Commission approves 180-foot public-safety tower after residents raise health and erosion concerns

The Planning Commission approved SP-002762-2026, a specific-use permit for an approximately 180-foot radio communications tower sited on a 10.58-acre, city-owned tract intended to close first-responder radio coverage gaps in south Broken Arrow. Staff said the project is part of the 2014 GO bond program, that the pad and access drive will be located outside the FEMA 100-year floodplain, and that the lattice structure was proposed for topographic reasons and to allow future colocation.

Project representatives described coverage gaps and explained the engineering rationale for height and structure type: "The height necessity comes from the low line topography and the need to build geographic coverage gaps in this particular area," one representative said. They emphasized the project’s primary mission is radio communications for first responders; co-location by other entities was described as a future possibility.

A nearby resident speaking in opposition asked commissioners to reconsider siting near a creek, citing health concerns about radio-frequency exposure, erosion and property-value impacts. "Radio frequency radiation from both radio towers and cell towers have been studied for decades," the resident said, arguing that living near antennas can produce headaches, sleep problems and other effects; she asked for a greater setback from homes and waterways. The applicant responded that the proposed 800 MHz system is non-ionizing, that the Federal Communications Commission tightly regulates maximum output and that ground-level exposure will be far below FCC safety limits.

After the public hearing and technical discussion, the commission voted to approve the specific-use permit; the staff recommendation passed on roll call and the item was scheduled for City Council on August 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the chambers.