Fayetteville School Board Approves Cell Tower Lease

FAYETTEVILLE -- Cellphone towers could start popping up at schools.

The School Board on Thursday approved, 6-0, a lease with Smith Communications. The agreement will allow Smith to erect cell towers on various district properties. Justin Eichmann recused from Thursday's discussion and vote, citing a conflict of interest.

At A Glance

Board Action

Fayetteville’s School Board met Thursday and:

• Extended Superintendent Paul Hewitt’s contract through June 2016. Hewitt’s annual salary is $200,000.

• Considered refinancing a property-tax-backed bond package voters approved in 2010.

• Heard a presentation about plans for a three-level, $500,000 to $700,000 press box at Harmon Stadium.

• Considered naming the weight room at Woodland Junior High School in honor of Doug Maritan, a youth coach and longtime contributor to Woodland athletics who died in September.

Source: Staff Report

The lease doesn't specify where the towers will be located. Kathy Hanlon, chief financial officer for the district, said following Thursday's meeting they'll likely go behind the press box at Fayetteville High School's Harmon Stadium as well as at McNair and Holt middle schools and the tennis courts adjacent to Asbell Elementary School.

The towers will be fenced in and landscaped by Smith Communications. A small structure will be built at the base of each tower to house radio equipment.

Smith will pay the district $1,000 per tower each month. For each additional cellphone carrier that uses the tower, Smith will pay $300 per month. Hanlon said the money could be used to support the district's prekindergarten program.

The School Board's decision Thursday came despite comments from Pete Heinzelmann, a longtime resident and former chairman of the Fayetteville Natural Heritage Association.

Heinzelmann said he's concerned about the growing number of cell towers throughout town.

"We live in ... a very uniquely natural, beautiful town," Heinzelmann told the board. "And to see these 150-foot-tall mono-pole cell towers all around town in distressing to me."

He questioned why cellphone equipment can't be added to existing towers and encouraged board members to find ways to disguise the towers -- perhaps on a light pole at Harmon Stadium or atop school roofs.

Hanlon said a pole at Harmon Stadium will likely be used. Smith Communications representatives said school roofs typically aren't tall enough to transmit cellphone signals.

Dave Reynolds, project engineer at Smith Communications, said, in general, more towers are needed because of Fayetteville's growing population and people's increased use of their phones for a variety of purposes.

"Fundamentally the discussion is not whether or not they're coming. It's just where are they going to be," said Steve Percival, board member. "Until we stop using our smart phones to book our reservations at Bordino's, it's not going to go away."

"Everyone who goes to a Razorback football game knows how frustrating it can be (to not have a cellphone signal)," he added.

Board president Tim Hudson said district officials have an opportunity to capitalize on the towers by contracting with Smith Communications.

According to Jeremy Pate, Fayetteville Development Services director, the city's Planning Commission has permitted four cell towers in the past five years -- off of Masonic Drive, Ivey Lane, Zion Road and near Gregg Avenue and Sunbridge Drive. That doesn't include university property or locations outside of city limits.

Pate said the Planning Commission has denied its share of cell tower applications over the years, too.

And, he added, far more cell equipment has been added to existing structures than new cell tower construction. Equipment has been placed on the roof of the E.J. Ball building, various city water towers and even the bell tower at University Baptist Church, for example.

Pate said the past few towers erected feature a flagpole design, with wires and antenna located within a narrow pole. Reynolds said that's the same design that will be featured at local schools. He said Smith Communications plans to seek permits from the city's Planning Commission in the next few months.

According to city code, cell towers can reach heights of up to 150 feet. By comparison, a typical flag pole outside of a school ranges from 25 to 40 feet.

The towers must be a "neutral color." And applicants must demonstrate a good faith effort to "co-locate" equipment on structures.

"If the applicant demonstrates that it is not feasible to locate on an existing structure, towers shall be designed to be camouflaged to the greatest extent possible, including, but not limited to, use of compatible building materials and colors, screening, landscaping and placement within trees," city code states.

NW News on 12/19/2014

Upcoming Events