Fairview council approves 130‑foot wireless monopole near Heritage Ranch after public hearing

The Fairview Town Council voted to approve a zoning amendment and facilities arrangement that will allow a 130‑foot monopole-style wireless tower on a roughly 75-by-75-foot compound north of Wilson Creek in the Heritage Ranch planned development.

Planner Israel summarized the application during a public hearing, saying the request amends the Heritage Ranch PD to allow the tower because the parcel’s current zoning does not permit a conditional‑use permit for cell towers. Israel said the proposal meets the town’s tower spacing standards and explained safety conditions for a site located in the Wilson Creek floodway: “the base flood elevation is 5.23, so the platform is going to be at a minimum of 5.25,” he said, describing a required elevation for electrical cabinets.

Frank Nocher, the applicant representative from Jacobs, said AT&T is the primary carrier for the proposal and the 130‑foot design was chosen so multiple carriers could co‑locate. “AT&T hires us to do all of their cell towers all over the nation,” Nocher said, describing that this site responds to customer and emergency‑response coverage gaps.

Council members questioned fencing height and security requirements for a site in a floodplain. Planner Israel and the applicant said federal reviews (FAA/FCC and floodplain regulators) will impose specific requirements; the council added a condition that the type of fence will follow federal requirements if those specify a type, otherwise the town prefers tubular steel (wrought‑iron style) fencing with decorative options.

Councilmember (Speaker 10) moved to approve the project with the condition that any fencing required by federal review will control the final fence standard; the motion carried on voice vote. The council closed the public hearing after no members of the public spoke.

The approval is conditioned on required federal and regulatory sign-offs; town staff noted that final permitting cannot occur until those external approvals are complete. The council’s action allows the applicant to proceed to the next permitting steps.

The project’s next steps include federal regulatory review, state or county floodplain approvals as needed, and any building permits required before construction.