE THERE IS AN APPETITE TO RECOMMEND APPROVAL OF THE APPLICATION, WHICH LEAVES US WITH A DECISION OF RECOMMENDING A DENIAL OF THE APPLICATION OR GRANTING ANOTHER DEFERRAL.

SO, GIVEN THOSE TWO OPTIONS, DOES ANYONE HAVE A MOTION? MAKE A MOTION TO DENY.

OKAY. WE HAVE A MOTION TO RECOMMEND DENIAL TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

IS THERE A SECOND? A SECOND.

IT HAS BEEN PROPERLY MOVED AND SECONDED THAT WE RECOMMEND DENIAL OF THIS APPLICATION TO THE CITY COMMISSION.

ARE THERE ANY QUESTIONS OR CONCERNS ON THE MOTION? HEARING NONE. ALL IN FAVOR OF THE MOTION SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE? AYE. THE MOTION CARRIES UNANIMOUSLY.

NOW WE WILL MOVE TO OUR THIRD AND FINAL PIECE OF BUSINESS UNDER NEW BUSINESS, WHICH IS AN APPLICATION BY FOOTPRINT

[III.a. Footprint Properties LLC, applicant and property owner, has requested approval of a preliminary plat for a subdivision that would result in eight residential lots located at 258 Forkner Drive, Decatur GA.]

PROPERTIES LLC, WHICH IS ALSO THE PROPERTY OWNER WHO HAS REQUESTED APPROVAL OF A PRELIMINARY PLAT FOR A SUBDIVISION THAT WILL RESULT IN EIGHT RESIDENTIAL LOTS LOCATED AT 258 FAULKNER DRIVE, DECATUR, GEORGIA.

BEFORE WE BEGIN THIS.

PREVIOUSLY, WHEN THIS APPLICATION CAME, I RECUSED MYSELF.

IF I DO SO, WILL WE HAVE A QUORUM AND BE ABLE TO CONDUCT BUSINESS? I BELIEVE WE WOULD HAVE A QUORUM.

SURE. BECAUSE WE ONLY HAVE SIX NOW.

YEAH. AND SO WE WOULD STILL HAVE FOUR OUT OF SIX PRESENT.

I THINK IT WOULD BE APPROPRIATE FOR MY RECUSAL BASED ON MY RELATIONSHIP WITH THE APPLICANT.

OKAY. SO MR. CHILIK WILL BE RECUSING HIMSELF.

SO, HE WILL NOT PARTICIPATE IN THE DISCUSSION OF THIS APPLICATION.

AND HE HAS NOT PARTICIPATED IN ANY DISCUSSION OF THE APPLICATION WITH ME, AND I DON'T BELIEVE HE'S DISCUSSED IT WITH ANYONE ELSE ON THE PLANNING COMMISSION.

SO WITH THAT, WE WILL GIVE YOU THE FLOOR.

ALL RIGHT. GOOD EVENING.