A cell tower to spring up behind Basha’s, Dicky’s

Cell phone connections could become clearer in the Rancho El Dorado area in the coming years after a cell phone tower designed to improve cell phone signals goes up on the north end of town.

SmartLink Group’s network services division is seeking to build a 65-foot multi-bay tower in the rear of the Maricopa Fiesta Mall at 21044 N. John Wayne Pkwy. The tower site is south of Bashina and north of Dickey’s Barbecue Pit on the far west side of the complex.

The tower, which is being built on behalf of AT&T, is supposed to be designed to look like a pine tree.

According to documents filed with the city, AT&T wants to expand coverage in a commercial area near Rancho El Dorado by installing a wireless communications facility as part of a larger coverage project. This would provide coverage of the north-south route of State Route 347.

The project would also expand FirstNet’s coverage to better help first responders, AT&T said in the documents.

No construction date has been set, but according to SmartLink’s Michael Hanna, AT&T is targeting late 2023 to begin construction.

Hanna cautioned that any projected start date depends on finalizing a lease with the landlord and that sourcing materials to build the structure is challenging in today’s supply chain climate.

According to documents submitted to the city, the site would be at least 20 feet from the street and 30 feet from any property lines. A 30-by-30-foot earthworks would be paved and protected by an 8-foot block.