Temp Cell Tower OK’d Near Football Stadium

At its Aug. 3, 2011 meeting, the Ann Arbor planning commission voted to approve a temporary Verizon cell tower at the Ann Arbor Golf and Outing property on 400 E. Stadium Blvd., east of the corner at Stadium and Main. The tower will be 80 feet tall and remain located there from Aug. 15, 2011 until Dec. 15, 2011. The purpose of the tower is to boost coverage for wireless communications during University of Michigan football games at Michigan Stadium.

According to a staff memo, the tower base would be surrounded by a 6-foot high opaque fence and would not be visible from East Stadium Boulevard.

Last year, a similar temporary tower – about 100 feet high – was installed on a gravel lot adjacent to Crisler Arena on the north side of East Stadium, on land also owned by Ann Arbor Golf and Outing. However, the city planning commission had not be contacted, as required by city code. The tower was removed in December 2010 at the city’s request.

The cell tower does not require additional city council approval.

This brief was filed from the planning commission meeting in the second-floor council chambers at city hall, 301 E. Huron in Ann Arbor. A more detailed report will follow: [link]