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Council allows negotiations to begin on a proposed cell tower at Fort Myers Country Club; residents to be consulted
Summary
Tower Comm Enterprises proposed leasing land at the Fort Myers Country Club for a 120‑ft cell tower with Verizon as an anchor tenant; initial city offer noted $1,500/month with 2% annual escalation and long renewal terms. Council asked staff to get a need assessment, seek alternatives, address aesthetics and obtain resident input before advancing.
Community Development staff introduced a proposal from Tower Comm Enterprises to lease a portion of Fort Myers Country Club maintenance land for a 120‑foot cell tower (rendering showed a taller option). The company proposed $1,500 per month with a 2% annual escalation, an initial 5‑year term and nine automatic 5‑year renewals (total potential 50 years); Verizon was listed as an anchor tenant and the applicant said it is also in talks with other carriers.
Councilors asked whether the applicant had produced a formal need assessment and whether alternatives were available; several members expressed concerns about aesthetics and asked for outreach to Ward 4 residents. The city manager was directed to begin negotiations (price and aesthetic mitigation) while staff schedules additional resident input and requests a formal service‑need justification from the applicant.
