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Planning commission approves small‑cell installation and removes city‑council approval requirement for some co‑locations
Summary
Fairhope’s Planning & Zoning Commission approved a small‑cell tower review in an ALDOT right of way and voted to remove a previously listed requirement that city council approve several co‑location utility reviews, clarifying that the commission is the final local decision‑maker for colocations on existing poles.
The Fairhope Planning and Zoning Commission on July 6 approved UR2613, a staff‑recommended review of a proposed small‑cell installation at 1880 South Greenough Road, and removed a condition requiring city council approval for certain co‑location utility reviews.
Staff said the proposed small‑cell would sit inside an Alabama Department of Transportation right of way, so the city's small‑cell ordinance did not apply and ALDOT permits would control. "This cell tower is inside of ALDOT right of way. Therefore, our small cell ordinance is not applicable to this," staff said during the presentation. Staff recommended approval subject to coordination with Fairhope utilities to avoid infrastructure conflicts.
An AT&T representative who identified herself as Michelle Fogle described the installation as "small cell infrastructure" designed to address capacity or coverage needs. "It will be primarily focused on the school in the area," Fogle said, adding the installation would provide service for nearby stadiums and athletic fields.
Commissioners debated whether an earlier staff report had incorrectly included a requirement for city council approval on several colocations. After clarification from staff that co‑locations on existing poles are under the commission's authority — and that city council approval is only needed for new pole locations — a motion was made and passed to remove the city‑council‑approval condition from UR2606 and the related items. The commission also separately tabled UR2605, UR2607 and UR2608 to the September meeting at the applicants' request.
All motions on the utility reviews and the small‑cell review passed unanimously. Next steps: ALDOT permitting will proceed for the small cell, and the items the commission tabled will return in September with additional information requested by staff and commissioners.
