Three variances were up for discussion at the most recent meeting of the Upper Macungie Township Zoning Hearing Board. The Pennsylvania community is considering whether or not to allow Crown Castle to proceed with plans to erect a 180-foot cell tower.
As WFMZ-TV reports, the matter was first proposed last summer, and is back for review in conjunction with an expiring lease that could lead to a coverage gap if the cell tower on Church Road does not remain in operation.
Crown Castle has requested the variances so that the township can approve the construction of a commercial tower in an R3 zoning district. Specifically, the township would need to grant a dimensional variance to allow setbacks equal to the height of the tower, as well as a dimensional variance to accommodate the height of the tower. Under established zoning rules, the height cannot exceed 50 feet within the R3 district.
“If this board doesn’t grant the zoning approval of the new tower allowing us to proceed with a new build, the major wireless customers — such as T-Mobile, AT&T and Verizon — would have a whole other network and a giant coverage gap in this immediate community,” Crown Castle site development manager, Sonny Pieper, told the Board.
Responding to concerns about whether or not the applicant had explored all available location options, Pieper and Crown Castle attorney Shawn Gallagher said that they had offered “commercially reasonable terms” to property owners to secure that site. Radio frequency engineer, Steven Kennedy, told WFMZ-TV that the proposed site would best duplicate the coverage supported by the Church Road cell tower.
After listening to four hours of testimony, the Board weighed Crown Castle’s proposal against the possible objections, including the proximity to the Rural Sportsmen’s Association on Trexlertown Road. Eventually, the Board approved the tower’s placement in the R3 zone and waived the 50-foot height restriction. This unanimous approval came alongside a unanimous rejection of the setback variances. The approvals included a caveat that the cell tower will be a monopine design with plantings to approve the visual appeal of the site at the ground level.
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