Everman approves variance for Synergy Towers to place AT&T cell site near Shelby Road

The Everman City Council approved a variance allowing Synergy Towers to locate a proposed cell site at 202 Shelby Road that reduces the city's 500-foot clearance requirement around cellular towers to 300 feet. A council member moved to approve Case PZ24-001 and the motion carried by voice vote; no opposition was recorded in the transcript.

City staff told the council that engineers and the city attorney had reviewed Synergy's submittal and found no structural-collapse risk that would endanger nearby residents. City staff recommended approval, saying the need for improved cellular coverage 'particularly for 911 callers' outweighed the city's interference concerns.

Katie Burdette, a Synergy Towers representative, presented signal-level maps showing a coverage "hole" between existing sites and said the proposed location would act as a dominant server for the Shelby Road area and improve AT&T service across the city. "There's a quite a hole in between those two existing sites," Burdette said, describing how the new site would connect existing coverage and reduce dropouts.

Staff and the applicant told the council that the site is in an area zoned light industrial and that, if the variance is approved, Synergy would next submit building permits to the city. Staff said no additional public hearing is required for construction so long as the variance is granted and the company proceeds by right under the existing zoning.

Transcript statements provide these numeric details: the city's standard clearance is 500 feet from residential buildings; Synergy's proposed site is reported in the record to be roughly 300 feet from the nearest residential zoning; staff referenced a structural-collapse calculation that multiplies tower height by two (staff cited this to show a 240-foot collapse zone when using the packet's stated tower height). The packet and discussion include an item stating "the cell tower is only going to be a 20-foot tall"; meeting audio and engineering context make that figure unusual for a typical communications tower, and the council record does not clarify whether that is a transcription or packet error.

A council member moved the variance. The motion text in the record was: "I make a motion to approve case number PZ24Dash001 at 202 Shelby Road, Everman, Texas 76140. Synergy Towers, contractor is requesting the current standards required at 500 feet clearance around the cell towers to be reduced to 300." No second is recorded in the transcript excerpt. The presiding official called for a voice vote; the minutes-style exchange in the audio recorded "Aye" and no council member voiced opposition in the provided transcript.

Next steps outlined on the record: if the variance is approved Synergy must submit building permits and follow the city's permitting process; staff said no rezoning is required because the property is zoned light industrial.

The council concluded its consideration on the item with the applicant thanking the body for its time. The transcript does not record a roll-call vote or a named tally, and the meeting record does not indicate outstanding appeals, conditions, or required mitigation tied to the variance.