Residents warn council about wildfire risk from a new 100‑foot monopole next to Balcones Canyonlands Preserve

During public comment on Feb. 27, residents representing Jester Estates, the Sierra Club and other neighborhood organizations urged the City Council and staff to halt construction of a 100‑foot monopole cell tower near the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve (BCP), citing wildfire risk and potential violations of federal environmental laws.

Residents said the tower's proposed siting puts the monopole roughly 19 feet from BCP property and argued the presence of a generator, batteries and diesel fuel storage within 33 feet of the preserve increases risk to endangered species habitat and neighboring homes. Speakers requested updates to the city's WUI (wildland‑urban interface) code and telecommunication siting rules to require fall‑zones of at least twice the tower height from endangered species habitat.

Why residents raised the issue

Speakers described Jester Estates as a steep, cliffed area with limited evacuation options and a documented wildfire risk. They said the monopole configuration (a self‑supporting 100‑foot monopole) and supporting infrastructure could present ignition hazards, that lightning and other events can topple or damage monopoles, and that existing city codes and review processes did not account for this scenario adjacent to a federally protected preserve.

What residents asked the city to do

- Halt ongoing construction of the monopole until a full wildfire and environmental review is completed. - Update the WUI/fire, land use and telecommunication siting codes to require larger fall‑zones (suggested: at least two times tower height) between telecommunication towers and endangered‑species habitat. - Conduct federal environmental reviews as required: consider the Endangered Species Act, Migratory Bird Treaty Act, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)/FCC processes.

Speakers and highlights

- Carol Phillipson (Jester Estates, District 10) described neighborhood wildfire risk and the tower's proximity to the Balcones Canyonlands Preserve; she urged updating the WUI code to mandate fall zones around towers. - Brad Knowles (District 10) echoed the call to revise codes and noted multiple local organizations supporting the change, including the Sierra Club. - Liana Gilliam and others detailed the presence of diesel storage and backup generator near the BCP and urged the city to stop construction and perform a full environmental review.

Staff and legal context

Speakers asserted the project may require federal environmental reviews and protections; they urged coordination with federal statutes protecting endangered species and migratory birds. City staff were not recorded taking immediate action during the comment period; residents asked the council to direct staff to investigate and to update local codes.

Outcome

The item was presented as public comment; council members did not take formal action during the meeting to halt construction or to direct an immediate code rewrite. Residents asked for a formal stop and code updates; the transcript records their requests for staff and council follow‑up.

Provenance

Topic introduction: public comments on the WUI code and the monopole began with Carol Phillipson's remarks about Jester Estates and the tower location (transcript excerpt). Topic finish: later speakers (Liana Gilliam) reiterated proximity of generator and fuel storage to BCP and requested a full federal environmental review (transcript excerpt).

Ending

Residents asked council to update city policy to address this new wildfire configuration near protected habitat and to halt construction pending review. The council did not take immediate formal action during this meeting; the matter remains with staff review and potential future council consideration.