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Commission backs special‑use permit for 75‑foot telecom monopole near Shrady Road
Summary
The Rowlett Planning and Zoning Commission voted 7–0 Jan. 28 to recommend a special‑use permit for a 75‑foot telecommunications monopole at 7901 Shrady Road to replace temporary towers and restore cellular coverage; applicant and AT&T said the replacement will reduce coverage gaps and support emergency calls.
The Rowlett Planning and Zoning Commission unanimously recommended approval of a special‑use permit Jan. 28 to allow a 75‑foot telecommunications monopole on property zoned SF‑9 near Shrady Road.
What was requested: The application, filed by a telecommunications applicant on behalf of property owners at 7901 Shrady Road, asked for a special‑use permit to allow a 75‑foot monopole at a 2.65‑acre site. The site has housed a water tower and temporary cellular poles following a 2015 tornado; the Board of Adjustment earlier granted a variance reducing a required setback related to the tower’s fall zone.
Why the city considered it: The applicant and AT&T representatives said the new monopole would replace two timber temporary poles that have provided degraded coverage since the water tank was removed, restore indoor and in‑vehicle data and call capacity on the nearby peninsula, and reduce the likelihood of dropped 911 calls. AT&T engineer Bobby Wells presented propagation and signal‑quality maps showing predicted interior and vehicle coverage holes if the site is not rebuilt.
Community response and concerns Staff noted two letters of opposition within the 200‑foot notification area. At the public hearing, at least one resident, Sheila Lobdell, said she experiences frequent signal loss at home and supported a permanent replacement because the temporary poles created unreliable service.
Technical and procedural notes - The Board of Adjustment previously approved a fall‑zone setback variance for the proposed 75‑foot height; the SUP before the commission is a separate process and not automatic as a result of the BOA action. - Applicant representatives said the proposed monopole is engineered for extreme winds (the engineer referenced design to withstand up to roughly 105 mph conditions in their letter) and that the tower would host multiple carriers (AT&T and T‑Mobile were identified; Verizon was described as a likely future tenant). - Staff confirmed required notification was completed and that the request remains subject to council review.
Formal action - Motion: Approve the special‑use permit to allow a 75‑foot telecommunications monopole at 7901 Shrady Road. - Mover: Commissioner Williams. Second: Commissioner Wilson. - Vote: 7–0 in favor; motion passed.
Ending Commissioners and the applicant emphasized the objective of replacing long‑standing temporary poles with a single, engineered monopole that can host multiple carriers and meet modern capacity and public‑safety needs. The commission’s recommendation will advance to city council for final action.
