North Ridgeville planning commission approves 185-foot monopole tower with condition for 8-foot solid fencing

On June 16, 2026, the North Ridgeville Planning Commission approved TowerCo's application (MDP260002) to construct a 185-foot monopole telecommunications tower with a 4-foot lightning arrester on city-owned property at the Shady Drive complex, conditioning approval on a continuous 8-foot solid fence around the equipment compound.

Planning and Development Director Leaver told the commission that the project is on city-owned land and is permitted under a ground lease executed by council through Ordinance 2025-147. She said staff found the proposal met the applicable Chapter 1462 development standards for site layout, access, utilities and design and that the applicant submitted required FCC and FAA authorizations and visual simulations. "The tower meets the height requirements; it's 185 ft with a 4-ft lightning arrester," Leaver said.

Tonya Rogers, representing TowerCo 2013 and the applicant's consultant Baker Dubucart, described the materials submitted to staff — site plans, the ground lease, FCC and FAA authorizations and photo simulations — and explained operational details including space for future co-location. Rogers said TowerCo prefers chain-link fencing on two sides of the equipment compound to allow visible access near a generator and for safety inspections but offered to install an 8-foot wooden fence all the way around if the city requires it. "If the wooden fence would alleviate any safety concerns, we can do that," Rogers said.

A nearby resident, Kristina Kirkowski of 8205 Ashford Circle, told the commission that the visual simulations are outdated because her neighborhood was built after the visuals were prepared and that the tower would be closer to homes than shown. Kirkowski said the tower "does have more of a visual impact" than older renderings suggest and that she was concerned it "could decrease our home values" and about children's safety at the frequently used ball fields adjacent to the site.

Rogers responded that TowerCo could update the visual materials, reconfirmed the company's compliance with FCC RF-emissions requirements, and described climb-prevention and maintenance practices. She also confirmed that the tower's structural drawings show capacity to accommodate up to four co-located antennas and that initial equipment pads would be poured as concrete with later pads installed when co-locators join.

During commissioner questioning, staff and the applicant clarified fence locations (the company said the southeast and southwest sides of the compound would face the ball field and could be wooden if required), pad and apron construction (concrete pad with gravel inside the fence and a landscaped berm rather than concrete curbing), and sequencing of the asphalt path. Commissioners emphasized the heavy use of the sports fields and the need to avoid creating a hidden enclosure that might raise safety concerns.

A motion to approve the application "with the condition that the solid fencing all the way around this to the 8 ft height as required" was made, seconded, and approved in a roll-call vote with recorded yes votes from Toth, Schumann, Winkle and Smolik. The chair stated the motion carried unanimously among those voting. The commission adjourned after completing the item.

Next steps: the applicant must submit required engineering and building-permit drawings for the concrete pad and equipment pads, and any future co-location would be reviewed when additional carriers apply.