SPANISH FORT, Ala. — The planning commission Monday voted 5-4 against rezoning property at 1595 Battleship Parkway R-1 — single-family residential — to T-1. Rezoning of the residental R-1 property would allow for a telecommunications tower be installed. Cingular Wireless LLC would erect the 180-foot monopole tower.

The initial plan for the tower was set at 160 feet tall, Andy Rotenstreich, on behalf of New Cingular Wireless PCS LLC, said during a public hearing at the meeting. The additional 20 feet would allow up to four other cellular providers to co-locate on the tower.

“Trying to provide as much coverage across the Causeway as we can,” Rotenstreich said, was the goal. “The closest existing towers are 2.7 miles from where the proposed towers are to be located …”

The property in question is an abandoned, former gasoline station, according to the rezoning application. Proposed setbacks  are 90 feet all around, with the exception of the back of the tower’s site, which is Mobile Bay. Setbacks are required to be half the height of the tower, city officials said.

“We believe we have met the requirements of that ordinance,” Rotenstreich said.

“We have a gap in coverage and are attempting to fulfill it with building only one tower,” he added.

Planning Commissioner Kevin Diamond said he voted against rezoning because the tower’s proposed location is where many residents fish. He said he’d like to see docks added to that area, but said he would be OK with the tower’s location if it was farther off the right of way.

The city has requested the removal of a 60-foot temporary cell tower located at ground level on the Causeway. If a new tower is built, residents can expect good cell reception inside buildings, outside and in vehicles, Rotenstreich said.

A negative recommendation will be made to the City Council for approval at its next meeting; the council could approve or deny the rezoning.

The next planning commission meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Monday, Sept. 15 at the Spanish Fort United Methodist Church Prodisee Center. Due to Labor Day holiday the Sept. 1 meeting has been canceled.