Planning panel backs 150-foot cell tower outside El Dorado

The El Dorado Planning and Zoning Commission recommended approval of a special use permit for a 150-foot wireless telecommunication monopole at 1590 Southwest Boyer Road.

Scott Rooker, planning staff, introduced case 26-02-SUP and noted the property sits outside the city limits but within the city’s extraterritorial jurisdiction. Applicant Patrick Erwin described the proposal as “a 150 foot monopole with a 10 foot lightning rod,” said the structure would be a monopole (no guy wires), and detailed planned mitigation including a six-foot wooden privacy fence and landscaping around ground equipment.

Erwin said AT&T would be the anchor tenant and the tower would be marketed to Verizon and T‑Mobile; he also said the city could be offered space for emergency communications at nominal cost. “We would allow the city of El Dorado to utilize space for a very nominal rent amount if ever needed, you know, $1 a year type thing, for any kind of, emergency 1st responder communications,” Erwin said.

Commissioners asked whether the county had reviewed the application; staff confirmed Butler County recommended on July 14 that the project was consistent with the county comprehensive plan. After limited discussion on setbacks, fencing and generator noise, a commissioner moved to recommend approval based on the staff report, evidence from the hearing and the county recommendation. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.

The commission’s recommendation will be forwarded to any final decision-making body required by jurisdictional procedure.