Roanoke, Virginia is updating its wireless telecom policy. Much of the updates concern cell tower location and design.
City officials believe the update is needed as carriers want to build more infrastructure to keep up with increased consumer demand for wireless devices. Roanoke City Planner Wayne Leftwich tells WDBJ(TV), “They want the coverage, they recognize the need for it, but they do want to make sure it’s done in a way that respects our community and respects the beauty of the valley.”
The document is a vision for 2020 and beyond. It updates a 2004 policy. The new text gets the city current with new technology, takes into account new federal telecom regulations and includes public input, according to Leftwich. Consumers told the city they want smaller, less visible poles.
The policy spells out how Roanoke will facilitate “development of the capacity and coverage of fiber-optic, cable and wireless communications networks.” It also states the visual impact will be minimized by co-location and strategic tower siting.
The intent is to give wireless telecommunications companies, property owners and residents clear guidelines governing cell tower sites and designs on public and private lands with minimal visual impact. “Visibility can be measured in terms of the size, height, bulk, and location of the facility,” states the city in the document. “Visibility can be further mitigated by the strategic placement of the facility on a site and the use of vegetative screening.”
“It is the applicant’s burden to substantiate that the requested location is necessary for service coverage and that the proposed facility is the least intrusive means to close a significant gap in service,” states the city. Much of the language spells out what Roanoke considers to be concealing or disguising a tower.
Roanoke wants wireless companies to “always seek opportunities to locate on existing structures, like buildings, water tanks, or utility poles. Other options include flagpoles, church steeples and treetops.
If a new tower does need to be built, monopole stealth towers are preferred over lattice designed structures and guyed towers may be acceptable in “remote locations.” The guidelines go into detail over mounting equipment and tower visibility.
Wireless telecommunications development company Blue Ridge Towers President Anthony Smith worked with the city on the policy. He also owns wireless antenna sites and believes the new draft policy is a fair and balanced approach.
The Roanoke Planning Commission will review and finalize the policy September 12, and the City Council will do the same on September 19. The city will begin using the new guidelines after that.
Reader Interactions