Planning commission recommends approval of conditional use for 85-foot telecom tower near West 11th Street

The Kearney City Planning Commission on a unanimous vote recommended that the City Council approve conditional use permit 2026‑03 to locate a telecommunications tower on an agricultural parcel south of West 11th Street, roughly 1,200 feet west of 30th Avenue.

Wood Grove, site development agent for Buell Consulting representing the applicant, The Towers LLC, described an 85‑foot monopole with a 5‑foot lightning rod and a 100‑by‑100 lease compound that would include a 50‑by‑50 fenced and rocked equipment area. He said the nearest residence is about 0.4 miles away and submitted engineering fall‑zone calculations showing a 45‑foot radius in the unlikely event of catastrophic failure. "The requested overall tower height of 85 feet is a minimum height necessary to provide continuous coverage and enhanced capacity to the high school and surrounding area," Wood Grove said.

Melissa, city planner and staff, told commissioners the application meets setback requirements and that the tower can accommodate three carriers; staff recommended approval with conditions that the monopole not exceed 90 feet, screening be maintained for the life of the tower, and any change in ownership be reported to the city within 30 days. Staff also noted the applicant provided RF‑engineer letters on emissions, a decommissioning plan and a statement of compliance with applicable federal and state regulations.

Wood Grove and staff said FAA screening found no aviation lighting or markings were required for the proposed height and location. The applicant also cited federal limits on local consideration of RF environmental effects, stating Section 704(a) of the Telecommunications Act of 1996 (as referenced in the submission) prohibits local governments from conditioning placement on the environmental effects of radio frequency emissions so long as carriers comply with commission regulations.

Commissioners asked about maintenance, inspection frequency and capacity; Wood Grove said towers are inspected every two to three years under federal guidance and that capacity depends on on‑site equipment rather than a fixed user count. After a brief public‑hearing period with no speakers, a commissioner moved to recommend approval and the motion passed on roll call. The matter will be transmitted to the City Council for a final decision.