Stow City planning commission approves 173-foot cell tower at North River Road

The Stow City Planning Commission approved a conditional use and site plan (PC 25-8) to install a 173-foot monopole cell tower on county-owned Summit County Wastewater Treatment property at 2978 North River Road at a meeting. The motion to approve the plans as submitted was moved and seconded and passed by roll call.

Commission staff said the application is processed under the city—s code as a public utility substation use and described the proposed facility as a 60-by-60 leased compound set back roughly 220 feet from the North River Road right-of-way, about 200 feet from the nearest residence to the west, with a 30-foot access and utility easement and an 8-foot chain-link fence around the base. Staff noted the code—s supplemental regulations include a 100-foot minimum distance from a dwelling or residential district and other siting guidance; the applicant—s proposal is in a residential district but is located approximately 200 feet from the nearest residence.

Sean Gallagher and engineer Mike Herko, representing rooftop and tower operator Crown Castle, told commissioners the site is intended to replace an existing tower whose lease was not renewed by the landowner. Gallagher said federal law (the Federal Telecommunications Act) governs telecommunications siting. The applicants initially sought a 195-foot tower but said Federal Aviation Administration limits capped the design at 173 feet. Herko presented estimated coverage plots for AT&T, Dish Network and T‑Mobile and said the existing tower—s removal would cause "significant degradation up to and including complete loss of service in particular areas" if a replacement were not built.

Applicants said the proposed replacement site is roughly three-quarters of a mile from the existing tower but sits on higher ground, which they said would allow similar coverage. They estimated construction would take about six months; the current tower would remain in service until a replacement is built, and the existing structure would be removed afterward. The application did not include a permanent backup generator; staff and the applicants said the plans show equipment cabinets at the tower base but no outdoor storage materials.

During public comment, nearby resident Cynthia Goldsmith (2849 North River Road) asked about lighting, setbacks and safety. Applicant representatives and staff said the tower is engineered to collapse inward and that the site is more than 200 feet from the nearest residence. A commissioner asked whether any emails had been submitted; staff said no written objections had been received, only questions that were answered.

Roll-call votes were recorded as follows: Missus Clancy: yes; Mister Wagner: yes; Missus Trepto: yes; Mister Basic: yes; Mister DeCuliak: yes. The motion carried and PC 25-8 was approved.

Next steps discussed on the record included final permitting and construction scheduling; no construction start date was specified in the meeting record.