Neighbors and commissioners press applicant on access, environment; PLDRC continues proposed 250‑ft tower to Sept. 17

A proposed 250‑foot communications tower drew sustained opposition from nearby residents and questions from commissioners at the July 16 Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission meeting, prompting commissioners to continue the special‑exception request to the September 17 PLDRC session.

Staff reported the application included environmental review, an FAA determination that the tower would not create an air‑navigation hazard, and T‑Mobile as the initial carrier. Blue Sky Towers’ counsel Mary Solick and T‑Mobile RF engineer Jason Pauley said the tower would close a coverage gap in the area and would initially support one anchor tenant with potential for up to four carriers.

Neighbors from Black Bear Ranch and other private‑road communities said they were surprised by notice, opposed the tower height and expressed two core concerns: access during construction (heavy equipment may use private easements) and the tower’s visual and environmental impacts in a wildlife corridor. Several speakers also said the proposed access route used roads the community maintains and asked how construction damage would be handled.

Commissioners pressed the applicant on legal access rights, whether the proposed site would require use of private roads, the construction traffic profile and the environmental review schedule. Blue Sky representatives said access would be secured across the Bates property (a 30‑ft easement was described on the record), that construction required a handful of heavy lifts (crane, concrete truck, delivery), and they offered to videotape road conditions before and after work and to repair any construction damage.

A motion to approve the special exception with the staff recommended conditions initially failed to achieve four affirmative votes. Commissioners then proposed and added a third condition requiring Blue Sky Towers to document and repair any damage to Buckles Road and the portion of Black Bear Ranch trail on the Bates property caused during construction; the company agreed to repair damage within a fixed post‑construction timeframe. The commission voted to continue the matter to the September 17 PLDRC meeting so the record could be completed and residents could receive additional documentation; the continuance motion passed 4–1.

What the record shows: Staff said environmental permitting found four gopher tortoise burrows on the parcel but none within 25 feet of the proposed footprint; environmental permitting expressed no objection provided compliance with environmental regulations. T‑Mobile’s engineer presented maps showing a local 5G coverage gap the tower would close. The applicant said the lease term is in five‑year renewals up to a 50‑year maximum and that the agreement requires tower removal if abandoned.

Next steps: The item is scheduled to return to PLDRC on Sept. 17. Commissioners asked the applicant to provide documentation about legal access to the site and a written road‑repair guarantee tied to construction completion and a specified cure period.