The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
Cell tower lease agreement approved
Structure to include Verizon, communication equipment
Kirtland City Council this week passed the final piece of legislation needed to allow a 199-foot wireless communication tower behind city hall.
Council on April 16 unanimously authorized a lease agreement with Cleveland-based Northstar Towers LLC. The company plans to erect a 190-foot monopole, plus a 9-foot lighting arrester, beyond the parking area behind the building at 9301 Chillicothe Road.
In February, council approved the application for the project, following a public hearing.
“With some good work by the mayor and Mr. (Jesse) Styles from Northstar Towers, council was happy to pass the contract,” Council President Kevin Potter said, noting that city leaders sought some clarifications in the language.
Mayor Doug Davidson said he will be working with the lessee to get the deal signed.
“I do not have a construction schedule at this time,” he said.
Only one resident spoke in opposition to the tower at the public hearing. He expressed concern about adding a second tower in the Historic Town Center District.
The district — along portions of Route 306 from Russellhurst Drive to just north of Route 615 — was adopted in 2005 by council and voters, and updated in 2010 as part of a zoning referendum.
“I don’t believe the Historic District designation and any design cues or requirements therein apply to a utility such as this,” Davidson said previously. He added that the Planning and Zoning Commission requested changes to make it as aesthetically pleasing as possible at ground level.
The project includes a 12-foot by 20-foot pad with canopy for the associated equipment. Effort will be made to screen portions of the tower apparatus with additional plantings.
Potter said the tower will be set well off the road and should have minimal impact on sight lines.
Because the pole is less than 200 feet high, lighting isn’t required, unlike the tower behind the city’s service department building.
The lease agreement calls for Kirtland to receive $1,500 per month with Verizon Wireless as the anchor tenant, plus $825 a month from any co-locators. In addition, public safety communication equipment will be installed for the city.
The revenue will go into the general fund to help support city services.
The tower is needed to answer customer demand for service inside their homes, said Styles, Northstar’s president. He has indicated that it likely will be up next year.