Orland Park officials delayed action Monday night on a cellular tower ordinance until a communications consultant can help them determine how much money the village can make by leasing space on existing water towers.
The village has seven water towers, and officials believe wireless communications companies would be willing to pay large sums of money to lease space at their tops for antennas. The consultant will be asked to determine how much money might be reasonable.
The Village Board postponed for at least a month any action on a proposed ordinance regulating antennas and cellular towers. The issue is expected to be taken up again in May by the Community Development Committee.
Recently, several cellular telephone companies and other telecommunications services have requested permission to place their antennas on existing tall buildings and water towers and to construct their own towers, said R.J. Zeder, assistant village manager.
Many suburbs have sought to restrict the towers or ban them outright, but others have found that leasing space on existing tall structures has provided a financial windfall.
