Residents voice opposition as 149-foot cell tower proposed for Wentworth Park in Mendota Heights
Published: March 27th, 2026
MENDOTA HEIGHTS MN: A proposal to construct a nearly 150-foot wireless communications tower in Wentworth Park is drawing opposition from some Mendota Heights residents ahead of an upcoming Planning Commission vote next week.
According to a public notice from the City of Mendota Heights, the Planning Commission is scheduled to consider a conditional use permit (CUP) request from Buell Consulting on behalf of The Towers, LLC. The application seeks approval to build a new 149-foot monopole wireless tower at 739 Wentworth Avenue, located within Wentworth Park.
The Planning Commission is set to review the proposal during a meeting on Tuesday, March 31, at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall. If recommended for approval, the proposal would move to the City Council for final consideration on April 7.
Documents submitted as part of the application indicate the tower is intended to address what Verizon describes as a “significant service capacity gap” in the area, particularly in and around parts of Dakota and Ramsey counties. According to a statement from a Verizon radio frequency engineer, customers in the identified “gap area” may experience diminished call quality, slower data speeds, and dropped calls due to increased demand and insufficient infrastructure.
The proposal calls for a 150-foot tower, which Verizon states is necessary due to surrounding topography and to provide adequate coverage with a single structure. The company also indicated that existing towers in the broader area would not sufficiently resolve the identified service gap.
However, multiple residents have submitted written comments opposing the project, citing concerns about the tower’s size, location, and potential impact on the neighborhood.
Several residents described Wentworth Park as a central gathering space for families and children, noting that the park includes playgrounds, athletic areas, and seasonal recreational facilities. Concerns raised in submitted letters include the visual impact of a tall structure in a neighborhood park, potential effects on nearby property values, and the introduction of additional infrastructure and maintenance activity in a space primarily used for recreation.
Some residents also referenced a previous cell tower proposal at the same location in 2006, which they say was denied following community opposition. The current proposal is nearly twice the height of the earlier plan.
Others urged city officials to consider alternative locations or less intrusive options to address wireless service needs without placing a tower within a neighborhood park.
Written comments submitted to the city will be included as part of the public record, and residents will have the opportunity to speak at the March 31 Planning Commission meeting and City Council meeting in April.
