The location ARX Wireless chose early in 2022 had all the earmarks of a tower site that would be tough to get through zoning. Situated just outside of the Washington state capital, Olympia, the site was located on a heavily wooded peninsula in the picturesque Puget Sound. It was also about 3,050 feet away from the Budd Inlet in an area that is classified as inland wetland. However, the tower developer based in North Haven, Connecticut, doesn’t shy away from a challenge.
“We knew from the beginning that there would be many hurdles to getting a tower built here, and that certainly proved to be true,” said Julie D. Kohler, General Counsel of ARX Wireless.
This tower site was developed through ARX Wireless’ own research and then marketed to the carriers. “We chose this site for development because there was a significant need for wireless coverage in the area,” Kohler said.
A Prolonged Process
What made the permitting take so long, in part, was the multi-step approval process that ARX Wireless had to undertake. The project was reviewed under the State Environmental Policy Act and the Thurston County Code, which took several months. Additionally, the site needed approval from the federal authorities. That all had to occur before the public hearings
ARX Wireless approached the project with characteristic patience and provided significant amounts of information and documentation. “We persevered through each of these processes, and came out with the approvals,” Kohler said. “Our collective experience is key to approaching the tower approval process strategically. I believe that experience helped us navigate this process.”
ARX Wireless dealt with the opposition respectfully. A year prior to filing the application, the company rented a house in the area and hosted a social, inviting neighbors of the project. During the gathering, ARX Wireless explained the cell tower development plans, answered questions, shared photo simulations of the proposed structure and discussed the details in an informal environment rather than in the context of a heated public hearing.
“We got great feedback from a lot of the neighbors who, after looking at the information and documentation we presented, were less concerned than they originally were,” Kohler said. “It provided a low-pressure atmosphere and a less confrontational experience with the jurisdiction and the neighbors.”
Establishing a Comprehensive Case
Even with all of the advance public outreach, when the hearing was held, a vocal element of the public presented opposition regarding the impact of the tower on the landscape view, property values, and the wetlands. The process was also complicated by the property owner’s family in-fighting and opposition to the project. “The opposition’s approach was nuanced, and in some cases, had little to do with the actual project,” Kohler explained.
Facing organized opposition at a public hearing required extensive preparation of both direct and rebuttal testimony from expert witnesses. ARX Wireless successfully countered fears by demonstrating what the tower and site would look like post construction. Additionally, a study was shared that indicated property valuation would not be diminished. ARX Wireless also provided positive wetlands studies, propagation plots, RF emission studies, and a balloon test that showed the tower would not impact the view.
“Doing your homework prior to the application filing addresses concerns, and gives the jurisdiction a sense of confidence that your answers have been reviewed and researched,” Kohler said.
The special-use and conditional-use permit processes convinced the Thurston County authorities to recommend approval to a hearing examiner, who conducted a public hearing, complete with cross-examination, before ultimately approving the project.
Not “Painting by Numbers” at Puget Sound
In the end, ARX Wireless was proud to receive approval for the Puget Sound site. The 135-foot, four-carrier tower is now being built and, so far, Verizon and T-Mobile have committed to the location.
“Each of our site development projects requires us to adopt different approaches. It’s what makes it fun,” Brian Robinson, Director of Business Development at ARX Wireless, said. “We’re not in the cookie cutter business of putting up towers, and so we really get to dig into every project and learn about its issues. It’s not ‘paint by numbers.’”
The biggest takeaway for the ARX Wireless team? The Puget Sound site approval is further proof of their value proposition. “It demonstrates that we can be successful in scenarios where success is not a given,” said Kohler. “We prepare for these battles, anticipate where the issues are, create potential solutions, and react with creative thinking and determination when we’re faced with inevitable curve balls.”
Many tower development companies have success in developing tower sites, particularly in environments that are not controversial or challenging. Kohler likens ARX Wireless to Mariano Rivera, the historic Yankees relief pitcher. “We are reliable and successful when it counts the most,” she said.
Punching Above its Weight
ARX Wireless’ six-member executive team collectively has more than 100 years of experience in the wireless industry and strong financial backing. ARX Wireless fights the big battles to build difficult-to-zone towers where others have failed.
“ARX Wireless has a higher risk tolerance than most other tower companies and actively pursues the toughest sites, even if they will be multi-year battles,” Robinson said. “Our combination of experience, creativity, perseverance, and nimbleness has led to demonstrable successes in multiple markets and with a wide variety of issues to overcome.”
The towers that ARX Wireless build do not come to life overnight, as the developer often targets locations that often result in long and expensive battles. “Typically, carriers come to us when their traditional development partners have failed to obtain a tower site,” Kohler said. “We work closely with them to find a solution.”
The Puget Sound Site became one of ARX Wireless’ most arduous and complicated tower developments. From leasing to project approval, it took approximately 2.5 years to complete.
For more information about ARX Wireless, contact Keith Coppins, CEO, [email protected], or Brian Robinson, Director of Business Development, [email protected].
By J. Sharpe Smith, Inside Towers Technology Editor
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