Fort Myers council approves 150-foot cell tower at Country Club after objections from golfers and neighbors

Fort Myers City Council approved a first amendment to an option and ground lease with Towercom 8 LLC to construct and operate a 150-foot cellular communications tower at the Fort Myers Country Club.

The proposed tower replaces an existing facility that had been removed; staff noted reduced service in the area without the replacement. Council discussed siting and appearance, and one council member asked whether the tower could be designed to look like a golf-teed feature. Opponents raised preservation concerns during public comment.

Resident Sawyer Smith, who spoke during public input, urged the council to protect the course: “A steel tower behemoth in the middle of one of the most important... civic treasures we own,” he said, arguing the tower would degrade a century-old community asset.

Council members weighing local service needs against visual and preservation concerns ultimately approved the lease amendment; a roll-call vote was recorded as yes: Brown, Watson, Banc and Mayor Anderson; no: Beauchetta and Berson. The motion carried 4–2.

City staff said the tower height would be about 150 feet and that relocation of the site from the center to the edge of the course reduced the intrusiveness but would not resolve all objections. The approval allows the city to execute the amendment and proceed with the tower project under the terms negotiated with the developer.

Next steps: execute the ground-lease amendment, finalize tower design and coordinate any required permitting and landscaping or mitigation measures.