HomeMy WebLinkAbout20366 Substation Tower Additions (002) Site Plan with N.W.E. Responses
November 25, 2020
NorthWestern Energy
Attn: Kirt Mayson
11 East Park Street
Butte, MT 59701
RE: Substation Tower Addition at NWE Bozeman Riverside Substation, Application 20366
Dear Applicant,
Thank you for your concept application to review the proposed development. City staff respectfully provides the
following notes and suggestions to assist you with this potential future project. Please note that comments are
preliminary and based on the information provided. City staff cannot identify all possible issues during a conceptual
review. We try to identify critical path issues at this time. You are required to design the project to meet the
requirements of the Bozeman Municipal Code. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact me at
582-2261. We look forward to helping you with the evolution of this project.
Respectfully,
Jacob Miller, Assistant Planner
Community Development Department
Project Description: Conceptual Review application for advice and comments for a Site Plan proposing the
construction of a new communications tower and control house.
Project Location: 195 Mossbridge Road, Bozeman MT, 59715
Recommendation: Informal comments only. All references below to the Bozeman Municipal Code, BMC.
Applicant Questions:
1. Since the substation tower cannot be granted access by 3rd party carriers (as outlined above), can
NorthWestern be granted an exemption to the permit process and proceed with erection of this substation
tower?
- The City will require a full site plan
2. Our current requirements for the installation of this tower and the microwave hop are the week of 07-
November-2020. This is in support of the planned Energization of the Substation Transmission
improvements project at this substation. Given this project schedule, which is contractor and resource
limitation driven, can the application be fast tracked and granted construction to meet this deadline?
- This application will require full site plan and the mandatory review timeframes associate with
site plan review
Planning Division; Jacob Miller jamiller@bozeman.net 406-582-2261
1. BMC 38.370.040.B.6.e.2. - A large scale wireless facility in non-residential zones must provide a minimum
setback from the property lines of 75 percent of facility height, which may be reduced to no less than 30
percent of facility height upon the provision and approval of an engineered design, stamped by a
professional structural engineer licensed to practice in the state, establishing a smaller collapse area. Large
scale wireless facilities located within non-residential zones, but adjacent to a residential zone or residentially
developed areas, must maintain a minimum setback from residential zoning or property boundaries of at
least 50 percent of facility height. All installations must maintain the minimum zoning district setbacks,
including special setbacks for applicable block frontage in division 38.510 of this chapter.
N.W.E. Response – Due to the specific location within the substation required for the tower to have a clear
and unobstructed line of sight for the microwave path, the set back requirements to the property line may not
be compliant. N.W.E. respectfully requests the City of Bozeman Planning Division for review of additional
provided documentation and comment back.
2. BMC 38.220.170. - Submittal materials for telecommunications. Please review this section and submit all
applicable materials as described.
N.W.E. Response – N.W.E. provided materials available in the initial upload application to satisfy this section.
3. BMC 38.370.040.A.1. - The structural design for all wireless facilities greater than ten feet in height or which
have more than four square feet of total antenna area must be certified by a professional structural engineer
licensed to practice in the state. A building permit must be obtained prior to the installation of any facility
subject to this division 38.370.
N.W.E. Response – The structural design information for the self support tower was provided in the initial
documentation upload for this application. These include the foundation and structural analysis information
and tower drawings (Sabre Towers) all certified by a Professional Engineer Registered in the State of
Montana.
4. BMC 38.370.040.A.2. - All wireless facilities must meet or exceed current standards and regulations of the
FCC, FAA and any other agency with the authority to regulate wireless facilities. If such standards are
changed, the owner must modify the installation to comply with the new standards within six months of the
effective date of the new standards or regulations unless a different implementation schedule is required by
the issuing agency.
N.W.E. Response – The compliance with current FCC regulations (Part 90 rules) regarding the channel and
frequency clearing for a licensed microwave path have been satisfied and the Comsearch Prior Coordination
Notification datasheets were provided in the initial documentation upload. FAA requirements regarding
obstruction evaluation in relation to hazards to aeronautical navigation have been evaluated and are in
compliance per TowAir FAA / FCC evaluation. The tower and foundation were designed in accordance with
and meets ANSI/TIA-222 Revision H which is the latest issue. This documentation was submitted in the
original documentation upload.
5. BMC 38.370.040.A.3. - Wireless facilities with a base located at grade must be enclosed within a secure fence
not less than six feet in height, or the tower itself must be equipped with an appropriate anti-climbing device.
N.W.E. Response – The substation tower is located within the confines of the chain link substation fence which
is a 6 ft high fence and the tower and thus meets this requirement. An anti-climb device is deemed not
required due to the fence height requirements being met.
These Divisions did not provide comment. Contact reviewers directly with individual questions.
1. Building Division; Bob Risk brisk@bozeman.net, 406-582-2377
2. Engineering Division, Cody Flammond, cflammond@bozeman.net, 406-582-2287
3. NorthWestern Energy; Thomas Stewart, thomas.stewart@northwestern.com, 406-223-0573
4. Parks and Recreation; Addi Jadin, ajadin@bozeman.net, 406-582-2908
5. Sustainability Division; Natalie Meyer, nmeyer@bozeman.net, 406-582-2317
6. Water Conservation; Jessica Ahlstrom, jahlstrom@bozeman.net, 406-582-2265
7. Stormwater Division; Kyle Mehrens, kmehrens@bozeman.net, 406-582-2270
8. Water and Sewer Division; John Alston, jalston@bozeman.net, 406-582-3200
9. Forestry Division; Alex Nordquest, anordquest@bozeman.net, 406-582-3205
10. Fire Department; Scott Mueller, smueller@bozeman.net, 406-582-2386
11. Solid Waste Division; Russ Ward, rward@bozeman.net, 406-582-3235