A new cellular tower has been approved in a 4-3 vote by Lakeway City Council and will be constructed on Highlands Boulevard, near the Mount Lakeway trailhead.
The overview
On Oct. 20, Lakeway City Council approved a special use permit to allow for the operation of a cellular tower at 251 Highlands Blvd. for a period of 40 years.
The tower was proposed by Vincent Huebinger of Vincent Gerard Associates and will reach a height of 175 feet, with a total elevation of 880 feet, according to city documents.
Some context
The cell tower was originally put forward in September 2024. At that time, it was proposed to be constructed on a city-owned plot of land at 3303 Serene Hills Drive, just south of Serene Hills Elementary School. Ultimately, the September 2024 proposal was withdrawn.
The new site, which was brought back one year later, is located 0.3 miles northwest of that plot of land.
What they’re saying
The tower is intended to improve cellular service in the region, but some residents have argued against its construction.
“[Residents of The Overlook] signed a petition stating they strongly oppose the placement of that cellphone tower,” Lakeway resident David Bryant said at the Oct. 20 meeting.
Bryant said he disagreed with the tower’s placement in part because he believed it could diminish property values.
Several other residents agreed, saying that they believed local scenery would be negatively impacted by the tower.
However, several council members said the cell tower provided a needed improvement to cell service in the region.
“It is an issue. I’ve talked to first responders, I’ve talked to our own police, other police, and out here it’s an issue for them as well,” Mayor Pro Tem Louis Mastrangelo said. “This is a problem that we need to fix—nobody wants it in their backyard, I get it, but it’s got to go somewhere.”
Other council members who voted against the tower said that a new location should have been proposed.
“Where can we put this to get the biggest bang for our buck? In terms of helping the most people, making sure that residents’ needs are being met without being intrusive at the same time,” council member Kelly Brynteson said. “For me, I would like to put a pause on this.”
What else?
Cellphone infrastructure in Lakeway is considered an area which may need improvement, according to the city’s 2020 comprehensive plan.
“The city currently experiences ‘holes’ in cellphone service,” the comprehensive plan states. “Cellphone tower infrastructure supporting 4G and older technology lacks data transfer capacity needed to provide current service demands, e.g. video streaming. Infrastructure required to improve service will require providers to invest in land, fiber optic pipelines, electricity and tower space.”
