Commission forwards recommended denial of cell tower

Map shows the proposed location of a cell tower in Wheatfield Park. The matter now goes to the City Council.

By Doug Spoon, Editor

The Menifee Planning Commission on Wednesday formalized its previous opposition to a proposed cell tower in Wheatfield Park, voting 3-2 to recommend denial of the project. The matter now goes to the City Council for consideration.

The decision was made in a public hearing that was continued from the commission's meeting of Aug. 14, when by a 3-2 vote the commission requested city staff to come back with a denial resolution. That resolution was approved with Robert Karwin, Chris Thomas and Earl Phillips voting in favor of it, and Randy Madrid and Benjam Diederich voting against it.

In the Aug. 14 public hearing, commissioners heard testimony from the applicant, AT&T, who said that the Wheatfield Park site was the only suitable site where the landlord was willing to lease property for the project. The owner of that property is Valley-Wide Recreation & Park District. The Menifee 24/7 news article on that meeting, including an update with comment from Valley-Wide, can be viewed here.

Two residents spoke against the project at the Aug. 14 meeting. There was one additional speaker against the project at Wednesday's meeting before the vote to deny was taken with no discussion among commissioners.

The matter will now go to the City Council with the Planning Commission's recommendation attached.