Commission reviews Oak Towers lease for multi‑carrier cell tower at Smith Park

Brentwood city staff presented a proposed ground lease with Oak Towers for a mobile telecommunications tower sited at the Smith Park water tank. Staff said the lease area matches terms previously approved for the police department headquarters site, the tenant would pay all improvement costs, and the application is classified tier 4 and must go through the planning commission process.

On coverage, staff showed signal propagation maps and described significant coverage improvements for nearby residential areas. "If it's above the tree line, you get that," staff said while indicating the coverage maps; another staff member added that the tower is "designed to look like a pine tree" so that it blends with existing tree lines.

Commissioners asked whether the city or carriers initiated the project and were told it was a combination of outreach and vendor engagement; staff described working with county and carrier government relations contacts to identify vendors and engineering firms (named vendors and carriers were discussed). Several commissioners thanked the mayor, staff and outside partners for advancing the project and noted its likely improvements to service during storms and emergencies.

Staff stressed that the final tower location would be subject to the planning commission review and must meet the city’s ordinance criteria; the applicant will also need to satisfy any applicable state or federal requirements. The commission did not take a final vote on the lease in the recorded portion of the transcript; staff offered to return with detailed plans and noted the public review process.

Next steps: planning commission review and follow‑up materials (maps, site details and draft lease) to be provided to commissioners and the public.