PHOENIX (AP) — A northeast Phoenix church has lost its bid to rent out part of its property for a cell phone tower.

A city hearing officer denied the application by the Paradise Hills Assembly of God for a tower at the back of its property near 26th Street and Northern Avenue near State Route 51.

The Arizona Republic reports that the tower was opposed by a number of neighbourhood residents and by parents at the adjacent Mercury Mine Elementary School. The church adjusted its plan to respond to neighbours' concerns, but opponents claimed the church already had towers on its roof and that the new tower would be redundant.