Council approves conditional use permit for 185-foot AT&T tower at 3918 Karnes Road

The Saint Joseph City Council voted unanimously on Nov. 27, 2023, to approve a conditional use permit for a telecommunications facility at 3918 Karnes Road, authorizing construction of a monopole tower to serve AT&T Wireless.

Glenn Clonkey, representing Network Real Estate on behalf of AT&T, told the council that AT&T currently leases space on a nearby water tower on a short-term (30-day) lease and that negotiations with the water company had failed, putting the site at risk. “They could be kicked off at any time,” Clonkey said, explaining that AT&T has been seeking a replacement site for several years.

Clonkey described the proposed structure as a 185-foot monopole needed to clear the adjacent water tower and to provide coverage for residential areas and the highway. He said a stealth, fully enclosed tower would not work at the location because stacking antennas would cause interference with the water tower; the monopole design and a down-tilt antenna configuration are necessary for coverage. The project includes an asphalt access road, a locked sliding gate, a 6-foot solid SIMTech fence and a turnaround and parking area for maintenance vehicles. The applicant requested a waiver for the west-side setback because the lot cannot meet that setback requirement.

City staff clarified that the setback requirement relates to Missouri Department of Transportation right-of-way and city code, and that the conditional use permit requires explicit city approval of any variance.

With no public opposition or additional comment, the council recorded seven affirmative votes and the motion carried, approving the conditional use permit as presented.

The transcript does not show the council specifying conditions or required mitigation measures beyond the standard conditional-use procedures; the applicant said the site will comply with setbacks to the north, east and south but requested a west-side variance.