The Planning and Zoning Commission will hold a public hearing and consider an application for a special use permit for a cell tower disguised as a saguaro for the Adero Canyon area.

The commission holds its regular session on Thursday, April 25, at 6 p.m. in council chambers at Town Hall.

Verizon Wireless is seeking the permit for the cell tower near the information center at the top of the hill entering Adero Canyon. The proposal is for a 40-foot faux saguaro which exceeds the height limit included in the Adero Canyon PAD for the sales area.

The narrow site makes the 40-foot setback as “fall down” zone impossible to meet. However, much of the zone is right of way so no fall down would be onto adjoining property.

The council had previously approved a faux cell tower designed as an “old west” water tank that would have been placed at the same location. The water tank would have been similar in height but more intrusive of the desert environment than the saguaro plan.

Staff is also reporting some feedback regarding poor cell service within Adero Canyon and in some instances impacting home-based businesses.

Staff is asking that should the permit be approved that stipulations be met prior to a building permit being issued. Those include an inventory of cell facilities existing and proposed within one mile of the location; a revised location and placement to meet setback requirements; a landscape plan that shows how the area will blend with the surrounding desert environment; and a final design of the saguaro.