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Council approves 150-foot cell tower at Fort Myers Country Club over member objections
Summary
Despite golfers' complaints about aesthetics, Fort Myers council approved a ground-lease amendment allowing Towercom 8 LLC to build a roughly 150-foot cellular tower at the Country Club to address degraded service in the area.
The Fort Myers City Council on Jan. 5 approved a first amendment to an option and ground lease with Towercom 8 LLC to construct a cellular communications tower near the Fort Myers Country Club.
Council discussion acknowledged community objections — including concerns about visual impact on the golf course — while noting that removing the existing tower would cut cell coverage in the area. The council recorded that the height would be about 150 feet and debated design options; one councilmember said she would have preferred a design that resembled a golf tee but concluded service needs weighed in favor of permitting the structure.
Public commenter Sawyer Smith, a longtime club member, had described the proposal as placing a "steel towered behemoth" in a civic treasure. Despite that and other objections, the council moved, seconded and approved the lease amendment by roll call.
The modification was presented as replacing the Tower of Bonaire and locating the replacement so it is less central to the course. Councilmember O’Shea noted environmental committee input and said he expected to register a moral objection but likely not prevail. The motion carried by recorded vote.
