While the Fayetteville, AR, planning commission this week approved a 120-foot tower near the Washington Regional Medical Center, the exact coverage area has sparked a controversy that may delay the build.
According to the Northwest Arkansas Democrat Gazette, David Reynolds, a representative of Smith Communications, proposed a 150-foot tower be built northeast of the hospital. This was Reynolds’ second presentation in early September, in which he said the tower would be in the middle of six existing towers. Reynolds stated the tower would improve coverage at not only the hospital, it would span to Deane Solomon Road to the west, Old Missouri Road to the east and along the Fulbright Expressway to Fiesta Square shopping center. However, the Democrat Gazette noted that the commissioners split the vote at that meeting, wanting a 130-foot tower instead.
Reynolds came back to this week’s meeting with evidence that the 130-foot Verizon-anchored tower would not provide the coverage needed. He presented a map for a 120-foot tower coverage, which was limited to the north, southwest and southeast edges of an approximate two-mile radius around the proposed tower, resulting in a 40 percent loss of coverage, according to the Democrat Gazette.
However, some commissioners still did not want to see a 150-foot tower, due to the pre-existing towers in that area and a wish to preserve the city’s skyline. Commissioner Tracy Hoskins asked Reynolds if he could come back with more information about the areas that would lose coverage, and Reynolds said that if a 120-foot tower was the only option, “The project would die. It won’t be built,” the Democrat Gazette reported.
Again the vote was split on the 150-foot tower, which would also allow co-location. Hoskins motioned for a 135-foot tower, with the votes being split, then a motion for the 120-foot tower, which was ultimately approved by the commission.
October 12, 2016
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