Planning Commission approves multiple plats and special permit for 95-foot cell tower

The city Planning Commission unanimously approved a package of consent items on Feb. 18, 2026, including preliminary and final plats and a special permit to allow a new 95-foot cell tower at Gulf Way Mobile Home Park in District 4.

Andrew Dimas of Development Services read the consent agenda into the record and told commissioners staff and the technical review committee had reviewed the plats and found them consistent with the Texas local government code and the Unified Development Code. "Staff and the technical review committee have reviewed both of these plats and determined they are consistent with the Texas local government code as well as the Unified Development Code and recommend approval," Dimas said.

The commission approved the minutes from its Feb. 4 meeting and approved the absences of Vice Chair Munoz, Commissioner Miller and Commissioner Budd. The consent agenda items approved included Preliminary Plat Riverstone Trails Phase 1 (item 2), Final Plat PL 9069 Meadowridge Subdivision (item 8), and additional plats listed as items 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7. Item 9 was a conditional approval for a final plat for Park PID Unit 2; staff explained the preliminary plat had expired and the final could not be recorded until an update agreement or resubmittal was completed.

The commission also approved zoning case CN 9062 for Gulf Way Mobile Home Park, a request for a special permit to install a new 95-foot cell tower. Dimas said the site currently has an existing 83-foot tower and that the Unified Development Code does not specify a single maximum height but instead relies on engineering requirements, windstorm design standards and a fall-radius rule. "As the property is zoned commercial, if the new tower were to stay under 85 feet in elevation, they would not have to rezone. In this case, because they're going above that threshold, that is what triggers a special permit," Dimas explained. Commissioners also noted FAA notification is tied to a 200-foot threshold.

During the public hearing segments for the consent items no members of the public spoke. Commissioners moved and seconded motions to approve the consent items as presented by staff; each motion passed with no recorded opposition in the transcript. The meeting concluded after a brief director's report in which staff said there was nothing to report and no future agenda items were offered.

Votes at a glance: motions to approve absences and to approve the Feb. 4 minutes passed; motions to approve items 2 and 8, and later items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9 and 10 (including CN 9062) passed. The transcript records the motions, seconds and the chair calling for "ayes," but does not include roll-call tallies by name in the audio record.