McKinney planning panel approves rezoning for 120-foot wireless monopole; residents cite health, siting concerns

The City of McKinney Plan and Zoning Commission on March 23 voted 5-2 to recommend rezoning that would allow a 120-foot telecommunications monopole at 4877 West University Drive, forwarding the case to City Council for final action on April 15, 2025.

City planner Jake Bennett told commissioners the proposed rezoning would permit a ‘‘high rise communication telecommunications structure’’ at the southwest corner of an existing self-storage facility and that ‘‘staff recommends approval of the requested rezoning.’’ He said the tower base would be screened by the existing building plus a proposed six-foot masonry wall and evergreen shrubs and that the proposed setbacks and screening were provided “beyond the requirements of the UDC.” Bennett also noted the Telecommunications Act of 1996 limits local governments from basing decisions on ‘‘supposed environmental or health effects of radio frequency emissions.’’

The applicant, David Prejean of Synergy, described the proposal as a ‘‘120-foot stealth design’’ — a slim ‘‘flagless flagpole’’ or ‘‘slick monopole’’ that would house antennas inside the pole and could accommodate up to three carriers. Synergy’s RF engineer, Katie Burdette, estimated the site’s serving cell radius at about a half mile and said the location would ease service pressures around the nearby Baylor Scott & White medical campus.

Nearby homeowners urged the commission to reconsider the site selection. Rick McDaniel, who said his property backs up to the storage facility, asked commissioners to “consider a different location perhaps on the West Side Of Lake Forest where there are businesses that aren't living there being subjected to EMF 24/7,” and suggested land behind Kroger as an alternative. Mark Rutledge, who said he has worked in high-frequency communications for 40 years, told the commission he was “concerned specifically for the potential health issues of a high frequency 5G tower that close to my home.” Vincent Gunn said his home would be roughly 500 feet from the tower base and urged more research into health data.

Applicant representatives said the tower would be roughly 228 feet from the nearest residential property line, about 265 feet from Lake Forest Drive and 615 feet south of U.S. 380; they also said carriers’ antenna emissions are regulated by the Federal Communications Commission and claimed proposed installation would comply with FCC limits. Prejean said the pole’s top diameter would be about 60 inches and that the upper approximately 40 feet would expand to accommodate carriers’ equipment.

After hearing public comment, Commissioners Buettner (motion) and Whitley (second) moved to close the hearing and approve the rezoning exhibit. The commission’s motion passed 5-2 and the item will be considered by City Council on April 15, 2025.

The application packet, staff report and six written comments submitted online after the agenda was posted were provided to commissioners and entered into the public record.

If City Council approves the rezoning, further permits and final engineering — including tower-specific foundation and structural design driven by geotechnical testing — would still be required before equipment installation.