Commission deadlocks on plan for 125-foot cell tower near First Presbyterian; tie treated as recommendation for denial

The Mesquite Planning and Zoning Commission reached a tie on Aug. 25 over a proposal to place a 125-foot telecommunications tower on a portion of Anchor Baptist Church property at 1028 South Beltline Road, producing a recommendation for denial under the city’s zoning rules.

Staff planner Tiara Clark told the commission the 10-acre site would host a roughly 2,500-square-foot lease compound and a 125-foot tower intended to support three wireless carriers. “After staff has reviewed the telecommunications criteria, we have decided to recommend approval of a conditional use permit to allow [the] cell tower…with modifications to the separation requirements,” Clark said during the staff presentation.

The applicant’s representative, David Draper, said wireless carriers hired his firm to “fill in coverage gaps” needed for reliable cellular service and 9-1-1 communications. Draper told the commission the site was chosen, in part, because church property can accommodate the compound and existing trees would screen much of the structure. “It is a heavily wooded area and while we will have to clear some trees for our 2,500 square feet, most of the trees around there will stay as they are currently and will hide most of the wall, the tower,” he said.

Neighbors and church members urged the commission to reject or slow the request. Larry Thomas, a member of First Presbyterian Church adjacent to the site, said people are living in the house next to the proposed compound and urged adherence to existing separation rules. Resident Monica Kajal said a 125-foot structure—“the equivalence of an 11‑story building”—would be plainly visible from homes that back onto the greenbelt and worried about tree removal and property values. Terry White cited overseas studies and contended health impacts can extend hundreds of meters from base stations; the applicant and staff pointed to FCC oversight and said carriers operate under federal limits.

Commissioners asked staff whether the applicant would need a tree-mitigation plan and a site plan if the CUP advanced; Clark said both would follow city permitting if council approved. Commissioners also queried whether existing nearby towers (including one at 1444 Beltline Road) provide coverage; Draper said the carriers on that tower do not cover the identified gap.

A motion to approve staff recommendations was moved and seconded but resulted in a tie vote. The chair announced the tie and explained that, under the Mesquite Zoning Ordinance, a tie by the commission is treated as a recommendation for denial. The applicant was advised to coordinate with staff about options for advancing the application to the City Council, which staff noted could consider the item on Sept. 15.

The commission record shows multiple written and online comments opposing the project; staff reported five required notices in opposition and about 40 online comments at the time of the hearing. The commission’s action at the hearing does not itself deny or approve the final permit—city council review is the next step if the applicant chooses to pursue it.