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HARB continues small‑cell antenna request; board signals preference to avoid conspicuous new poles in landmark views
Summary
HARB continued review of Verizon small‑cell antenna locations in and near downtown St. Augustine and asked the company to revise site plans and materials; the board signaled preference for replacing existing utility poles where feasible and avoiding new conspicuous poles in primary historic view corridors near the Castillo and Avenida Menendez.
Verizon representatives presented revised location options for a proposed small‑cell network and asked HARB for feedback June 18; the board continued the matter to allow Verizon to refine locations and designs that will minimize visual impacts in the city’s most sensitive historic areas.
What Verizon proposed and what the board discussed: Verizon showed three candidate small‑cell locations in the downtown historic district: (1) within the Tokes Place parking lot; (2) at a Cordova Street location in front of the Ponce de Leon Hotel (replacing an existing FPL pole); and (3) at or near Charlotte Street adjacent to Castillo views. The company also offered several design options: replacement FPL “smart” poles with integrated cabinets, black equipment‑box designs modeled on examples used in other downtowns, and a Boston‑style ornamental pole for select locations.
HARB guidance: Board members expressed strong reservations about placing conspicuous, 35‑foot poles in primary sightlines toward the Castillo and along Avenida Menendez/Charlotte Street. Where replacement poles are unavoidable, the board preferred replacing existing utility poles rather than adding new free‑standing poles in view corridors. HARB also urged Verizon to coordinate with the city’s pending streetscape and undergrounding projects (Cordova Street, seawall lighting), noting that some proposed poles might conflict with long‑range municipal plans to move utilities underground.
Next steps and staff direction: HARB continued the application to the July 15 meeting. Verizon will: - Refine location choices to prioritize existing pole replacements and rooftop installations where feasible; - Provide scaled renderings showing the pole or box in the streetscape and show efforts to match color, minimize luminaire proportions and shield antenna equipment; - Coordinate proposed Cordova location with city staff plans for future undergrounding and streetscape work.
Public safety and RF questions: Board members and staff noted that calls continue to route across multiple towers and countywide infrastructure; HARB did not base its decision on RF safety (which is regulated at the federal level) but on visual and historic‑district compatibility. Verizon agreed to return with revised plans showing less visually intrusive options.
