Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: WEDNESDAY, May 11, 1994                   TAG: 9405110127
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-4   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: By JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

CELLULAR ONE TO BUILD TOWER ON BENT MOUNTAIN

The board gave its approval despite objections of residents who are afraid it will interfere with their view.

The site of the tower - which in recent weeks has been scaled back to a 30-foot telephone pole with no microwave dish - is also one of the best spots from which to view the Roanoke Valley while driving down U.S. 221 from the mountain.

Century Roanoke Cellular Corp. attorney Ed Natt told supervisors that the tower would serve "the entire Southwest County area." Several cellular phone users who live on the mountain told the board that poor reception makes it impossible at times to use their phones.

Other residents who spoke Tuesday and at the supervisors' meeting two weeks ago argued against putting the tower in their view.

Supervisors put their vote on hold at their last meeting to allow the company to float a trial balloon 40 feet high with a 2-foot wide simulated microwave dish so residents and supervisors could see what it would look like.

Instead, Century Roanoke Cellular, which operates Cellular One locally, temporarily erected an actual telephone pole. The company found that it required only a 30-foot pole, with two 5-foot whip antennas and no dish.

Without the dish, much of the opposition by county staff was eliminated. The tower passed 3-1, with Chairman Lee Eddy opposed and Supervisor Harry Nickens absent.

Several speakers said the pole was hardly noticeable when passing it on 221.

"It would practically have to be a leaf on a tree" to blend into its surroundings more, said Roger Vest, owner of the property that Cellular One will use.

One concern Eddy had was about setting a precedent by approving the tower. County Attorney Paul Mahoney, noting that Virginia's courts strongly favor individual property rights, said if the board turns down a similar tower in the future, the county could be left on the losing side of a lawsuit.