Council approves 160-foot telecommunications tower and ground lease at compost center with Tower North

The Lake Forest City Council on March 16 voted to waive first reading and grant final approval for construction of a telecommunications tower at the city's compost center (1381 Kennedy Road) and to authorize execution of a ground lease with Tower North Development LLC.

City staff presented the lease and site plan, noting the proposed monopole height of up to 160 feet, a secured 75-by-75-foot ground-lease area for equipment, and a requirement that Tower North pursue outside approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), Federal Communications Commission (FCC), the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) review and the State Historic Preservation Agency. The lease provides the city the option to place public‑safety antennas at no charge and requires insurance, indemnification and restoration commitments if the tower is removed in the future.

Staff said Tower North would make an estimated initial investment of roughly $500,000 in site preparation and installation and pay an upfront amount of $125,000 to the city, with recurring rent calculated as a minimum of $500 per month or 30% of subtenant rents (subject to subtenant lease terms). Staff estimated anticipated recurring revenue of about $45,000 once major carriers are onboarded, but cautioned those amounts depend on market negotiations between Tower North and its subtenants.

Council members asked about coverage range, confirmed the 160-foot height matches the water tower’s height and queried whether the new monopole would fully resolve coverage issues citywide; staff said the tower should bring incremental improvements—not wholesale resolution—and could enable removal of equipment from the water tower to ease maintenance. Staff also noted the city currently receives about $200,000 annually from existing water-tower leases with AT&T and T‑Mobile; relocating those providers could reduce near-term revenue but provide long-term benefits for water-tower refurbishment.

The council moved to waive first reading and grant final approval of the ordinance authorizing construction and the ground lease; the roll-call vote was 7 yays and 1 abstention (council member abstained due to employment conflict). The motion carried.

Next steps include Tower North pursuing outside approvals (the lease allows up to 18 months for that process), carrier negotiations, and subsequent construction planning. Staff said they would return to the council with updates as approvals and leases progress.