Construction Of Cell Phone Towers Halted

The Spokane City Council is calling a temporary halt to the construction of cellular telephone towers near residential areas.

The city’s aging zoning code doesn’t address towers that hold antennas used to send cellular telephone signals, said Planning Director Charlie Dotson. Requests for the permits continue to increase.

Council members on Monday unanimously agreed to put a two-month moratorium on the granting of permits to anyone wanting to build a tower within 300 feet of an existing residential lot.

During that time, staff members will draft proposed standards for where such towers would be allowed and what they should look like.

Some residents have raised concerns about plans for two towers on the North Side - one near Tidyman’s on Addison and one near Joe Albi Stadium. The moratorium won’t apply to either of those proposals because the sites aren’t near residential areas.

, DataTimes