Summary
This document consists solely of public comment letters submitted to the Leelanau Township Board ahead of an August 13, 2026 special meeting regarding a proposed Verizon Wireless cell tower on Braman Hill in Northport. Four residents wrote in, and all raised significant concerns or opposition regarding the tower's height, lease terms, siting, and impact on the community landmark.
Public Comments
Kristi Holmstrom (10090 Ranger Rd), whose property adjoins the proposed site, does not favor the tower but would accept it if the community deems it necessary via a vote. She identified discrepancies in the proposal: conflicting fenced-area dimensions (75'x75' vs. 50'x50'), inconsistent technician visit frequency (monthly, every 90 days, or 2-4 times/month), and a likely erroneous reference to "Vienna Township" on page 36. She urged the Board to select the 190' tower option to avoid required lighting, questioned whether AT&T coverage (which she has and finds good) was compared to Verizon's, and argued the proposed $900/month rental fee is too low, suggesting a profit-based percentage instead, with proceeds potentially funding a skatepark, housing for year-round residents, or a bike path connecting to the TART trail.
Paris Morse opposes the tower, arguing it conflicts with the Township ordinances and Master Plan, particularly sections 18.1B and 18.1D regarding minimizing adverse effects and protecting residential character. She noted the 195' tower is comparable to a 20-story building, that propagation maps show coverage overlapping existing fire station tower coverage rather than serving underserved northern areas, and cited the Government Center tower as an example of infrastructure built without securing any providers.
Phyllis Rebori submitted detailed packet-page citations questioning: the 50-year lease term (5-year initial term plus 45-year renewal option), a 1% annual rent increase, unclear language on future equipment installation rights, restrictive interference clauses potentially barring other providers for 50 years, unclear casualty/condemnation liability for the Township, capacity concerns for three proposed co-locators sharing the 50'x50' area (including propane tanks and generators), generator noise controls, and conflicting maintenance-visit frequency across pages 34, 36, and 38. She referenced Resolution 2022-01 (siting north/northwest of Northport) and Resolution 2021-03 (Dark Sky Lighting) and recommended the tower not exceed 190'.
Barbara McCann does not support the tower, stating prior studies indicate the site should be further north, and urged the Township to explore alternatives to a tower given changing technology.
Infrastructure Projects
The sole infrastructure item is the proposed Verizon Wireless cell tower at Braman Hill, discussed only through public comment; no Board decisions, votes, or next steps are recorded in this document.
Financial Summary
Referenced figures include a proposed $900/month rental fee (called too low by Holmstrom) and a lease with a 1% annual rent increase over a potential 50-year term (5-year initial term plus 45-year renewal option), as detailed by Rebori.
Action Items
No formal Board actions or assignments are recorded; the document contains only resident-submitted written comments urging clarification on lease terms, tower height, maintenance responsibilities, and rental fee structure before any decision is made on the Braman Hill tower.