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Council approves zoning change first passage for Draper Ave cell tower, adds tree‑marking condition
Summary
The council gave first‑passage approval to a zoning amendment that would allow a 135‑foot monopole cell tower on city‑leased land off Draper Avenue; council inserted a requirement that any trees to be removed be marked and reviewed at pre‑construction with an invitation to the Land Trust.
The City Council approved first passage of PCO 1‑25, an ordinance to amend the zoning ordinance to permit a telecommunication monopole (cell tower) on city‑leased property at 150 Draper Ave. The proposal, brought by TowerCo on behalf of Verizon Wireless, would place a roughly 135‑foot monopole within a screened, wooded parcel that city staff and applicants said is outside wetlands and the 100‑year floodplain; the site is partially within the 500‑year floodplain.
Proponents said the site fills a coverage gap in Warwick Neck and that city and emergency‑service operations (sewer SCADA, public safety radios) would benefit. The applicant said the monopole is a low‑profile solution compared with older tall structures and that the design includes a locked compound for equipment, an on‑site propane generator to power the site during outages, and minimal visual impact because of existing tree screening.
A neighbor and other residents raised health and wildlife concerns about radio‑frequency emissions and the effect of towers on birds and vegetation. City planning staff and the applicant noted that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulates radio‑frequency limits and that proposed operations would comply with FCC standards; radio‑frequency engineers on the applicant team said the signals to be used are non‑ionizing and are standard for cellular service.
Council discussion focused on visual screening and the scope of tree clearing. The council amended the zoning approval to add this condition: "Any trees to be removed shall be marked prior to and discussed at a pre‑construction meeting at which a Land Trust member shall be invited to attend and participate." The amendment passed and the ordinance received first passage as amended. Council members also recorded the lease economics during debate: TowerCo will pay the city for the leased land (applicant cited rent approximately $2,000 per month subject to 2% annual increases).
Ending: The item now proceeds through required subsequent permitting steps (building and site plan review); if approved through final passage and permitting, the applicant said it would publish subcontract packages and begin site work.
