Alexander Planning Commission recommends city council approve construction of cell tower

The Alexander Planning Commission is recommending the City Council approve a building permit, submitted by Vertical Bridge, to construct a cell tower in South Alexander. The proposed site is on property owned by Saline County Water Works and Sanitary Sewer (SCWWSS) along Brookwood Road; the location of the district's sewer plant.

The mono-pole tower is being built for Verizon. Vertical Bridge representative Tracy Gill attended the October 10 Planning Commission meeting to explain the construction plans and answer questions. The two main questions involved its location and the potential effects of radiation from 5G signals.

Commission member Juanita Wilson asked why the tower can't be placed on city property. The short answer from Gill is the location had to meet Verizon's goal of providing service in dead areas around Alexander. The site also has to be outside the flight path of aircraft flying in and out of Saline County Airport. This site meets both of those criteria with a slim margin of four-feet outside the airport flight path. Gill has provided written confirmation from the Federal Aviation Administration approving the location for the cell tower.

Mayor Crystal Herrmann said she and Gill looked at city owned properties but none of them meet both required standards. City property along Evergreen Drive is within the airport's flight path. The former Alexander Human Development Center is way outside Verizon's area that needs additional coverage.

The question of location was essentially a concern of who receives the financial benefit. As Gill explained there are two methods of financing a deal such as this. One is a lease arrangement where the property owner receives payments over time. The other, which was accepted by the SCWWSS board, was a one-time payment for access, "in perpetuity."

As for 5G radiation, Gill said studies going back to the 1990s show no appreciable effects on humans from 5G radiation. Since the tower will be 195 feet above ground level Gill said someone would have to be in a cherry picker truck face-to-face with the antenna to be affected by the electronic radiation.

Since the property is zoned Light Industrial, which allows cell towers, the main purpose of the approval process is to review the construction plans. When a new business wants to build in Alexander the usual concern is traffic flow, parking spaces, hiding the trash dumpster, and where the structure will be located in relationship to property lines; ie. setbacks. Since a cell tower doesn't generate traffic, doesn't require parking and doesn't produce trash; the only requirement left to meet is the location of the tower.

Under Alexander zoning the tower must be a minimum of 30-feet from the nearest property line. The mono-pole tower will sit in the center of a 70-feet by 70-feet built-up rock pad, surrounded by a 60-feet by 60-feet fence. The pole itself will be 87-feet from the property line that runs along the railroad tracks. That puts the edge of the rock pad approximately 52-feet from the property line.

Vertical Bridge's first client for the cell tower will be Verizon. The tower has room for two more sets of antennas. This will be Alexander's first cell tower.

With four of the five members present, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the city council approve he building permit. It has been standard practice the Alexander City Council have final say over new businesses moving into the city. Commission members present were Wilson, Stephanie Beck, Tonya Prowse, and Michael Huck. Rodney Chapman was absent.

Planning Commission Chairman's Report

Still waiting for Little Rock's blessing

Planning Commission Chairman Michael Huck reported that Little Rock officials are still working through the process of approving Alexander's proposed master development plan. Because Little Rock provides sewer service to North Alexander the 2018 contract required Alexander write a new master development plan, with Little Rock having approval rights before the Alexander Council gives its final approval.

According to Huck the Master Development Plan has been approved by the Little Rock Planning Department. It was then sent to the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority (LRWRA), which is in the process of writing a resolution for the LRWRA to approve. Once that happens it will be sent to the Little Rock Board of Directors to receive their final blessing. The plan was sent to the Little Rock Planning Department in April, 2023 to start the process.

From residential, to commercial, to residential

In case you haven't noticed the former location of Big Munchies, in North Alexander along Highway 111, is under going renovation. Chairman Huck reported the former residence turned into a string of restaurants is reverting back to a residence. He said rezoning is not needed since Neighborhood Commercial allows for residential use.

Next Meeting

The next meeting of the Alexander Planning Commission is December 12, 6:30 PM in the courtroom at the Alexander Municipal Complex (City Hall). This will be the last regular meeting of 2023.