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Council approves special-use permit for telecom tower at 7901 Trady Road
Summary
After a public hearing, the council approved a special-use permit allowing a telecommunications monopole at 7901 Trady Road to restore long-standing cellular coverage in a neighborhood rendered a "dead zone" after the 2015 tornado removed local infrastructure.
The Rowlett City Council on Feb. 18 approved a special-use permit authorizing a telecommunications tower at 7901 Trady Road, a request brought by property owners David E. and Theresa L. George and represented by industry consultant Mason Griffin.
The permit follows a public hearing in which neighbors described years of intermittent or missing cellular service in the area after a 2015 tornado damaged a water-tower-mounted antenna. Mason Griffin, representing the applicant, said the proposed tower replaces long-standing wireless infrastructure and that temporary mobile units will remain in place until the permanent facility is operational.
Griffin told council the applicant worked with city staff to reduce tower height and to locate the fall zone so it lies within a side-yard setback of adjacent property, limiting impacts to developable city land. He also said decommissioning of a tower, should it ever be removed, is uncommon because demand for wireless infrastructure remains high.
Council members asked about decommissioning, fall-zone design and whether the city inspects privately-owned towers. Staff said decommissioning procedures are private obligations of the tower owner; the city requires building permits and an engineering letter identifying the designed fall zone. The applicant said the tower is designed with a structural break point and would be unlikely to collapse beyond engineered limits except under extreme wind loads.
The council voted 6–0 to approve the special-use permit; the packet shows two written oppositions within the city-notification area and one support submitted from outside the notified radius.
Why it matters: Restoring permanent wireless coverage affects residents' ability to use mobile data and 911 services. The applicant argued the site has hosted wireless facilities for decades and the proposed tower keeps that coverage in place.
Actions taken: Council approved the special-use permit for a telecommunications tower at 7901 Trady Road (motion carried 6–0).
