County Council Denies Permit for Cell Phone Tower on West Meyer Road

voted down a permit for a 120-foot cell phone tower on West Meyer Road 

Representatives from St. Charles Tower applied for the conditional use permit on behalf of the property owners James Robert and Mary A. Cummings.

The tower would have been located on property at 1722-1732 West Meyer Road, on the south side of West Meyer about 550 feet west of May Road.

The Planning and Zoning Commission approved the request in July. Then, the Board of Zoning Adjustment denied an application for a variance to the ordinance that requires a distance of at least one mile between cell phone towers. The applicant requested reducing that distance to a half mile. 

On Monday night, representatives from St. Charles Tower provided maps that showed gaps in U.S. Cellcular coverage to the county council. 

However, Councilman Joe Cronin said he didn't see adequate proof that there was a gap in coverage in the area. He said he asked several times to hear from U.S. Cellular that they had gaps in coverage but never received the information.

He said he asked a salesperson specifically if there were gaps in coverage around West Meyer Road and was told there were no gaps in coverage in St. Charles County. 

"I've driven the area extensively and have not seen any lack of service in the area," Cronin said. 

The council voted down a resolution overturning the variance and the conditional use permit for the tower. 

Last year, after the council denied a conditional use permit for a tower in the Defiance area.