Brentwood approves first reading to update cell‑tower rules, citing coverage gaps and public‑safety needs

The Brentwood City Commission on Jan. 12 approved on first reading a text amendment to the city’s personal wireless service facility rules, a move city staff says is intended to fill persistent cell‑coverage gaps while limiting the number and visual impact of new towers.

City Manager Jason Gage told commissioners the current ordinance dates to 2001 and that changes in technology and usage mean some areas of Brentwood—especially south and east neighborhoods and locations affected by local topography—experience poor or absent service. "Those gaps mean that we have service that's either poor or it's nonexistent," Gage said, adding that reliable coverage is often a public‑safety issue when people need to call 911 from parks or multi‑use trails.

The amendment keeps the ordinance’s tiered approach and adds a "Tier 4" category to allow greater height where propagation studies show a demonstrable need. Under the proposal, applicants would be required to submit technical propagation studies and demonstrate efforts to co‑locate multiple providers on a single tower; the city may hire a third‑party reviewer at the applicant’s expense. Staff also proposed banning lattice towers and requiring modern monopole designs with hinge points engineered to fold, which reduces required fall‑zone footprints.

Commissioners asked about aesthetics, possible sites (including common‑area HOA property), whether similar monopoles are used elsewhere and resident health concerns. Gage said staff will provide informational materials addressing safety questions and explained that lower‑frequency bands (such as 700 MHz) travel farther, noting tradeoffs between coverage and higher‑frequency bands used for faster speeds. "We think we have a balance of doing that, making it as tight as we can," he said.

Staff outlined the review timeline: the Planning Commission is scheduled to review the text amendment Feb. 2, with a public hearing before the commission on Feb. 9 and a potential final reading Feb. 23, depending on how long the Planning Commission’s review takes.

Commissioner Reynolds moved to advance the ordinance on first reading; Commissioner Pippen seconded. The commission voted unanimously to approve the first reading and forward the amendment to the Planning Commission.

What happens next: The Planning Commission will evaluate the proposed text and public comments. If it returns the item to the commission, Brentwood will hold the scheduled public hearing and consider a final reading. The ordinance as advanced requires applicants to justify sites and heights through technical evidence and gives staff and the Planning Commission discretion over disguising and visual‑impact mitigation.