A new cellular telephone tower is in the works that may help improve reception along Hwy. 30 in House Springs, according to AT&T.
The company plans to build a 180-foot tower on a lot owned by Randy and Rosemary Marquart, who have agreed to lease almost a quarter-acre of their 18.12-acre parcel at 7344 Rovin Acres to house the new tower.
It is intended to replace an AT&T tower along Hwy. 30 just west of the proposed site.
Because cell towers are a conditional use in a residential zone, the Jefferson County Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on the request July 22 and then voted 4-0 to recommend approval.
The Jefferson County Council, which has the sole authority on land-use issues in unincorporated areas, likely will vote on the request at a meeting in August.
Russell Been of Cellective Solutions of Valley Park, a real estate broker for cell towers, told commissioners that the current tower will remain, and while AT&T will no longer use it, other carriers that share the tower will continue using it.
“AT&T is improving its system, and installing new equipment (on the current tower) would put it over capacity,” he said.
Planning staff noted that the location on the Marquarts’ property for the new tower does not conform with county setback requirements, which call for towers to be at least as far from the boundary lines of residential-zoned properties as the proposed tower is high.
The 180-foot self-supporting tower also includes a 10-foot lightning rod, Been said.
The proposed location for the tower is 121.2 feet away from the nearest residential property line to the west and 145.10 feet from the residential property line to the north.
Been said the tower is about 260 feet from the nearest home.
He said the tower’s location was chosen to optimize signal strength while keeping the tower under 200 feet. He said the Federal Aviation Administration requires towers 200 feet or higher to be lighted, which he said is unpopular with neighbors and discouraged under the county’s zoning order.
Planning commissioners agreed to allow a shorter setback, and they also agreed with a request to forego landscaping around the tower site.
Been noted that the Marquarts’ property is hilly and forested and would provide a natural buffer.
“We would have to take down 75-foot oak and maple trees to be able to plant 6-foot pine trees,” he said. “We feel the neighbors would be better served by keeping things the way they are.”
No one spoke against the proposal.
Planning commissioners Danny Tuggle, Tim Dugan and Mike Huskey were absent.