Citrus County panel approves 159-foot shrouded monopole at First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills

The Citrus County Planning and Development Commission approved a conditional use in June 2025 to allow a 159‑foot shrouded monopole telecommunications tower on property owned by First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills, intended initially for T‑Mobile and future co‑location.

The tower approval, passed 5–2 after public comment and about an hour of presentation and questions, drew praise from commissioners who said expanded cellular coverage is needed and concern from residents and two commissioners about proximity to residentially designated land and possible future site changes.

Applicant Matt Tanaya John told the commission the shrouded monopole — a single support pole with antennas contained inside a triangular shroud — would be painted to match the church and include a Type D landscape buffer. He said the structure would be 155 feet to the top of the steel pole and 159 feet to the tip of the lightning rod, and that the engineered fall zone (50% of tower height) would be contained on the parent church parcel. John identified T‑Mobile as the carrier needing the site and said APC, the professional tower company pursuing the application, is seeking colocation to avoid multiple separate towers.

Joe Hockadell, principal planner with Citrus County Land Development, summarized staff analysis, noting the primary deviation was a required 300‑foot separation from residentially designated properties. Hockadell said the fall zone would be about 80 feet and would remain on the church's parent parcel, but that an adjacent parcel the church owns is designated in the Pine Ridge master plan as single‑family residential land and therefore counts toward the 300‑foot measurement.

Pastor Terry Herndon, speaking as a church trustee, told the commission the church does not operate a school on the site and said the congregation has no present plans to sell the adjacent parcel. Resident Kenita Echeverria said she bought her property assuming there would be no tower nearby and expressed concern about potential impacts on resale value.

Commissioners debated the tradeoffs between coverage needs and neighborhood impacts. Chair Richard Varmez said, "I believe cell towers are very important to our society today ... But I don't believe they belong in a residential area," and voted against the application. Commissioner Timothy Gilbert also opposed the request, citing concerns about precedent and future additions. Commissioners Jeanette Collins (who moved approval), David Bramblett (who seconded), Michael Facemeyer, Stuart Boseman and Kurt Stone supported approval, citing demonstrated coverage need, proposed buffering and camouflage measures, and the county code's allowance for conditional uses.

Conditions of approval adopted by the commission included the staff's recommended technical and landscaping requirements with two modifications the commission added: (1) the Type D landscape buffer must be 25 feet wide (staff had requested that modification), and (2) lighting must include directional lensing in addition to the shielding required by the Land Development Code to reduce impacts on surrounding properties. The applicant agreed on the record to the modified buffer width and the directional‑lensing lighting condition.

The commission's motion finds the proposal consistent with the Citrus County Comprehensive Plan and the Land Development Code and approves the conditional use based on the evidence and testimony presented. The permit will still require building permit review and technical review by county divisions (including building and technical services) before construction can begin.

The application materials on file show the proposed compound would include rack‑style equipment cabinets for carriers, fiber backhaul to the nearest network point, and a sound‑dampened generator for backup power. Staff and the applicant said the tower does not meet FAA notice criteria and no additional FAA aviation study is required. The record also includes a title review noting a private deed restriction that the property be used for church purposes; staff advised that deed restrictions are private civil matters the county does not enforce.

Votes at a glance: The Planning and Development Commission approved the conditional use application (CUDASH2025‑0007) for a shrouded monopole at First Baptist Church of Beverly Hills. Motion by Commissioner Jeanette Collins (move to find the application consistent with the comprehensive plan and approve with modified conditions); second by Commissioner David Bramblett. Vote: yes — Jeanette Collins, David Bramblett, Michael Facemeyer, Stuart Boseman, Kurt Stone (5); no — Chair Richard Varmez, Commissioner Timothy Gilbert (2). Outcome: approved.

Next steps: If the applicant proceeds, county departments will review engineering and building permit submittals for compliance with the Florida Building Code and county standards. The county code requires removal of abandoned towers and the applicant's lease documentation on file states the tower must be removed if the lease ends.