The Alleghany County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a measure restricting wireless communication towers at its meeting Monday.
The action came after a public hearing that spanned almost an hour, during which representatives of Carolina West Wireless spoke the longest. Other local tower owners were also on hand.
County Planner Jack Conaway said, "We worked hard to craft a wireless communication tower ordinance for our county...that met both the needs of the community - the community at large - and the business community.
"It is not our intent to interfere with businesses providing this service to the county."
Carolina West asked the county to increase the tower height restriction from 125 to 150 feet. However, the county planner pointed out that the company could get increased height via a variance.
Conaway also pointed out that the proposed ordinance was not as restrictive as ordinances passed in surrounding counties. Members of the industry were present at an earlier meeting that invited their input.
Local resident Paul Church, who says he has 14 units on towers, and one tower that is now 80 feet for U.S. Cellular. "In the contract it is stipulated that they can go 150 feet." County Manager Don Adams said that would be a good case for a variance.
In addition, Paul Reeves said he has approval for a tower now from the FCC. He noted that the county has a problem with the old fire tower, concerning no fence around it and other problems. "We're going to fence the fire tower," Adams said.
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