TO: Mayor and City Council
FROM: Dustin Anderson, Director of Community Development
SUBJECT:
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Ordinance Approving a Special Use Permit to Allow a Cellular Communications Tower and Associated Ground Equipment, Located at 2500 Brandon Road (ZBA 2025-11)
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BACKGROUND:
The petitioner, American Towers, is requesting approval of a special use permit to allow a cell tower and its associated ground equipment in the I-T (intermodal terminal) district at 2500 Brandon Road. Per the City of Joliet Zoning Ordinance, cell towers may be allowed as special uses in the industrial districts as long as they are at least 100 feet from any residential district and an adequate removal bond is provided.
The proposed cell tower is located within CenterPoint Intermodal Center to the east of the intermodal rail yard and will replace an existing tower located less than half a mile away. When CenterPoint Phase 25 was approved in 2024, the parcel that contains the existing tower was annexed into the City and became part of a buildable lot. Additionally, the north-south Brandon Road right-of-way adjacent to the annexed parcel was vacated. Therefore, American Towers needs to relocate the existing tower. The proposed tower will be adjacent to the new Brandon Road right-of-way and will not interfere with the continued development of the intermodal park. The existing tower will be removed once the new tower is in place.
The proposed tower has the same height and basic footprint as the existing tower. The proposed tower is 250 feet high and will be surrounded by an approximately 52-foot by 50-foot ground equipment area enclosed by a 6-foot screening fence. As a condition of approval, the petitioner will be required to submit a $50,000 removal bond to be used if the tower is abandoned and needs to be decommissioned.
Staff finds that the request meets the special use criteria in that the proposed tower will not be detrimental to public health and safety, will not impede or harm the ...
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