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Council reviews concept for 150‑foot cell monopole behind Westminster Walmart
Summary
An applicant asked council for feedback on a concept to build a 150‑foot monopole and equipment compound behind the Walmart at West 130th Avenue. The site would require PDP and ODP amendments; Verizon is the initial carrier and the applicant expects co‑location opportunities.
Westminster staff and an applicant representing SBA Infrastructure presented a concept plan review Monday for a proposed 150‑foot monopole and equipment compound behind the Walmart at 130 W. 130th Ave. Planning staff emphasized the session was a concept review — not a public hearing — to allow council to provide early feedback.
John McConnell, Planning Manager, said the site is inside an existing Planned Unit Development (PUD) and the applicant would need a preliminary development plan (PDP) amendment and an official development plan (ODP) amendment if it seeks to move forward. McConnell said staff worked with the applicant to shift the proposed location from a more visible position on the east side of the store to a screened location at the building’s south side to reduce visual impacts and avoid an access easement across a multi‑use trail.
Applicant representative Jake Hamilton (SBA) described the proposal as a 150‑foot monopole with a 35‑by‑65‑foot walled equipment compound. Hamilton said the installation would initially host Verizon equipment — ‘‘nine antennas, including 5G and LTE’’ — and was designed with three sectors (three antennas per sector). Hamilton said the site would improve network capacity and reduce strain on nearby towers, particularly for peak commuting periods.
Hamilton showed before‑and‑after coverage maps illustrating improved outdoor coverage near I‑25 and the eastern corridor. He said the berm and building massing would screen the compound from many sight lines and that additional landscaping would be planted to mitigate visibility. "There's an existing substantial landscape firm there that this can be built into," Hamilton said.
Councilors asked about alternatives, timing and co‑location. Staff and the applicant said construction of the monopole itself could be accomplished in roughly 90 days once permits and building approvals are in hand, but the zoning and permitting schedule depends on the PDP/ODP amendment process; staff estimated the entitlement timeline should be shorter than a full new‑building review because the change is limited in scope. McConnell said the requested height increase would be specific to this installation and would not change the PDP height limit citywide.
Public notice for the concept review included six signs on the property and more than 400 mailed notices. If the applicant files formal PDP/ODP amendments, the public would have additional opportunities to comment at a neighborhood meeting, the planning commission and city council hearings.
No formal action was taken; council feedback at concept review was advisory only.
