The Lee's Summit Planning Commission on Oct. 9 recommended approval of special-use permit renewals for four existing telecommunications towers at addresses across the city, citing continued need for wireless service and no proposed increases in tower height or compound size.

The renewals cover towers at 1310 Northeast Colburn Road, 1749 Southeast Langsford Road, 1850 Southeast Hamblin Road and 207 Southeast Douglas Street. Staff said the towers have provided cellular service for years — with equipment in place since 1996, 1999 and 2000 at the various sites — and that the renewals do not propose taller structures or enlarged fenced lease areas.

Senior planner Claire Byers told the commission that each application seeks only to continue operation of the existing monopole and that neighborhood meetings produced no opposition. "The applicant requests approval of a special use permit renewal to allow for the continued operation of the existing [tower]," Byers said, adding that there is "no proposed increase in tower height or expansion of the tower compound boundaries as part of this renewal." Byers also noted each site’s leased area and the setback distances to the nearest property line.

Commissioners pressed staff on maintenance and oversight. Commissioner Brandy Bembrooke asked whether maintenance of tower sites falls under city code enforcement; Byers answered that exterior maintenance is governed by the International Property Maintenance Code and that neighborhood services officers perform proactive enforcement and respond to complaints. She explained that if a tower’s height increases or the leased compound expands, the applicant must return for a new special-use permit, but adding equipment within the existing fenced lease area typically proceeds through building permits and final development plan review without commission action.

Details staff recorded for the applications included:
- 1310 Northeast Colburn Road: 100-foot monopole, 3,515-square-foot leased area, equipment on site since 1999; property zoned agricultural; lease area ~50 feet from the nearest property line.
- 1749 Southeast Langsford Road: 100-foot monopole, 26-by-33-foot fenced equipment area, equipment on site since 2000; property zoned CP-2 (planned community commercial); existing 65-foot setback was approved previously by ordinance.
- 1850 Southeast Hamblin Road: 180-foot tower, 40-by-52-foot leased area, equipment on site since 1996; property on planned industrial zoning; nearest property line ~94 feet.
- 207 Southeast Douglas Street (adjacent to Fire Station 1): monopole within a 30-by-40-foot screened enclosure, equipment on site since 1996; property zoned Central Business District; nearest property line ~60 feet.

Each renewal was recommended by motion and passed on unanimous votes from the commission. The recorded vote for the renewals was: Commissioner Ed Yarrington — yes; Commissioner Sherry Frazier — yes; Commissioner Dana Arth — yes; Commissioner Jessica Grinnell — yes; Commissioner Brandy Bembrooke — yes.

The commission’s recommendations now proceed to the City Council for final disposition under the procedures of the Unified Development Ordinance.

Why it matters: The renewals keep in place infrastructure that city staff and applicants say is necessary for everyday communication and business operations. Commissioners requested clearer routines for proactive maintenance checks and were told staff would consider interval inspections in addition to relying on citizen complaints and routine code enforcement.