Palm Coast city leaders are one vote away from clearing the way for better cellular service along one of that city’s busiest corridors.
The road along Palm Coast Parkway is a major commercial artery in Palm Coast, but when it comes to cell service Blair Lamphier, the owner of a mortgage consultant business, says he gets an earful from friends and customers.
“Several friends, several clients that we deal with complain about service going in and out, dropped calls, what have you,” he said.
One carrier offered Palm Coast leaders a map of what their coverage along Palm Coast Parkway looks like.
It's a specific corridor between US 1 to the west and I-95 in the east. There's a distinct drop in service right in the middle. And in years past, there wasn't much that could be done.
In this area, there are restrictions on tower heights and how close they can be from the road.
Yet, city leaders passed a first reading of an ordinance changing those restrictions.
Lamphier is all for it because it's good for business. “Not just with my services" he said, "but everybody else here trying to make a living, where you have a dropped call, can't get back in touch with that person, they can't get in touch with you. They get frustrated and they'll go elsewhere.”
There's a delicate balancing act along this corridor though. Who wouldn't want better cell service? But then again, who wants a cell phone tower in their own backyard?
To that end, the city staff has identified a site at the city's Water Treatment Plant #1 as the best spot for a new tower.
City Councilman Jason Delorenzo, who admits he has difficulty getting a call inside his office along Palm Coast Parkway, said the council knows there are problems out there. “We're trying to do it smart. We're trying to make sure we have strong service throughout the city but also not have towers all over the place.”
A second, and final vote of the ordinance will be heard by Delorenzo and other city council members August 4th.