SPANISH FORT, Ala.—Will Spanish Fort soon have better cell phone coverage on the causeway and bayway?

Monday’s planning commission work session left the seven present members wondering what the final result will be for a proposed 180-foot telecommunications tower on the causeway.

AT&T Mobility had requested planners to approve such a tower located next to the old Exxon service station on the causeway; however, city officials have expressed concerns about the proposals impact on the area’s aesthetics.

A new idea came Monday when planners reviewed an application by Engineering Development Services LLC, on behalf of Bay Point LLC to rezone property at 1525 Battleship Parkway  to T1—telecommunications tower district— rom R1—single-family low-residential district.

The cell provider to locate on this tower is unknown, according to Bruce Renkert, the city’s building official, who said the proposal includes details that haven’t been made public.

“This is exactly what I was looking for,” Chairman Carl Nelson, said of the possible new location.

Nelson at the Aug. 11 planning commission meeting opposed AT&T Mobility’s proposal, whose location is a short distance from the new applicant’s location.

Jacob Cunningham, of Bay Point LLC, in an August letter to Renkert said they would work around and keep the aesthetics on the causeway and could place a different tower “in a less conspicuous location” if approval is not granted on the current request. Cunningham, co-owner of the 12.8-acre parcel, said two cellular service providers with antennas exist on the roof of the old, pink Ramada Inn on the causeway.

The hotel likely could be demolished at some point, therefore, those providers would need a new location, Cunningham said in the letter.

 “There will be one tower, if any,” Mayor Joe Bonner said.

No lease terms have been agreed to, City Attorney David Conner said.

New Cingular Wireless PCS LLC is the applicant for the first location at 1595 Battleship Parkway.

If the tower is moved to the west, in-vehicle coverage may be inferior, according to Renkert.

The planning commission voted 5-4 against rezoning the property at 1595 Battleship Parkway at the Aug. 11 planning commission meeting. Chairman Carl Nelson, Vice Chairman Bernard Davis, J.R. Smith, Kevin Diamond and Tom Montgomery oppposed the location and said they think this area should be reserved for fishing.