Telecommunications tower request pushed to later session

After tabling the matter at the voting session on Dec. 16, 2021, the Dawson County Board of Commissioners further delayed the telecommunications tower request until the March 3 meeting.

On behalf of Verizon Wireless, Greg Spence first presented the request to the Dawson County Planning Commission on Nov. 16, 2021.

Spence proposed special use of land at Wesley Chapel Road and Highway 52 to construct a communications tower. Joyce Hutcheson has owned the selected parcel, which is currently vacant land, since 2004.

The area primarily consists of undeveloped woodlands and large estate lots.

Although the tower would likely not be visible from the roadway, it would likely affect neighboring lots’ views. The list of adjacent property owners includes five affected addresses.

All properties, including the parcel selected for the tower, are zoned Residential Agricultural.

Considering the proposed land use’s effect, the tower could decrease property values by a small percentage but should not diminish the area’s general character.

Even with possible negatives, the public benefits through the opportunity to improve general and emergency cellular communications.

Specifications of the proposed telecommunications tower

The overall tower height of 195 feet, which includes the monopole and attached lightning rod, satisfies the minimum height needed to properly provide improved rural coverage.

Also, the height accommodates anticipated future growth for wireless demand in the area.

According to the company, Verizon Wireless made attempts to utilize any existing structures to meet the network design goals. It did not find any registered antenna structures within two miles of the search area radius.

Upon the structure’s completion, the facility will be unmanned. Workers will visit once per month on average for routine maintenance purposes.

Along with other discussed items, the Board made supporting documents for the telecommunications tower available at https://www.dawsoncounty.org/meetings.

Fetch Your News previously announced Verizon Wireless’s balloon test, which readers can find at https://dawson.fetchyournews.com/2022/01/10/verizon-wireless-to-conduct-balloon-test-for-proposed-cell-tower-on-1-12/.

While waiting on additional documents, the Board will continue to deliberate until its next discussion of the tower on March 3.