After filing State Senate Bill 255 mandating approval for cell tower construction, State Senator John D. Bell has been met with a chorus of disapproving voices. The seven mayors representing The Coalition of Loudoun Towns (COLT) have spoken out against the Virginia politician’s bill, reports Loudoun Now.
Although his original proposal of 200 feet was cut back to 150 feet during committee review, COLT and others are not comfortable with the idea that automatic approval would allow cell towers under that height to be built without local oversight. Bell’s proposal would streamline construction for cell towers not exceeding the height requirement, provided that the next closest tower is at least four miles away. The cell towers would also need to benefit emergency personnel.
“The Bill’s provision requiring approval if additional capacity or coverage was created for first responders is a de facto removal of any local zoning authority for communications infrastructure because the possibility that a first responder may use the coverage or capacity from the newly installed infrastructure is certain and absolute,” reads a letter drafted by COLT.
Concerns were also raised that Senate Bill 255 would be overly favorable to AT&T, the sponsor of the FirstNet emergency response network, according to Loudoun Now. The bill has been sent back to the committee for further review after receiving a 9-6 vote approving continued discussion.
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