Better cellular coverage and capacity could be coming in the next few months to Taylor.
At the regular meeting of the Taylor City Council April 27, a public hearing was held to read a new ordinance to allow a special use permit for a proposed 160-foot wireless telecommunication tower to be built on 1.13 acres of land behind New York Pizza and Pasta, at 1701 W. Second St.
“The need for the mast is based on coverage,” said Colin Harrison, the city’s newly promoted director of development services, at the meeting. “The existing masts are at capacity.”
City leaders also heard a presentation from Ralph Wyngarden, a representative for Hemphill LLC, which will be building the tower and leasing the space to Verizon and up to three additional wireless communication providers to increase coverage west of the city as well as capacity indoors, which is low because of too many users for the existing infrastructure downtown, according to city documents.
“They (Hemphill) have a lease agreement in place with the various providers, including Verizon, who is the anchor tenant, but they will also reach out to ATT and T-Mobile and Dish Wireless is a new entry into the market,” Wyndgarden said. “They will work hard at filling this tower with others as well. This particular goal for Verizon was for the southwest area of Taylor along (U.S.) 79, offloading a downtown Taylor site, which is about 1.1 miles to the northeast, and then the other providers will likely have similar need depending on where their antennas are.”
Currently, the parcel, which is right next to Union Pacific Railroad, is zoned as M-1: Light Industrial, which requires any proposed cell phone towers higher than 120 feet tall to first seek an SUP.
But according to staff reports, this project fits within the Envision Taylor Comprehensive Plan.
“This SUP would further utilize an existing property that is underdeveloped leaning toward the city’s desire for infill development in this area. However, it would limit any potential large redevelopment of this and nearby properties,” according to the report. “However, it is important to note that the proposed tower is intended to be located near the rear of the property approximately 350-feet from the ingress of W. Second Street. Development up against the railroad is not likely to develop as retail or residential. The location of a wireless communication tower in this location is more favorable due to its proximity of rail traffic through the City of Taylor.”
In addition, providing additional coverage and capacity is important for the health and safety of the community, Wyngarden said.
“It’s useful for residents in their daily life, businesses, people that are learning from home, working from home, and then of course public safety,’ Wyngarden said. “The National Emergency Number Association says at least 80 percent of calls are from wireless devices nowadays, so it’s a benefit to the community, and it’s in an appropriate location.”
Though they were not yet ready for a vote, City leaders seemed enthusiastic about the new project.
“If this all goes through, how soon does my service improve at my house?” said Mayor Brandt Rydell.
“I would say within three months or so,” replied Wyndgarden. “It will be built by Hemphill and then sometimes it takes Verizon another month or so, depending on where their capital is allocated.”
District 4 Councilman Robert Garcia said he was hoped coverage would expand beyond the immediate area as well.
“I know that 79 between Taylor and Round Rock there is a lot of dead space,” Garcia said. “Are you all looking at towers out in that area?”
Wyndgarden, who works extensively with the major wireless providers, said he couldn’t say for certain, but that it was likely that coverage will be expanded in the near future.
“I know that Verizon is actively building in the area, but I am not sure if they are looking at that particular location,” he said. “It’s beyond where this one will reach, but there is definitely a lot of areas being filled in.”
