Longboat Island Chapel cell tower still in the works

Longboat Key resident and Alpha-Omega Communications owner Jimmy Eatrides and his partner, Kevin Barile, president of Tampa-based Ridan Industries II, are still working on bringing a cellular tower to the north end of the island.

Eatrides told the Longboat Observer that the Longboat Key Planning, Zoning and Building Department has not formally accepted the three separate applications needed to build the tower behind Longboat Island Chapel, 6200 Gulf of Mexico Drive.

“We have had ongoing discussions with town staff on various issues,” Eatrides said. “We have gone through a number of revisions for our applications but plan on having an application the (Longboat Key) Planning and Zoning Board can officially review in September.”

Barile said they are also waiting on the Longboat Island Chapel’s new board of directors to formally sign off on a plan to place the tower behind the church, instead of closer to Gulf of Mexico Drive near the Lord’s Warehouse.

“This is the first cellular tower application ever for Longboat Key, so it’s taking some time to work through,” Barile said.

One hurdle for the application has been a town code that requires a tower to have a setback that is two times the height of the tower, or 200 feet, whichever is greater.

Barile and Eatrides are seeking relief from the setback issue.

“No property exists on the north end, or the island for that matter, that is 600 feet by 600 feet,” Barile said.
Church officials signed a lease agreement with Eatrides and Barile in July for a proposed 150-foot tower on the 4.5-acre church property.

The tower allows for six cellular carriers to carry their services on the structure.

Eatrides and Barile said the lease agreement and pending application is a culmination of more than three years of discussions with the chapel’s board of directors and the congregation.

The base of the tower would be 5.5 feet in diameter and would include an elevated platform supporting all of the carrier equipment that would sit 5 feet to 6 feet off the ground.

The tallest portion of the tower would be 42 inches in diameter.

All of the equipment would be enclosed in a wall system and be shielded with landscaping.

Both Eatrides and Barile say it’s the only tower the north end will need to close service gaps in cellular coverage.

Eatrides and Barile said they will be holding community meetings in the fall to explain their intent to residents prior to public hearings.

Contact Kurt Schultheis at [email protected].