Burnsville church will get a tower courtesy Verizon Wireless

Unable to find a location to put up an antenna tower in southeast Burnsville, Verizon Wireless will build a decorative church tower instead and use the sign of the cross to hide 12 antennas positioned inside.

The 75-foot high "stealth tower" has been welcomed by Church of the Risen Savior at 1501 E. County Road 42 because it will bring the church income and add a touch of character to the white, clean-lined church building.

"The church doesn't necessarily look like a church," said Tim Keegan, a member of the church finance council. Such a tower "will certainly make it more identifiable as a worship facility." The cross will be displayed at the top of the tower on three sides.

If Verizon is committing to the expense of building a new antenna tower, it does not add much more cost to design it as a church tower, Keegan said.

Although there are two similar church bell towers in Bloomington, Verizon said it designed this one specifically for Risen Savior.

"This is one of the more attractive towers I have ever seen,'' said Alan Bixius, a consulting planner for the city of Burnsville who recommended its approval.

"The church is white, and the tower is integrated to match and complement it. You don't see the antenna rays or anything else to suggest it is anything but a church tower."

The Burnsville City Council approved a conditional use permit for the tower last week with the conditions that the tower not be illuminated, that it not carry advertising and that an accompanying equipment shelter match the color and materials of the church.

The tower will stand 8 feet from the church and 175 feet from the nearest property line on Southcross Drive. Evergreens and shrubs will be planted along the base of the tower.

Verizon prefers to build its own cell towers, spokeswoman Karen Smith said. "With a typical cell tower we have more space for equipment and equipment sheds, and we have easier access to the site."

Because "everybody wants their mobile devices to work wherever they go," and no locations are available for a regular tower, the company sometimes turns to church sites, she said.

Another type of "stealth design" used by phone companies looks like a pine tree. Smith said she does not know of any in Minnesota.

Laurie Blake • 952-746-3287