T-Mobile expansion advances; shopping center rezoning delayed

T-Mobile’s plan to add equipment to a disguised cell tower is headed to the Litchfield Park City Council after a unanimous commission recommendation, while a shopping center rezoning will wait until October.

The Planning and Zoning commission backed the conditional use permit during its Sept. 15 meeting after city planner Randy Proch said the project would add antennas without raising the tower or expanding ground equipment.

“There is no additional height being sought, no changes to the alternative concealment, palm-tree appearance, and the ground-mounted equipment isn’t being increased in any way,” Proch said.

The tower located at 5374 N. Litchfield Road resembles a palm tree and carries AT&T equipment. T-Mobile’s antennas would be mounted below and colored to match the trunk.

Proch said the co-location could improve service for residents nearby without adding another tower.

The city notified properties within 1,000 feet and received one email asking whether the equipment could be better camouflaged, Proch said.

Commissioners then unanimously tabled a proposed rezoning of Tierra Verde Shopping Center, at the northwest corner of Old Litchfield Road and Wigwam Boulevard, until Oct. 13.

Proch said staff and the applicant have not finalized terms, including a development agreement and ending a reciprocal parking agreement between the city and shopping center.

“We need a quick pause to make sure that we are on the same page with our applicant,” Proch said.

The item is scheduled to return at the commission’s next meeting.

Noah Flug
Reporter | Litchfield Park and Goodyear

nflug@iniusa.org

Community: Litchfield Park and Goodyear

Education: Bachelor’s degree in Journalism and Mass Communication with a minor in Digital Audiences from Arizona State University

Random Fact: I only have one biological cousin.

Hobbies: Watching movies and TV, spending time with my friends, aspiring stoic.