The Tippecanoe County Area Planning Commission on July 16 recommended that the county commissioners consider a rezoning request that would permit a monopole cell-tower facility in southern Wabash Township; the APC recommended approval 14–1 and the case will advance to the county commissioners.

Why it matters: The proposal would add cellular and FirstNet capacity in a reportedly underserved area; decisions on siting and FAA constraints can influence coverage patterns for emergency and commercial users.

Ryan, APC staff, described the request as a downzoning from R1 to A to allow a monopole-type cellular facility sited where flood plain had been previously excluded from the legal description. Brian Ramirez, a representative for Select Towers, told the commission the initial carrier would be AT&T and that FirstNet (the dedicated public-safety network) would be part of the installation. Ramirez said the Federal Aviation Administration review limited the facility to a 145-foot monopole plus a small lightning rod and that the site will include fencing, power and fiber but no water or sewage.

One nearby resident, Judy Sandy of South River Road, told the commission she was not opposed to a tower in principle but said she had “some exceptions” to the chosen location. Sandy said the site is low-lying and has flooded in the past, suggested higher ground to the north could provide broader coverage, noted the site’s proximity to an event path for the Feast of the Hunter’s Moon, and raised concerns about radiofrequency exposure for people passing through the area.

Ramirez responded that FAA elevation constraints and the existing network topology made the proposed site the appropriate “puzzle piece” to fill a coverage gap; he also said the company had obtained FAA clearance and reduced tower height accordingly.

Action and next steps: APC’s ballot count was 14 recommending approval and one recommending denial. The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to the Tippecanoe County Commissioners for final zoning action.

Discussion vs. action: Commissioners heard technical statements about FAA limits, carrier plans and infrastructure; a resident provided public comment raising siting and radiofrequency concerns. The APC’s action was a recommendation to the county commissioners; final authority rests with the commissioners.