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Planning commission approves Verizon colocation on MLGW tower after requiring alternative to pole in neighbor's yard
Summary
The Germantown Planning Commission approved a preliminary and final site plan for Verizon to colocate a monopole inside an MLGW transmission tower, but added an amendment requiring the applicant and MLGW to avoid installing a new pole in a resident's backyard where feasible and to pursue power from existing poles.
The Germantown Planning Commission on Nov. 4 approved a site plan allowing Verizon to colocate a 130-foot monopole telecommunications facility inside an existing MLGW transmission tower at 9713 Wolf River Boulevard. The decision included an amendment requiring the applicant and MLGW to pursue supplying power from existing poles rather than placing a new pole in a resident's backyard.
Cece Drayton, counsel for Verizon, told the commission the company needs a replacement location because "the previous existing tower located at Grace Evangelical Church is no longer safe for Verizon to use" and the move is necessary to address coverage gaps and capacity problems in nearby residential areas. Drayton said Verizon's plan places the monopole inside MLGW Tower No. 1847 on city-owned land and includes a 20-by-30 equipment enclosure and an 8-foot wood fence.
Commissioners focused much of their questioning on utility routing and potential neighborhood impacts from an additional power pole. Commissioner Jacobs and others asked whether Verizon first explored installing on a nearby decommissioned Sprint monopole or bringing power underground from an adjacent tower. The applicant and MLGW technical information, as presented to the commission, said the two nearest poles "both have primary risers" and therefore may not be usable, placing the final utility routing subject to MLGW's easement rights and construction plans.
After discussion the chair proposed, and the commission voted to adopt, an amendment requiring that the power connection avoid adding a new pole in a resident's backyard and instead attempt to bring power from an existing pole when feasible. The amendment passed on a roll-call vote (Sloan, Levy, Jacobs, Salvaggio, Chair McCrory: yes; Sisson, Bacon, Clark: no; Mayor Palazzolo: abstain). The main motion approving the site plan as amended passed in a subsequent roll-call vote.
The applicant acknowledged that final utility locations remain subject to MLGW's easement and construction-plan process, and staff said some utility locations may be adjusted at Design Review Commission (DRC) review and during plan review. The commission also noted that the proposal includes a landscape buffer subject to MLGW's easement restrictions and that DRC will review final design and screening details.
Next steps: staff and the applicant will continue work on lease and construction details with MLGW and the application will proceed to the Design Review Commission for final design details and construction-plan review.
