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Council approves special-use permit for 109-foot Verizon tower at 660 Eighth St. SW; FAA approval confirmed
Summary
The council approved a special-use permit for a 109-foot Verizon telecommunications tower in an I-1 light industrial district at 660 Eighth Street SW after staff confirmed FAA approval; council discussed height limits and notifications to nearby properties including the new elementary school.
The Lamar City Council on April 1 approved a special-use permit allowing Verizon Wireless to replace an existing tower at 660 Eighth Street Southwest with a 109-foot telecommunications tower.
City staff told the council that the property is zoned I-1 (light industrial) and that the district's height restriction is 45 feet; approval of tower height exceedances is vested with the council under Lamar's code of ordinances (chapter 167, as cited in meeting materials). Staff corrected earlier misstatements in the agenda packet, saying the existing tower height and the district height had been misstated in the materials. Staff also confirmed the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) had approved Verizon's application, removing that outstanding contingency.
A councilmember asked whether the school had been contacted because the proposed tower is near the new elementary building. Staff said neighborhood notices had been provided as part of the public process and that individual notification of the school was not required; staff also said the tower remained on the same footprint as the existing structure and that the taller structure was "skinny" and not expected to materially affect neighbors. A councilmember noted the tower may have a red obstruction light at night.
A motion to approve the special-use permit carried on a voice vote.
