Plans for Proposed Cell Phone Tower at Anthony's Produce Put on Hold

A fake 90-foot-tall tree cell phone tower near Anthony's Produce won't be going up any time soon. 

St. Charles Tower, Inc. presented plans to build a tower on Jungermann Road near the Williott Road intersection during Wednesday's meeting with the Planning and Zoning Commission. The plan, however, didn't gain much traction as St. Charles Tower decided to come back next month so it can consider alternative locations. 

It was clear from the start of the presentation, the location was not popular with the commission. Commission Chairman Keith McNames immediately questioned St. Charles Tower representative Greg Yocum about the proposed location, asking why another tower was needed in the area. McNames pointed out a tower exists at the Veterans Memorial and another in the Spencer Creek Apartment complex.  

Yocum said the Veterans Memorial tower wouldn't work for his client. He said the Anthony's Produce tower would be for a 4G tower that requires extra equipment. Yocum said the older tower at the memorial wouldn't fit all of the extra equipment.

McNames then brought up another location to consider. He said the tower at the Spencer Creek Apartment complex was slated to be taken down because it was no longer being used. McNames suggested St. Charles Tower remove the old tower, and build the new 90-foot tower at that location. 

"There's not much change, except it's a little taller," he said. "... Before we consider this location at Anthony's, we should consider putting it in a place where we have one."

Yocum said he had not considered that alternative. 

McNames then opened the floor to public comments and, as he predicted, every speaker opposed the Anthony's location. Comments were critical of both the eyesore factor and the business factor. Two day cares are in the area and both said a tower that close could harm business—even if towers are safe, the perception that they aren't could cause customers to go elsewhere. 

While the public was speaking, Yocum was talking with city staff. When he returned to the podium to respond to the public comments, Yocum said he had decided to consider the apartment complex tower alternative and requested a continuance. The commission agreed with his request and pushed the public hearing to June's agenda, delaying the decision on the fate of the tower. Yocum could still come back with the Anthony's Produce location, but he said he would look for an alternative. 

McNames asked Yocum to consider more than just one alternative. He said he had just returned from a trip to Destin, Fla., and he saw no towers in that city. He said tower components in Destin are put on buildings and power polls—something he suggested Yocum look into when he returns in June.