Planning commission backs ordinance fix for wireless‑tower code as residents urge protection for Cooling Camp Park

The Forest Lake Planning Commission on April 28 voted to recommend that the City Council repeal ordinance 765 and adopt ordinance 770, a zoning text amendment intended to correct drafting errors introduced in January related to wireless communications towers. The ordinance change clarifies which residential districts can host towers and limits the requirement for stealth/camouflage design to single‑family residential sites that are guided for institutional uses and meet a 10‑acre minimum.

Michael, the staff presenter, told the commission that the January ordinance unintentionally removed MXR1 standards and misapplied stealth standards to rural residential zones. "The request before you now is to repeal ordinance number 765 and replace it with ordinance number 770 to correct these issues," he said. Staff emphasized that the amendment is city‑led, not driven by any pending developer application, and that any future tower proposal would still require a conditional use permit and a public hearing.

Residents at the meeting repeatedly raised concerns about a potential tower near Cooling Camp Park (also cited as Cooling/Cooland Camp Park in public remarks). Amanda Kurs asked why a tower would be sited in a park used daily by walkers and families and whether other locations had been considered. Maria Bloomberg said she had spoken with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and asserted that Cooling Camp Park had received Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) funding in 1978; she told commissioners that LWCF rules (section 6(f)) generally require land to remain in public outdoor recreational use absent a formal conversion process, and she urged staff to verify whether deed restrictions or conversion obligations apply.

Other residents raised health and property‑value concerns. Sheila Haru, who identified a medical background, said she believes "the radiation from cell towers is extremely detrimental to human health," and asked the commission to delay action until a health study is completed. Franco/Classman and other neighbors said they prefer towers be sited in industrial areas or fenced locations rather than parks and noted possible effects on property values.

Staff and commissioners acknowledged those concerns but also pointed to public‑safety and service gaps cited by city departments. Commissioners discussed FCC limits on local regulations of towers and the practical difficulty of imposing requirements that might conflict with federal rules. Staff noted that towers in any district will require a conditional use permit and public notice and that the amendment merely corrects drafting errors so the code reflects council intent in January.

The commission voted in favor of recommending ordinance 770 to the City Council, with at least one abstention recorded. The item is scheduled for City Council consideration on Monday, April 30. Staff reiterated there is no formal tower application on file and that a developer‑hosted neighborhood meeting about a potential Cooling Camp Park tower is scheduled for Thursday, April 30 at 4:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Ending: The commission’s recommendation sends ordinance 770 to City Council; residents who want to raise park‑specific concerns were advised to attend the neighborhood meeting on April 30 and to provide comments to the City Council during the open forum portion of its meeting.