A request for installation of a 109’ monopole telecommunications tower (105’ tower structure with 4’ lightning rod) has been submitted to Development Services staff for review. Along with the monopole tower structure, the applicant proposes support equipment. The Unified Development Code (UDC) defines such equipment as:

Equipment Storage Building or Structure (Pertaining to Wireless Facilities) – “An unstaffed, single-story equipment building, structure or platform used to house telecommunications equipment necessary to operate the telecommunications network.”

The proposed cell tower structure will be erected near the southwest corner of Park 35 South Section 1, Block A, Lot 13, addressed as 16674 South Interstate Highway 35. The subject property is located within the Light Industrial (LI) zoning district. Under UDC Subsection 2.06.05 Use Chart, approval of a Specific Use Permit (SUP) is required within the LI District.

The property at 16674 South Interstate Highway 35 was platted on July 27^th, 1999 and later annexed in November of 2009 with Ordinance No. 2009-1109. The existing 9,000 sf office/warehouse was constructed in 1999.

The property was zoned LI District with adoption of the current UDC (Ordinance No. 2017-13) in October of 2017.

The applicant proposes to lease a 50’ x 50’ portion of land near the southwest corner of the property for the purpose of installing a 109-ft monopole tower as well as the ‘Equipment Storage Building or Structure (Pertaining to Wireless Facilities)’ use. The wireless telecommunications facility is intended to densify the Verizon Wireless network and will allow for future co-location of two other (currently unassigned) carriers with a possibility to offer the City of Buda Police, Fire, and EMS services communications placement.

During the June 25, 2026 meeting of the Zoning Board of Adjustment (BoA), the Board approved a request for an Antenna Location Waiver (V 26-03) to allow siting of a proposed monopole tower up to 120’ in height on a property within a Full Commercial (FC) land use threshold area. A FC land use threshold are is described as “property within any of the Nonresidential Zoning Districts or any nonresidentially zoned Planned Development (PD)”.

In review of the requested SUP, the Commission shall consider the following factors:

• Safety of the motoring public and of pedestrians using the facility and the area immediately surrounding the site;

The proposed monopole structure and servicing equipment are not intended for occupation and will therefore not impact the proposed site nor the surrounding properties in regards to vehicular or pedestrian traffic as the equipment pad and enclosure will be placed towards the southwest corner of the 1.89-acre property.

Under UDC Subsection 3.05.07.C.3, a 6’ sidewalk is required along the abutting South Interstate 35 frontage road. The applicant intends to pay a fee in-lieu of sidewalk construction under UDC Subsection 3.05.07.B.

• Adequate means of ingress and egress to public streets or approved access easements and appropriate paving widths of streets, alleys and sidewalks to accommodate traffic generated by the proposed use;

The property is currently served by a 40’ shared-access drive, straddling the northern lot line. As the proposed use will not increase vehicular or pedestrian traffic, the applicant will not alter the existing point of access and does not propose to construct additional points of access. Staff recognizes the current means of ingress and egress as adequate.

The applicant proposes a 30’ access easement as well as a variable-width easement for the purpose of granting access to the pad and enclosure.

• Provisions for drainage and water quality;

Drainage for the proposed lease site flows to the southwest. The applicant proposes a vegetative strip detention pond west of the pad site as the primary Best Management Practice (BMP) to capture and treat the stormwater from the proposed pad site. A vegetative strip along the South Interstate Highway 35 access road provides drainage for the remainder of the existing site and commercial structure.

• Adequate off-street parking and loading;

The proposed use will not impact current occupant load, vehicular traffic, or pedestrian traffic. Under UDC Subsection 2.06.05 Use Chart, the ‘Equipment Storage Building or Structure (Pertaining to Wireless Facilities)’ use requires additional parking at a ratio of 1 space per 1,000 sf, which would be satisfied by existing parking provided on-site. Additionally, 1 off-street parking space must be provided at each Telecommunications Tower Facility per UDC Subsection 4.03.02.A.2. The applicant proposes a 9’ x 22’ parking space with asphalt paving within the access easement.

• Safety from fire hazard and measures for fire control;

The Fire Department has approved the submitted SUP request.

• Protection against negative effects of noise, glare and lighting on the character of the neighborhood, protective screening and open space;

The applicant proposes an 8' CMU enclosure in order to screen the pad site from the adjacent street right-of-way. The enclosure will be accessed from a 12' wide steel gate.

The equipment pad will contain one light fixture, mounted at 8’ in height. The light source will not generate light trespass upon any of the abutting properties. Noise (if any) will be negligeable. Staff does not foresee a potential for interference with the enjoyment of the use of surrounding properties.

• Heights of structures;

The proposed 8'-6" x 12'-6" equipment structure will stand approximately 11' above the lease area slab elevation. Surrounded by the 8' CMU enclosure, the equipment structure would only be slightly visible from the adjacent street right-of-way or the neighboring property from the south. The height of the proposed structure for this SUP request is well within the maximum allowable building height of 45' as stated in UDC Subsection 2.07.02 (and Subsection 2.09.04.C).

• Compatibility of buildings and such other measures as will secure and protect the public health, safety, and general welfare.

The subject property and all immediately adjacent properties lie within the LI District, a zoning district that is intended to provide an area for large business parks, light industry, and office warehousing that will not generate nuisance-like activities such as noise, smoke, or heavy traffic volumes. The lease area measures more than 650 ft away from the nearest residential use (The Bradford Apartments) and more than 1,000 ft away from the nearest differing nonresidential district (Interstate-35 Business (B-3) District, America’s Auto Auction).

The 2,500 sf lease area adheres to minimum side yard and rear yard setback requirements established in UDC Subsection 2.07.02 Nonresidential Dimensional Regulations, maintaining a distance of 35 ft from the rear property line (35 ft minimum required) and 10 ft from the side property line to the south (0 ft minimum required). Additionally, under UDC Subsection 4.03.04.E.3, towers shall be setback a minimum of 100 ft from adjacent public rights-of-way; the proposed tower is approximately 328 ft from the South I-35 frontage road to the east and approximately 210 ft from the Park 35 Cove South right-of-way to the south.

Staff believes the proposed use and structures are compatible with the surrounding properties.

N/A

Pros: If approved, the equipment structure will service a tower that will bolster wireless communications services for the intended service provider and will serve as co-location availability for two additional service providers in the future, including the possibility to offer the City of Buda Police, Fire, and EMS services communications placement.

Cons: None.

The Commission may:

• Recommend approval of the request as presented;
• Recommend approval of the request with conditions;
• Table the request for future consideration; or
• Recommend denial of the request.