SPANISH FORT, Ala.— The ongoing debate over erecting a 180-foot cellular tower on the causeway may reach a conclusion since the City Council is set to vote on rezoning property at 1595 Battleship Parkway from R-1—low density residential district—to T-1—telecommunications district at the Dec. 1 meeting.

It has been about three years since the city of Spanish Fort and AT&T Mobility began discussion to erect a telecommunications tower on the causeway. A public hearing was held  at Monday’s meeting on the rezoning.

AT&T wishes to erect a 180-foot monopole tower at the old Exxon station on the causeway.  The tower will sit on a cabinet about 17 feet off the ground, due to this being a flood-prone area, city officials said.

The new tower would give more in-vehicle coverage for at least a five-mile radius, Andy Rotenstreich, a Birmingham-based attorney who represents AT&T Mobility and the landowner, has said.

AT&T Mobility has leased a 60- by 60-foot compound where it plans to erect the tower. The cabinet is expected to house up to six carriers, however, it depends on how much equipment space each co-locating cellular company will need.

In the event that more space would be needed to house the carriers, AT&T could come back to the council and ask for additional space to add on to the cabinet and city officials said they don’t want to see this happen.

There currently is a ‘cell on wheels’—a vehicle with a 60-foot tower on top.

Without the temporary tower, AT&T users would be unable to connect in certain spots across the bayway and causeway, Rotenstreich has said.

The Planning Commission Aug. 11 voted 5-4 against the rezoning. Chairman Carl Nelson, Vice Chairman Bernard Davis, J.R. Smith, Kevin Diamond and Tom Montgomery voted against the rezoning due to the proposed location. Planners said this is a location for fishing and a tower would leave a negative mark on the area’s aesthetics.

“Our planning commission has spent countless hours, volunteer hours, working with us to put this comprehensive plan together so that we can have a document that expresses our goals for this particular area,” Councilwoman Mary Brabner said.

The city tries to keep developments off the causeway to keep people out of harm’s way and protect the wildlife and water down there, Brabner said.

“We’re going to make sure that what we allow down there is going to fit what we want for the area,” Brabner said. “The causeway is a haven for fishermen.”

Rotenstreich said Summit Industries wouldn’t allow them to lease ground space at the old, pink Ramada Inn on the causeway, where two cellular antennas are located atop the hotel. He said Summit Industries would build and own the tower and let AT&T pay rent to go on the tower.

AT&T had been concerned that Summit Industries has never built, developed, managed or operated a cell tower. A questionnaire was sent to Summit about cellular towers with “simple questions” that weren’t up to par, Rotenstreich said.

Summit said the tower they would erect wouldn’t be ready until November 2009. AM radio towers are located in close range to this area and can cause interference. Summit couldn’t come up with a solution for the AM waves, Rotenstreich said

“They don’t have the experience in what we’re trying to do here,” Rotensteich said.

For such a permanent addition to the city, officials want to know exactly what they can expect if the rezoning is approved and the tower is erected. They said they want to see something besides a computer rendering.

“We want a snapshot of what the end result’s gonna be in full capacity of that antenna,” Mayor Joe Bonner said. “We wanna see what the end result’s gonna be if that tower handles a total of six carriers, what it’s gonna look like.”

Rotenstreich said AT&T will do what it takes to make the tower as minimally obtrusive as possible.

“We can make this look like something that … somewhat belongs there,” Rotenstreich said. “We will do what we can to camouflage the structure, the equipment shelter as much as we can, within reason.

“We’re offering to do that.”

Council members also expressed their thoughts during the public hearing.

“I am very concerned with the aesthetics, however, I believe that is not the best use for that piece of that property,” Brabner said. “There are things that we would like to see … happen on the causeway.

“That property is valuable in potential future plans.”

Councilman Mike McMillan said the city is “very close” to adopting a comprehensive plan and is concerned how the tower will fit in with the plan.

 “Once we go to a cell tower … there’s no chance of maintaining the natural aspects of that causeway area,” McMillan said. “We can see that area being used for better designs.”

McMillan said he would like to see this area open up for fishing piers, board walks and boat launches for residents to use.

“Once we go to this concept you’re speaking of, we can’t go back; that’s why we’re trying to be very careful,” McMillan said. 

Planning commissioner J.R. Smith spoke during the public hearing regarding the cellular tower.

He said he asked Rotenstreich after an October meeting to bring a visual aid to show how the tower will benefit Spanish Fort.

“It was mainly improving the coverage in Mobile County,” Smith said.

Rotenstreich said he would get another coverage image prepared.

Ronnie Gibson, Spanish Fort resident and former city engineer, said during the public hearing he feels this area is a “major recreational resource for the city.”

“This cell tower is going to be a pig,” Gibson said. “It doesn’t matter how much lipstick you put on it, it is gonna be a pig.

“It doesn’t get along with this location.”

Gibson said he isn’t opposed to cell towers; just at this location.

“Don’t let it be built,” Gibson said. “It will never come down.

“I think there’s another site out there, they just haven’t done their homework.”

After hearing what the council and public had to say about the tower, Rotenstreich said AT&T will explore the best options for Spanish Fort.

“We want to work with you guys as much as we can,” Rotenstreich said. “At the end of the day we’ve got to try to get coverage out there.”

In other business:

The next regularly scheduled City Council meeting is set for 6 p.m. Dec. 1 at The Gathering Place—at the intersection of highways 98 and 31—in the Prodisee Center.