Credit: Lower Gwynedd Township.
Can you hear me now?
If you've had trouble with your cell phone service in Lower Gwynedd Township, relief may be coming soon.
In 1994, Lower Gwynedd Township purchased Penllyn Woods Park using grant funds from Montgomery County, which placed conditions on any future change in the Park’s use. One such condition was that any “change of use” required approval from the Montgomery County Commissioners. In recent years, a significant gap in cell phone coverage across parts of the Township prompted over 100 residents to request a solution. In response, the Township began working with Rise Up Towers, a company specializing in building cell towers on public property.
After a thorough assessment, Rise Up identified two potential locations for new towers: one near the Township Building adjacent to a fire substation and another in an existing gravel maintenance area within Penllyn Woods Park. Following public meetings and community engagement in 2023, concerns were raised about the first location’s proximity to homes. As a result, Rise Up found an alternative on Bethlehem Pike at the site of the former Andy’s Diner, which they leased in 2024. This site, however, still requires zoning and regulatory approvals.
The proposed cell tower in Penllyn Woods Park, meanwhile, drew additional scrutiny due to the Park's protected status under a conservation easement. Public hearings were held in November 2023, during which Rise Up presented the proposal and agreed to reorganize the maintenance area without expanding its footprint. They also addressed environmental concerns. Township officials emphasized that the tower would not interfere with recreational or scenic aspects of the Park. Following careful analysis, the Board of Supervisors approved an amendment to the conservation easement, allowing the project to move forward.
Because the Park was partially funded by county grants, the proposed tower also needed approval from the Montgomery County Commissioners. After months of public meetings, and upon recommendation from the Montgomery County Open Space Board, the Commissioners approved the project on April 17, 2025. This approval included specific conditions to ensure a net conservation benefit. These include: amending the conservation easement to require notice to Wissahickon Trails for future amendments; dedicating lease revenue to natural resource conservation efforts; requiring tower removal when it is no longer in use; and identifying Township land that can be donated to or protected by Wissahickon Trails.
As part of next steps, the Board of Supervisors will hold a public hearing on June 24, 2025, to vote on the conservation easement amendment regarding the notice provision to Wissahickon Trails. Concurrently, the Township is evaluating which of its properties could be offered for conservation to meet the County’s conditions.
In addition, the Township will consider a zoning ordinance amendment to allow the second tower on Bethlehem Pike and must finalize a lease with Rise Up for the Penllyn Woods site. This lease also requires approval from the Orphans’ Court Division of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas.
Overall, Lower Gwynedd Township is pursuing dual goals: improving cell service for residents while maintaining and enhancing its conservation commitments. The process involves careful coordination with community members, regulatory agencies, and conservation partners.
