Construction of a new cell tower on Palm Coast Parkway has begun, the first major project of a Palm Coast City Council plan to improve cell service city-wide. The new 150-foot tower will be located next to Heroes Park, west of the Palm Coast Library. Construction is expected to take about a month, and AT&T Wireless has signed a lease as anchor tenant on the tower.
While the tower’s builder, Diamond Communications, will fund construction and maintenance of the towers, the city will receive 40 percent of all lease proceeds. In addition, Diamond is managing wireless carrier activities on three City-owned towers and the City’s water tower on A1A.
“The Palm Coast City Council made it a top priority to improve cell service for our residents and businesses, and we’re excited to see this first new tower going up,” said Palm Coast Mayor Milissa Holland. “People rely on their cell phones to keep in touch with family and friends and do their day-to-day business, and these new towers will improve service dramatically. Plus, there will be great public safety benefits as we continue to grow as a community.”
Palm Coast hasn’t had a new cell tower since 2010, and residents and business owners often complain of spotty service. After partnering with Diamond, the City Council’s first step was to amend Palm Coast’s ordinance to pave the way for the more modern cell tower designs preferred by cell carriers but in a manner that allowed the City to maintain control of future development.
In addition to improving cell phone service, the City Council is leading a number of technology initiatives for Palm Coast, to foster an environment of innovation and stay on the cutting edge of technology advancements. The city is currently updating the business plan for its fiber optic network for high-speed internet, telephone and other telecommunications services.
“We are expanding our use of technology through smart-city applications, and we are working to maximize the potential for the City’s FiberNet system and wireless infrastructure,” Mayor Holland said. “We see technology as a way to not only improve City services, but also to help grow the local economy.”
January 30, 2019
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