Harold Yellin, Petitioner, on behalf of Cellco Partnership d/b/a Verizon Wireless (VZW), is requesting six additional licenses to encroach onto City rights of way in accordance with the terms of a franchise agreement between the Mayor and Aldermen and VZW that was approved on April 2, 2015.   

The agreement governs the development of a stealth distributed antenna system (DAS) to enhance cellular telecom capacity in an aesthetically compatible manner in the National Historic Landmark District. The DAS is disguised in the form of light poles, flag poles, and similar structures; thus eliminating large unsightly towers. 

The franchise agreement requires a Revocable License for Encroachment Agreement (RLEA) govern each encroachment location. The original agreement involved 26 locations. VZW is now seeking to add six additional nodes to its network. The designs of the DAS structures and proposed locations have been reviewed by the Metropolitan Planning Commission and the Historic District Board of Review and have been approved. A Certificate of Appropriateness (COA) has been issued.  

City Council may review and decide each site individually or as a whole. If a site(s) is rejected, then petitioner may request a replacement site to complete coverage of the proposed network. The six proposed site locations are attached. VZW will pay the City $1,273.08 per location in 2018, and this fee will increase annually at 3%. The petition request has been reviewed by Real Property Services, Development Services, the Bureau of Public Works and Water Resources, and the Park and Tree Department. An encroachment agreement would include the following conditions:

• Petitioner must submit detailed site development and engineering plans for each location to the City for site plan and development review, approval, and issuance of applicable permits prior to any use of the sites.
• The petitioner shall enter into a RLEA governing use of the property.
• Conditions outlined in the COA and related approvals must be satisfied.

Approval