Fulshear council approves SUP and lease for Verizon antennas on Pecan Knoll water tank

The Fulshear City Council on April 21 approved an ordinance granting a Specific Use Permit (SUP) for cellular antenna equipment on the Pecan Knoll elevated storage tank and separately approved a lease agreement with GTE MobileNet of South Texas Limited Partnership (doing business as Verizon Wireless).

Planning staff explained the proposal is for antenna arrays mounted at approximately the 110‑foot mark on the tank rather than a freestanding tower, and noted ground equipment would be screened and landscaped. Patton Hahn, representing Verizon, told the council the installation would improve cellular coverage without constructing a new tower and that the lease provides city revenue; he offered to address technical details during the agenda item.

Staff said construction could begin in the final quarter of 2026 or early 2027, with actual installation time measured in days for an antenna array, but that fiber and other utility connections typically are the most time‑consuming component. The lease as structured will produce lease revenue to the city upon execution rather than only after construction is completed, which staff said should incentivize earlier mobilization.

Council moved and seconded the ordinance and lease approvals and voted to adopt both items. No public opposition was recorded during the hearing; questions focused on timeline, aesthetics and coordination to expedite activation of coverage.

Council members asked staff to continue updates on activation timelines so residents can track when coverage improvements will take effect.