MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND TELECOMMUNICATIONS TRANSMISSION FACILITY COOIIDINATING GROUP RECORD OF ACTION

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APPLICATION NUMBER: 200904-07 DATE: 1 April 2009

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A_Qplication Review: I

Applicant: T-Mobile I

Description: Construct a 130' high monopole and attach nine 59" high panel antennas

at the 1301 level. ·1

Site Location: Sligo Middle School I

] 40 1 Dennis A venue, Silver Spring

Property Owner: Montgomery County Public Schools .

Group Comments:

TTFCG Action

Recommended 0 Not recommended 0 Recommended with Conditions [8]

Recommendation conditioned on: On the Board of Appeals granting a Special Exception and a reduced setback for the monopole. and on T -Mobile considering disguising the monopole as a tree to better blend in with the surrounding wooded aret.

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I Vote on recommendation of approval: For: 3

Against: 0

Abstain:2

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Date

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Rev. January 2005

the proposed monopole. The location proposed for the monopole backs to a wooded area that lines Sligo Creek Park. The trees in the vicinity appear to average approximately 60' to 70' in height.

Based on our site visit, residents in houses immediately adjoining the school property (e.g., on Julep Avenue to the west, on Gridley Lane, Lester Street, and Malone Street to the north, and along Dennis Avenue to the south) will be able to see the monopole. Residents in some houses on streets not immediately adjacent to the property (e.g., Inwood Avenue to the west, Crest Road to the north, Folk Street to the south, and Tenbrook Drive to the east) will be able to see the monopole, but views of the monopole for some of the residents on those streets may be screened by trees and other houses. Screening at all locations, even those immediately adjacent to the school property, will improve somewhat during times of the year when the trees are in full foliage.

Because the monopole will be visible from residences to the north, west, and south, we recommend that, due to its proposed location immediately adjacent to a heavily wooded area, the applicant consider disguising the monopole as a tree. Even though the monopole will extend above the tops of the trees of the adjoining woods, if the monopole looks like a very tall tree, it will appear less noticeable than a regular monopole when viewed by residents in nearby neighborhoods.

The attached photos show views of the site where the monopole will be located, as well as views taken of the site from different locations to the north, south, and west.

The applicant submitted photo simulations of the monopole as viewed from several locations. Copies are attached for reference.

Attachments: Application and photos

Comments: The applicant reports that the coverage objective for the proposed antennas is to provide indoor service to the residential neighborhoods in the vicinity of the school, to improve coverage along University Boulevard and Georgia A venue, and to improve reliability of service between adjacent sites.

T-Mobile submitted RF contour maps illustrating the calculated signal coverage in the area around the school site with and without the monopole, and with antennas as proposed and at the 110' height.

Based on our review of the map illustrating the calculated coverage from the applicant's nearby existing sites, there are currently signal levels of -84 dBm to the various neighborhoods immediately to the north, south, and southeast of the proposed site-a signal level that, according to the applicant, may only provide "in-vehicle" coverage to those areas.

The map illustrating coverage with the antennas as proposed at the 130' level shows signal levels of -76 dBm-which, according to the applicant, can provide the target "in-building" coverage to those neighborhoods.

Based on our review of the map illustrating coverage with antennas at the 110'-high level, it appears that the calculated signal levels may only provide in-building coverage to the neighborhoods to the north and south of the site. Based on our review of the maps and the site, we conclude that the 130' height for the antennas may be justified to meet the

. 4/05

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, MARYLAND APPLICATION FOR WIRELESS COMMUNICATIONS SITE COORDINATION

DATE: FEB 262009 NUMBER: JOQ'10'1-0'l (To be filled in by County)

Contact Person and Phone No.: Amy Bird, 240-264-8616, Amy.Bird3@T-Mobile.com

Applicant Name: T-Mobile Northeast, LLC

Address: 12050 ·Baltimore Ave., Beltsville, MD 20507

Site Name: WAN30lJ - Sligo Middle School

Site OwnerlLandlord: Board of Education f'r\(..,p~

Zoning: R-60

Provide a description of the proposed installation, including the type and height of the structure (i.e. monopole, rooftop, water tank, guyed tower, self-support tower, etc.) and whether it is existing, modified, or new. Describe any modifications that will be made to existing structure.

This is a proposed installation 9 antennas at the top of a new proposed 130' monopole with an antenna centerline of 127.5'. The facility will be enclosed within a 30'x80' compound. The facility would be able to accommodate additional carriers.

