The Apache Junction Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously approved a conditional use permit Tuesday to allow a 65-foot-tall, full-canopy “mono elm” wireless communications tower at 251 East 20 Ninth Avenue, a parcel adjacent to a Motel 6 and near the Superstition Freeway.

Staff planner Erica Hernandez told the commission the proposed tower would sit in the southeast portion of the parcel, meet the zoning setbacks and be at least 300 feet from any residence. "Staff recommends approval of case number PD-25-49-CUP, subject to the conditions of approval found in the staff report," Hernandez said.

The permit application was filed by CitySwitch, which will own the tower, with Verizon Wireless named as the primary tenant. Christine Tucker of Terra Consulting, the applicant’s representative, said the company contacted 12 property owners during site selection and submitted three candidate parcels to engineering. "I've been in this industry for 38 years," Tucker said, describing efforts to find the least-intrusive location and to design the tower as a tree to conceal antennas and radios.

Under the approved conditions, the proposal calls for an approximately 60-by-60-foot leased compound enclosed by an 8-foot concrete masonry unit block wall matching existing building colors, a 10-foot-wide utility easement, and a 20-foot access corridor to the right of way. Tucker said power and fiber will be brought to the site from an existing pole at the end of the utility easement; staff materials show the site will also accommodate co-location by other carriers.

City staff posted a sign at the site, mailed notice to property owners within 300 feet and advertised the case in the newspaper. A neighborhood meeting on Aug. 16 drew no attendees and staff said it had received no questions or written opposition. The commission closed the public hearing and voted unanimously to approve Case PD-25-49-CUP, adopting the seven conditions in the staff report.

The commission noted that any audience member who files a protest within 20 days may cause the matter to be forwarded to the City Council; otherwise the Planning and Zoning decision stands.

At the start of the meeting the commission approved the agenda and past minutes by unanimous roll call, and at the end it scheduled a regular meeting for Oct. 28, 2025, subject to cancellation if no items are filed. Staff also announced personnel changes in Development Services: two staff members, identified in meeting remarks as Kelsey and Feint, have left and recruitment is under way for replacements.

Votes at a glance: Case PD-25-49-CUP (CitySwitch/Verizon) — approved by a 6-0 roll call; Agenda and minutes approval — unanimous; Regular meeting scheduled for Oct. 28, 2025 — unanimous.

Details: parcel number 102-21-042A; zoning B-1 PD (general commercial, planned development); site address 251 East 20 Ninth Avenue; advertised resolution and case referenced in staff materials as Resolution No. 25-28, Case PD-25-49-CUP. The decision includes seven standard conditions listed in the staff report and an appeal window of 20 days to the City Council.