Commission approves two Waterloo Fiber equipment shelters at separate sites

The Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission approved two separate special permits May 13 for Waterloo Fiber to construct 10-by-16-foot equipment shelters and diesel generators to support the city fiber-optic network. Staff said both sites are within planned commercial or residential zoning areas but lie in primary growth areas served by existing utilities; no nearby property owners were required to receive courtesy notices for the first site because none were within 250 feet.

Staff described the shelters as unmanned structures for fiber-electronics equipment and noted previous approval of a similar shelter at Fire Station 6 (3288 Ainsborough Avenue). Eric Logie, general manager for Waterloo Fiber, said both shelters are similar to the prior installation and ‘‘just a tiny bit smaller’’ and that they have no regular on-site employees: "It's not a building that's gonna get staffed, frequently — just for maintenance uses." Logie said the Idaho Street site was purchased because the originally planned Linden Water Tower location experienced frequent lightning strikes.

Technical review notes require a tank permit for diesel generators and fire-protection permits for suppression and alarm systems. Staff recommended approval for both locations with the standard condition that final site plans meet applicable city codes (parking, landscaping, drainage, etc.). Commissioners voted to approve both special permits; staff will process the required tank and fire-protection permits through building and fire departments.