What's happening
City Council approved a specific-use permit for a new wireless telecommunication facility on property just behind Point of Grace Lutheran Church, east of FM 685 and north of Murchison Ridge Trail.
“I do believe that this [cell tower] demonstrates much improved signal strength and coverage in the Stone Hill and Falcon Pointe area,” Place 1 council member Doug Weiss said. “I am very excited about being able to bring this [to the area].”
Plans indicate the construction of a 120-foot tower, with additional requirements to set it nearly 400 feet from any residential neighborhood.
Though AT&T officials have taken the lead on construction for the tower, there is room for three different carrier antennas. According to a presentation to the Pflugerville Planning and Zoning Commission on Sept. 18, Verizon and T-Mobile officials have already expressed interest.
Some context
A specific-use permit allows for a case-by-case review of the proposed land to ensure it fits well with nearby land uses and city rules.
“The monopoles are the most unobtrusive types of towers that you can build,” said Vincent Huebinger, the property’s land and development consultant.
The tower will also be a FirstNet site—a network built in partnership with AT&T to support first responder communication. This includes emergency medical services, police departments and fire departments.
What’s next
The regulatory application and processing is underway, which still awaits approval from entities such as the Federal Aviation Administration and the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality.
Huebinger said he expects the property to have all the proper permitting by mid-2024, when construction may begin.
