Pine Island — Transcript
Monday, October 5, 2026
Proposed Cell Tower on Island Heights Site
Telecommunications Ordinance Revision
Votes (1)
Discussion of Proposed Cell Tower on Island Heights Site and Telecommunications Ordinance
Dissent: Council Member [00:09:43] explicitly stated, 'I would vote no,' and several other council members voiced strong opposition to the proposed Island Heights location.
Matt Kund, representing Verizon, presented a proposal for a 190-195 ft monopole cell tower on the Island Heights water tower site, citing the need to replace an existing tower on Walters's property that is set for decommissioning. He emphasized the aesthetic cleanliness of a monopole, a 40-year lease with city income, and the critical need for maintaining wireless coverage in Pine Island. Council members, however, universally rejected the proposed Island Heights location due to significant residential opposition, particularly given ongoing community tensions related to a data center. The City Attorney clarified that federal law mandates facilitating service availability, not necessarily tower approval, and questioned the applicant's assertion that carriers avoid municipal water towers. The discussion concluded with the city requesting alternative site proposals once the new telecommunications ordinance, currently under development, provides clearer guidelines.
Notable Quotes (5)
Um what we'd be talking about is leasing a piece of ground probably something like 40 foot by 40 foot up there, right around there. [...] This is just a really clean solution. It actually is something we pay to have on the property and we would do that. So there would be an income uh coming from us for allowing the tower on the property.
Um, I'm not opposed to the cell tower, but not in that location. That is directly, how do I put this? Um, well, you realize we're talking behind it, too. But I also know that the residents that live in that area will not take kindly to having something more in their neighborhood.
But to be clear, you um Elizabeth, you started by saying we understand that the telecom that the federal telecom law requires cities to permit towers. And that's it's a nuanced thing and this is a lawyer thing, but what actually what the law requires is that cities permit don't don't prevent don't prohibit don't get in the way of telecom services being available. We're not required to allow towers to go up.
I'm saying that tower is going it's it's likely going to be decommissioned in the next year.
So, I guess my suggestion would be if they want to pursue it still, find multiple solutions and bring us the options and what your anticipated model would be. based on the different locations might be a different type of towel.
Ordinances & Resolutions (2)
Current code that does not allow cell phone towers within city limits, undergoing revision.
Used by city staff and attorney as reference for drafting a new telecommunications ordinance.