Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 24, 1994 TAG: 9405240106
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: By BRIAN KELLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Contel Cellular officials told the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors and the crowd of more than 150 that they will attempt to re-engineer the proposed 185-foot tower using new technology, including one system that would disguise a "monopole" with fake bark and a top that resembles a tree.
"We can provide the service that we need to, and [Ellett Valley residents] can have something that would not detract from the aesthetics of the upper valley," said Contel engineer Steve Regitz.
The offer came during a long night of public hearings, including ones for a controversial trailer park in Elliston and a major new subdivision outside Christiansburg.
Thirteen speakers objected to the tower, citing its potential impact on the view and property values in the subdivisions of expensive homes southeast of Blacksburg.
"If you take away the view, you have a lot of overvalued houses on sloping lots that are hard to mow," said Cedar Orchards resident Bob Moore. He expressed doubt about any efforts to camouflage the tower. "When you put a ribbon around a hog's neck, it's still a hog."
But tower opponent Bill Ellenbogen, who helped publicize the proposal and generate the outcry, took more of a wait-and-see approach to Contel Cellular's offer. "If they are capable of doing that, I might, and I repeat myself, might not oppose this," said Ellenbogen, who showed nine slides to display the tower site's broad visual impact.
James P. Clouse, who owns the property where Contel wants to build, said he had worked with the company to choose a site that would have a minimal impact. "As we all know, change is a fact of life," Clouse said.
Supervisor Nick Rush asked Contel officials how long a useful life the tower would have in light of advances in satellite telephone technology. Regitz said such systems aren't expected to hit the market for at least six years, and even then will compete with, not replace, the so-called line-of-sight technology used with cellular phones.
Regitz said it will take at least a month to study the new tower technology and see if it is feasible to use on the Clouse land. If it is used, it would be the first time for Contel, which has approximately 118 towers across Virginia.
In an earlier public hearing, 10 Elliston residents objected to Frank Howard's proposal to build a trailer park on 18 acres at Cove Hollow Road and U.S. 460. Allen Howard, his son, cited a redesign to lower the density of trailers near neighbors Ardith and James Matz's property. "We are interested in developing a park that will set the standard for other parks in the area," Howard said.
Rodney Crowgey, a lawyer working for the Matzs, submitted a petition containing the names of 383 people objecting to the proposal.
Opponents cited the area's rural nature, the potential impact on already overburdened schools, and the proximity of Norfolk Southern railroad tracks.
"It's a rural area. We love it being a rural area; we love the peace and quiet," said Joy Burroughs, who objected to the project's density.
Julia Akers called for building more affordable single-family homes, not trailers. "We have enough mobile home parks in our area," she said.
The Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission, which heard the comments, did not act on any of the proposals Monday. The planners are expected to make a recommendation on both projects by next month.
The third hearing, on David Harman's proposal to rezone 96 acres between Mud Pike and U.S. 11, drew only two speakers and one letter questioning the project, which includes the first phases of what eventually could become a 231-lot subdivision, Montgomery's largest.
by CNB