Location of one new cellphone tower up for review by Lawton City Council

Some west Lawton residents are expected to express strong feelings today when the City Council decides whether it should revoke a cellphone tower permit.

The issue stems from an ordinance the council put into place in late 2021, setting specific guidelines for placement of small cellphone towers in city rights of way, to include along residential streets. The council then granted U.S. Cellular revocable permits for 26 sites, acting in four separate actions between December 2021 and September 2023. Placement has begun and some residents are extremely unhappy with some of those locations.

City officials have said while multiple sites were challenged, only one location is being considered for revocation of its permit: one near 7990 NW Micklegate Boulevard, a residential tract at the corner of Micklegate and Folkstone Way.

This site was one of four approved for a permit at the council’s Sept. 12, 2023, meeting, but the Community Services Department said the pole was not built according to the approved plans. That placed pole would have to be moved 22 inches to the west and 3 feet to the north to be in compliance with its construction plans (meaning, allowed to remain). The city ordinance that governs placement of small cell tower facilities specifies towers must be specific distances from the street, and from water/sewer lines. The council may revoke its permit if the location does not meet city code requirements.

In addition to the apparent non-conformance with permit requirements, city staff also is receiving complaints from residents in the neighborhood about the facility’s proximity to their residences, according to the agenda commentary provided by Community Services Director Charlotte Brown.

Brown said city officials are in discussions with U.S. Cellular to determine “if it is feasible to relocate this facility down the road to the park.” U.S. Cellular is requesting additional time to complete a study on moving that structure, city officials said.

Another issue expected to draw residential comment at today’s meeting is a public hearing that could result is designating the old Dunbar School in south Lawton for condemnation.

The one-time school at 1702 SW N.H. Jones Avenue is one of 11 structures slated for D&D public hearings, the process that identifies deteriorating and dilapidated structures and requires owners to either upgrade the property or demolish them — or the city will do it. The structure was closed as a school in the 1960s as Lawton Public Schools went through its desegregation process. Different entities have tried over the years to renovate the structure into a community center, but have not been successful.

The property owner for the tract is listed as United Lawton Grows Lawton Inc., according to city records.