Address/City: 1401 Dennis Avenue, Silver Spring, MD 20902

Structure Owner: T-Mobile Northeast, LLC

LatitudelLongitude (NAD27 degrees/minutes/seconds 39.02773300/ -77.03309000

3~ 0 i' 77° l'

Ground Elevation AMSL in feet: 344.5 '

Antenna Height AGL in feet: 127.5'

Frequency bands to be used: 1850-1990 MHz (Rx), 1850-1990 MHz (Tx)

Maximum Effective Radiation Power (ERP): 300 Watts

Federal Communication Commission (FCC) Emission Designator: IG90GXW

FCC Antenna Structure Registration Number: N/ A

Description of antenna(s), including physical size, patterns, gain and orientation (include copy of spec sheet or drawings): Antenna type: TMBXX-6516-R2M: ,59" X 11.9" X 6.3", Gain: 17.5 ± 8.,

Describe area to be served by the proposed installation. Attach a map of the general area showing the location of the site. Upon request, attach RF propagation studies showing service area coverage surrounding the proposed site with and without the proposed site.

To provide in-building coverage to the residential neighborhoods between and surrounding Route 193 and Route 97 and to reduce the number of dropped calls from T-Mobile's neighboring sites ..

Will antennas be installed on an existing structure? No.

If not, describe results of investigation about possible co-location. Include a listing of alternative sites considered and an explanation as to why each possible alternative was not selected. If a site was ruled out because of radio frequency (RF) issues, provide RF propagation maps documenting inadequate coverage:

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ATTACHMENT TFCG APPLICATION #200804-07 T-MOBILE AT SLIGO MIDDLE SCHOOL

The photo below is a view of the school property as seen from Julep Court, west of the school. The arrow illustrates the approximate location and height of the proposed monopole.

The photo below is a view of the location proposed for the monopole as seen from Denis Avenue looking north. This is the view the resident who lives directly across the street from the school may have. The arrow illustrates the approximate height and location of the monopole

Excerpt from April 1, 2009 TFCG Meeting Minutes Application #200904-07

Page 1

Action Item: T-Mobile and Montgomery County Public Schools application to construct a new 130' monopole on Sligo Middle School property located at 1401 Dennis Avenue in Silver Spring (Application #200904-07).

Bob Hunnicutt summarized the application noting that the school property was a large parcel of land adjacent to the Sligo Creek Park. He added that the monopole is proposed to be placed at the side of the property backing to the wooded area of parkland. Because it will be next to the wooded area, the Tower Coordinator's recommendation is conditioned on T-Mobile considering a stealth "tree" design for the monopole.

Mary Pat Wilson noted that the condition only asks that they consider a tree design and not require it. Mr. Hunnicutt explained that the Board of Appeals could require it but the TFCG could not. He added that the tree disguise may be a way to mitigate any resident opposition when the Special Exception is reviewed.

Mr. Hunnicutt also noted that in addition to the tree disguise, the recommendation was conditioned on approval of a Special Exception and a waiver for the setback which does not meet . the one-for-one Zoning Code requirement.

Ms. Wilson said she thought that for other applications like this, the group had been decided that the Planning Commission would determine whether a Special Exception or Mandatory Referral process was required, and she wanted to make sure the TFCG recommendations remained consistent.

Mr. Hunnicutt replied that for this application, since it was a structure for private use on school property, he believed it would require a Special Exception.

Marjorie Williams suggested that they call Clifford Royalty-in the County Attorney's Office to ask his opinion on whether it would need a Special Exception. The group agreed and she added Mr. Royalty on the conference call with other TFCG members.

Mr. Royalty explained that if a State or County agency wanted to construct a monopole for its own purposes, the proposed monopole would be reviewed through the Mandatory Referral process. T-Mobile, being a private entity, is subject to the County Zoning Code. Thus they could attach to a public agency facility as permitted in 59-A-6.12 of the Zoning Code, but construction of a private use facility on public property would require approval of a Special Exception ..

Ms. Wilson asked if the public schools needed to be a co-applicant. Mr. Hunnicutt replied that there was a code requirement for the property owner to also be an applicant for the Special Exception. Ms. Williams agreed with Ms. Wilson that for purposes of the TFCG the public schools need not be shown as a co-applicant and asked the Tower Coordinator to revise the Recommendation form accordingly.

Excerpt from Aprill, 2009 TFCG Meeting Minutes Application #200904-07

Page 2

Helen Mu asked if the monopole could be placed on the school property in such a way to meet the setback requirements without impacting the coverage. Martin Liebman said that coverage would not likely change if the monopole was moved farther into the school property along the same ground elevation; but may be impacted if the ground was at a higher or lower elevation than currently proposed. He noted that relocation would place the monopole in the athletic fields. Ms. Wilson added that at the proposed location there is no interference with school use of the property.

Motion: John Cuff moved the application be recommended on the Board of Appeals granting a Special Exception and a reduced setback for the monopole, and T -Mobile considering a stealth tree design to better blend in with the surrounding wooded area. Helen Mu seconded the motion and it was approved with Mary Pat Wilson and Carlton Gilbert abstaining.