The Courier of Montgomery County reports that, regarding a variance that would permit a 160-foot-tall cell tower disguised as a pine tree to be erected in a residential area, the Conroe City Council offered no support.
After several residents, who spoke at a public hearing against the placement of a monopine tower at Sgt. Ed Holcomb Boulevard and Gladstell Street, the council let the issue fail for lack of a motion.
A variance was requested for the project by Arkansas-based Harmoni Towers. The project is near the Rivershire subdivision. Cell towers are prohibited in a residential area due to a city ordinance. There are several monopine towers around the city of Conroe, however.
Radio frequency studies showed “a lack of coverage and poor in-building coverage” to the south and southwest of the area, including Grand Central Park, according to Harmoni Towers representative Vincent Huebinger with Vincent Gerard & Associates.
Huebinger looked at the matter through the lens of public safety. He said, “Ninety percent of 911 calls are generated from mobile phones now, everybody is unplugged.” He added that the tower is around 250 feet from the nearest residence.
Councilwoman Shana Arthur said cellphone coverage is needed, but her issue is the lack of observing the ordinance. She said, “It’s there for a reason.”
There was no support for the variance to the ordinance from Councilmember Marsha Porter. She asked Assistant City Administrator and Director of Public Works Norm McGuire to talk with the company about a more feasible location for the tower, outside a residential area.
