40 foot tall 5G towers appearing around Houston. Whats Up?

[kreeyax]

I'd be pretty irate if one of these popped up in front of my house. I was talking to an AT&T tech a few years ago about how crummy their cell service is in our neighborhood. He said our HOA had been fighting them on installing 5G towers around our neighborhood MPC here in Cypress, and I still haven't seen any. So maybe an HOA does have some ability to prevent them from going in? Or they just made them so discrete nobody notices them.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by kreeyax

I'd be pretty irate if one of these popped up in front of my house. I was talking to an AT&T tech a few years ago about how crummy their cell service is in our neighborhood. He said our HOA had been fighting them on installing 5G towers around our neighborhood MPC here in Cypress, and I still haven't seen any. So maybe an HOA does have some ability to prevent them from going in? Or they just made them so discrete nobody notices them.

Not sure exactly what powers HOAs have to keep franchise utility infrastructure like that out of public right of way easements. They may have some, similar to the way they can require no parked cars overnight on public streets. Definitely getting into the legal weeds on the pole issue.

I do know that taller cell towers do require a special permit in the City of Houston.

[DabOnEm]

Originally Posted by LocalPlanner

Having land use zoning would not make one whit of difference on 5G pole placement. Not at all. Do you know anything about zoning? Because the more you post about it, it becomes apparent the less you actually do.

Lol then why do you see so many articles about local (as in local in anywhere usa) zoning laws and placement of cell towers? zoning codes can dictate height restrictions thus limiting how many cell towers can be placed. but you better go tell them they are all wrong and those arent actually zoning codes

[Sugarlandbubba]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Lol then why do you see so many articles about local (as in local in anywhere usa) zoning laws and placement of cell towers? zoning codes can dictate height restrictions thus limiting how many cell towers can be placed. but you better go tell them they are all wrong and those arent actually zoning codes

Because there is a state law in place and state law generally trumps local law. The state has enacted legislations that said the installation of 5G poles with max height of 55' or 10' above the closest pole light pole, whichever is less are for the public safety of its people.

https://statutes.capitol.texas.gov/D...htm/LG.284.htm

Houston does have a cell tower ordinance but only for towers over 60'. T-Mobile has them (60' or less) all over town to avoid the City of Houston Cell Tower Ordinance.

https://www.houstontx.gov/planning/C...Guidelines.pdf

I have the feeling that the Lobbyists went directly to the state to enact this legislation after having had problems with many local jurisdictions (in trying to attach 5G antennas on light poles).

AT&T, formerly AWS, formerly Southwestern Bell's corporate Headquarters is in Dallas, Texas.

[LocalPlanner]

Originally Posted by DabOnEm

Lol then why do you see so many articles about local (as in local in anywhere usa) zoning laws and placement of cell towers? zoning codes can dictate height restrictions thus limiting how many cell towers can be placed. but you better go tell them they are all wrong and those arent actually zoning codes

Zoning codes cover what happens behind the private property line. NOT what happens in the public ROW easements.