Board approves 195-foot cell tower at West Road Center with landscape buffer

The Indianola Board of Adjustment voted to approve a special use permit for a 195-foot wireless telecommunications monopole on property at 1801 West Second Avenue, with a condition that the applicant install landscaping along the south side to provide a visual buffer for residents across the street.

The board’s action followed a staff recommendation and a presentation by a representative for Tower North and Verizon, who described the project as a capacity-driven effort to improve cellular coverage on the city’s west side. Bill (city staff) explained the site is in a C-2 commercial zone and described the proposed lease area as 1,940 square feet located near the southwest corner of the property.

“Cell phones are no longer a luxury. They’re really a necessity,” said Alex Truman, representing Tower North and Verizon, explaining that the facility was intended to meet growing data demand and improve coverage in an area shown on propagation maps as having “bad coverage.” He added the tower is designed to be collocated for additional carriers and that technicians would visit about once a month.

Residents and property representatives spoke during public comment. “If this gets approved, the next person that comes along... how are you gonna turn it down?” said Stan Mackinich, a resident of West Fourth Avenue, urging caution and more study before approving towers in residential areas. Debbie Lawrence, property manager for West Road Shopping Center, said the owners had invested in improvements and that Verizon coverage problems affect tenants: “I can’t use my Verizon phone anywhere near there.”

Leaders of the First Assembly of God raised operational concerns for church equipment. “What we’re worried about... is receiver desensitization, strong signals, electromagnetic signals... once it is in place, is there gonna be any problems that we have to then deal with and, you know, pay for to fix,” said Joe Bedwell, operations director at First Assembly of God. Alex Truman responded that towers operate under FCC licensing and that Verizon and other licensed users must operate within assigned frequencies; he said structural analysis showed the tower’s collapse radius would be 35 feet and that towers are designed to collapse inward in catastrophic failure scenarios.

After discussion, a board member moved to approve the special use permit with a condition requiring a landscaped visual buffer on the south side of the compound for the homes across the street; the motion was seconded and carried. The board indicated staff will provide utility maps or other follow-up information if property constraints are raised in the future.

The approval requires separate action if the carrier seeks other permits or if a liquor or other license is needed for tenants on site; the board did not adopt additional operating conditions for radio-frequency monitoring, citing FCC authority over interference complaints.

Board members voting in favor included Solovich, Mitchell, Ash and Whelan. The motion passed.