Plans for a striking new stealth communications tower, replacing one at Arlington Heights High School, have met opposition because of its proposed height.
Members of the Fort Worth Board of Adjustment approved three special exceptions and one variance to the city zoning ordinance at their monthly meeting Jan. 21. But the board rejected another variance that would have allowed the 130-foot tower, compared to the 87-foot height of the current one.
The Fort Worth Independent School District submitted a letter of support for the project, but one neighbor spoke in opposition. After an attorney for the telecommunications company requested more time to work on a solution, the board rescinded its rejection and continued the case.
The proposed tower would replace the tower that SBA 2012 TC Assets LLC, a subsidiary of SBA Communications, has owned since 2012 in the same location on the Arlington Heights campus. Three AT&T Mobility wireless antennas on the existing tower have become blocked by a three-story building that the school district recently constructed close to the antenna site.
The proposed tower would raise AT&T Mobility’s antennas above the level of the blockage and facilitate improved T-Mobile voice, data and emergency 911 services to the surrounding community. Space for antennas from a third wireless provider would also be provided.
The existing tower is a single mast design, with AT&T and T-Mobile antennas clearly visible and clustered around a significant portion of the mast.
The design of the new tower incorporates stealth features that disguise its equipment, and consists of three 130-foot poles arranged in a triangle, with solid fiberglass panels covering the top 50 feet of each face.
The antennas would be mounted behind these panels and obscured from view.
Fort Worth Board of Adjustment
Date: Jan. 21, 2026
Documenter: Doug Wilhelm
To watch the recording of the meeting, click here.
Fort Worth zoning ordinances define a stealth communications tower as “a facility that is designed in such a way that the facility is not readily recognizable as a telecommunication tower or telecommunication equipment.”
SBA has worked over the past two years with the Fort Worth schools and Arlington Heights administration on the design of the new tower, which will prominently feature the school’s gold and blue colors. The 130-foot poles will be gold in color, with the three 50-foot panels being blue.
The top of the panels will feature a 10-foot circular school logo on each face. In October 2024, FWISD provided the board of adjustment with a letter of support for the project.
This case required board of adjustment review due to requests from the applicant for three special exceptions and two variances to city zoning regulations.
Two of the special exceptions would allow a stealth communications tower to be installed in a community facilities zoning district that does not meet design and appearance requirements.
The remaining special exception, together with one of the variances, would allow a tower to be taller than a defined 50-foot maximum for the proposed location.
The final variance would allow the tower to be enclosed by a 6-foot chain-link fence with slats, to match the screening fence that exists today at the location.
Alamo Heights resident Cinnamon Hall, who lives one block south of the school property, spoke in opposition to the proposed tower, raising concerns about possible aviation interference as well as its appearance, which she described as “ugly” and “a monstrosity” that will be more visible from her property than the existing tower.
In rebuttal, Bebb Francis, the attorney representing SBA, said the company has worked closely with the Federal Aviation Administration, which issued a “determination of no hazard.” That determination indicates the proposed tower would not pose a risk to aircraft or airspace safety.
Francis also reiterated the improved cellular coverage the new tower will provide and said FWISD and Arlington Heights High School staff are excited about the esprit de corps that will be generated by incorporating the school’s colors and logo.
Board member Janna Herrera inquired if other locations had been considered. Francis said any other location would be problematic due to lack of available real estate in the densely populated surrounding area, and that relocating the antenna would create a coverage hole in the wider cellular grid.
In response to a question from board member Kay Duffy, Francis confirmed SBA has paid rent to FWISD for the current antenna installation. Duffy said she would rather see the school district continue to benefit from this arrangement, rather than rent being paid to any other entity.
Board member Michael Johnston asked if it would be possible to install a shorter tower on top of the new school building that created the blockage. Francis said that approach had not been studied, adding that the weight of the tower and antennas were likely not considered in the new building’s roof design.
Board member Sergio Garza expressed full support for the new tower, saying, “It is a visual necessity to have it that height.” To the concerned resident, he said, “cell phone and 911 service is something that we have to have.”
In initial voting, the board approved all three special exceptions and one of the variances, but rejected the height variance by a vote of 8-2. Nine affirmative votes were needed for approval. Johnston and Logan Primm cast dissenting votes.
Francis said he was shocked by the outcome and asked the board if the rejection was ‘with prejudice.’ City legal counsel confirmed it was.
Under that determination, a case cannot be revisited for two years. Francis appealed to the board to allow him to immediately work with city staff on the height issue, given the urgent need to improve AT&T’s service in the area.
After discussion, the board decided to rescind its rejection and voted to continue the case, which it will revisit at its meeting on March 18.
Doug Wilhelm is a member of the Fort Worth Report’s Documenters crew.
If you believe anything in these notes is inaccurate, please email us at news@fortworthreport.org with “Correction Request” in the subject line.
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