ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, November 20, 1996 TAG: 9611200079
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: CHRISTINA NUCKOLS STAFF WRITER
The Roanoke County supervisors voted down a request Tuesday night for a cellular tower near Dragon's Tooth, voicing fears that approval would have attracted more requests in a scenic region of the county.
"How do I say 'Yes' to [U.S. Cellular] and say 'No' to the next five that come along and be absolutely fair?" asked Cave Spring Supervisor Fuzzy Minnix.
U.S. Cellular had proposed a 190-foot lattice tower on the lower slope of Cove Mountain at Virginia 311 and Newport Road (Virginia 624) in northwestern Roanoke County.
Supervisors were unanimous in their vote to deny the request. They also agreed that the county needs a formal policy to address an anticipated increase in tower applications.
Eleven people spoke during a public hearing on the tower request, with seven of them opposed.
Catawba resident Sharon Kennedy described the towers as "horrifically ugly" and warned, "There may be more towers on the horizon, no pun intended."
Jason Atkins of Roanoke presented a petition with 329 signatures opposing the tower. The petition was circulated at local colleges and businesses, he said.
Several people speaking in favor of the tower were residents of Craig County, who said their cellular reception is poor. Dr. William Anderson said cellular phones could have saved lives lost in hunting accidents, fires and other emergencies.
"My fear is you guys can think of this as just another tower," Anderson said.
Developers of the tower had agreed that the tower and any future dishes would be painted a dark greenish-gray to blend in with the mountain. They also had reduced the height of the tower to less than 200 feet so it would not require lights or red and white stripes used to make taller structures visible to airplanes.
Donald Maty, president of a company identifying tower sites for U.S. Cellular, said a contract has been signed with American Electric Power to place cell towers on top of power line structures, but no such site was available in the Virginia 311 corridor where service improvements are needed.
The tower would have been visible for at least a mile along Virginia 311, which has been designated a scenic byway. The site chosen for the tower also was within 200 feet of the Appalachian Trail. U.S. Cellular worked with the Appalachian Trail Conference and the National Forest Service to get their approval.
Earlier this month, the Planning Commission split in a 2-2 vote with one member absent, so the tower request came before the supervisors with no clear recommendation. Commissioners opposed to the tower cited its effect on the ridgeline, while supporters said that effect was outweighed by the need for cellular service in northwestern Roanoke County and Craig County.
Under federal laws passed by Congress this year, local governments are prohibited from discriminating among cellular providers and must provide written evidence to support any zoning decision that affects cellular service. Supervisors issued a written statement justifying their vote. Representatives for U.S. Cellular said Tuesday they had not decided whether to appeal the decision in court.
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