Location - Verizon is proposing to lease land in the HRCA Backcountry along the west side of Quebec Street and just a ½ mile south of Rocky Heights Middle School for a new wireless telecommunication facility.
Challenge - Verizon is requesting a new facility because of multiple challenges plaguing this part of Highlands Ranch which includes increasing wireless demands from the community, frequent terrain changes preventing reliable signal distribution, and significant customer complaints regarding dropped calls or no service areas presenting obvious safety concerns.
Design - Verizon is recommending several designs that can disguise the facility including a water tower, monopine, or farm silo all with flexible colors, materials, and placement options to meet HRCA, Douglas County and resident design preferences.
Overview: Verizon Wireless has determined through network analysis, drive test, and customer complaints that the area south of Rocky Heights Middle School is susceptible to dropped calls and no service availability. This is caused by overlapping and compounding challenges such as the rolling terrain, the high ridge to the east of Quebec Street, and increasing demands from residents, visitors, and businesses that affect the performance of existing wireless telecommunication facilities around Douglas County.In an effort to solve this safety concern and improve overall network reliability, Verizon Wireless is proposing to lease space in the Backcountry on land located along the west side of Quebec Street and just south of Rocky Heights Middle School. This location already has existing utilities on-site, access off of Quebec Street, and other site improvements due to the existing East Cherry Creek Valley Water Authority (ECCV) well. By co-utilizing land already visually and functionally impacted by the well, Verizon Wireless hopes to have found the most appropriate location for a future facility in the area. This location also made sense from a design standpoint since proximity to Quebec Street would allow Verizon Wireless to utilize the existing roadway access, driveway, fencing, and power lines. Most importantly this location has the line of sight necessary to reduce the likelihood of having dropped calls or no service areas as you head south on Quebec Street.
Verizon Wireless recognizes the important aesthetic nature and sensitivity of the Backcountry. Therefore, the proposal for the project recommends moving forward with one of three different camouflage designs including a faux water tower, farm silo, or a faux tree also commonly known as a monopine. Regardless of the final facility type, Verizon is only requesting a 40’ structure to fit within the landscape. This height is the minimum height that Verizon can locate equipment on and still improve the network issues affecting the Backcountry.
It’s important to note that the facility design can be altered in many different ways including different colors, materials, and layouts. Verizon Wireless is seeking community feedback on the preferred facility type as well as input regarding the customized features of the final design. Photo simulations of each design have been provided to help better understand how they each relate to the surrounding environment. Verizon Wireless appreciates the opportunity to better serve your community through the design and implementation of this project.