History of Cell Towers in Menomonee Falls
First Denial
Plan Commission unanimously denied the Appleton/Lilly permit, citing 508 petition signatures and strong public testimony.
US Cellular Withdraws
Facing sustained public opposition, US Cellular withdrew its request for the Appleton/Lilly site.
Village Board Approves New Lease Agreements
Village Board approved lease agreements (5–2) for two new sites: Fire Station #3 on Lilly Road, and Old Falls Village at County Line and Pilgrim Roads — both still surrounded by residential neighborhoods.
Public Comment Cut Short
Public comment at a Village Board meeting was cut to 15 minutes total; only 5 of 13 residents who wanted to speak were allowed to.
Permit Applications Accepted
Plan Commission accepted conditional use permit applications for both new sites.
Plan Commission Recommends Both Permits
Plan Commission recommended both permits, 4–1 with one abstention — reversing its own unanimous August denial, despite roughly 930 petition signatures and 400+ postcards in opposition.
Split Outcome
Village Board’s final decision: unanimously denied the Fire Station #3 permit, but unanimously approved the Old Falls Village permit — a split outcome residents felt was never adequately explained.
US Cellular Files Suit
US Cellular filed suit against the Village over the denied Fire Station #3 permit.
Dismissed by Judge
Waukesha County Circuit Judge Ralph Ramirez dismissed both of US Cellular’s claims — the Village Board’s denial stood.
Why this history matters now
The Fire Station #3 denial shows that organized, sustained public pressure can and does change outcomes — even against a well-resourced applicant. The Old Falls Village approval, and the lawsuit that followed the Fire Station #3 denial, are reminders that these fights don’t end with a single vote: companies can come back, and Village decisions can be challenged in court.
