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Council approves lease for 150-foot cell tower at Fort Myers Country Club; NEPA, FAA reviews to follow
Summary
Council approved a ground-lease agreement with TowerCom for a 150-foot monopole cellular tower at Fort Myers Country Club. Staff noted the site will need federal NEPA review and FAA determinations on lighting; TowerCom estimated the NEPA process takes about four months once ordered.
The Fort Myers City Council approved a ground-lease between the city and TowerCom for a new 150-foot monopole cellular communications tower at Fort Myers Country Club in Ward 4.
City staff described zoning, environmental and federal-clearance steps: the tower will require NEPA (federal environmental) review and must meet FAA lighting standards when applicable. Jessica Ross, representing TowerCom, told the council that “the NEPA process takes about 4 months once it's ordered,” and that the country club site is among the few locations in city zoning where a tower can be sited. Staff said the final location on the country-club property has not been finalized and the project will go back to the planning board and the Board of Adjustment for conditional-use and design conditions. The city also committed to additional review by the Environmental Advisory Board.
Council members raised aesthetics and mitigation (including so-called 'stealth' designs such as faux trees or other concealments) and staff said conditions — appearance, lighting, and other mitigation — can be imposed through subsequent approvals. The motion to approve the ground-lease carried; the council and staff said the lease is the administrative step while federal review and planning-board processes will determine final design and conditions.
