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DeSoto County Board approves 265-foot telecom tower on Kelly Road with 50-year conditional use
Summary
The DeSoto County Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a 265-foot telecommunication tower on Kelly Road and granted a 50-year conditional use permit to match the site's lease, citing T‑Mobile coverage gaps; the approval includes required daytime white lighting and red blinking lights at night.
The DeSoto County Board of Adjustment on April 13 voted unanimously to approve a 265-foot telecommunication tower on Kelly Road and granted a 50-year conditional use permit to match the site lease.
Bennie Hopkins, a county staff member who presented the application, introduced Dave McGehee of GST Capital, LLC, who said the tower is intended to address service gaps. “T‑Mobile is experiencing coverage gaps,” McGehee said, and told the board the proposed structure — flush with a lightning rod — would reach 265 feet. He also said the tower will require white lighting during the day and red blinking lights at night.
The board first approved a variance allowing a tower taller than the 35-foot limit; that motion was moved by Mike Hancock and seconded by Cham Babb and passed unanimously. For the conditional use permit, Board member Cham Babb moved and Board member Mike Duncan seconded an approval to allow the 265-foot tower for a 50-year period, until April 13, 2076; the motion passed unanimously.
The county record notes the applicant asked that the conditional use term match the land lease. The board did not receive public comment on the application during the meeting. No conditions beyond the lighting and the term were stated in the meeting minutes.
The approvals reference the DeSoto County Zoning Ordinance. Appeals of decisions made at this meeting must be filed by April 23, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. and will be heard by the Board of Supervisors on May 18, 2026.
