Town hears multi-step plan to host a cell tower on town-owned property

Planning Director Mr. Blunt told the Board of Aldermen the town has been approached by a tower company interested in leasing a small pad on town-owned property at the end of Sowers (Souris) Ferry Road to host a monopole cell tower. He said the company’s proposed compound would occupy roughly a 50-by-50 (or 75-by-75) fenced area; the town would only lease a small square inside a larger roughly five-acre parcel that Mr. Blunt said would be described precisely in a rezoning application.

Mr. Blunt said the site is currently zoned Civic, which does not permit towers; the town would seek a conditional rezoning to an industrial-conditional designation that would add cell towers as an allowed conditional use. He outlined the approvals required under state law and the town’s ordinance: deed verification, a rezoning application, a neighborhood meeting, one or more public hearings and a separate public hearing required by the cell-tower ordinance. Because the lease would run 40 years, Mr. Blunt said state statute requires the process to be treated similarly to a sale, including an upset-bid period.

Why it matters: Several board members and residents have asked for better cell coverage. Mr. Blunt said the tower company will later provide engineering dispersion maps and proposed antenna designs that predict signal coverage; those technical details were not available at the meeting. He emphasized the approval phase will likely take longer than construction and that the site-selection work included dodging existing sewer easements and assessing visibility to nearby homes and historic properties.

Key details: Mr. Blunt said drone footage flown to 200 feet was used to assess sight lines to three nearby homes including the Alexander Long House (a historic property) and to the mayor’s residence; in those drone frames, tree cover largely blocks views of the proposed tower site so only the top portion of a 200-foot structure would likely be visible from most locations. He described construction as involving deep pile foundations and limited excavation within the small compound, and he said lease negotiations produced a proposed monthly payment of $800 with a 1.5% annual increase (he had aimed for $1,000/month but said the company offered a lump-sum option as well).

Concerns and protections: Board members pressed for information residents will likely ask about: the expected improvement in cell service for which Mr. Blunt said the tower company will supply dispersion maps and carrier commitments once antenna designs are drafted; road impacts (construction traffic and repairs) — Mr. Blunt said the contract will address road maintenance; and decommissioning — the town’s ordinance requires bonding or similar protections so the company must remediate the pad if the tower is removed.

Next steps: Mr. Blunt said the town is locating deeds to prove clear title, will return with a conditional rezoning request and intends to hold neighborhood meetings that include owners beyond the typical notice radius so adjacent residents can comment early in the process. No formal action was taken at the meeting; the board was briefed and authorized staff to continue due diligence and to return with formal items for rezoning and lease approval if appropriate.