UPDATE The Albemarle County Board of Supervisors approved the construction of an 80-foot cell tower on Western Albemarle High School grounds, after denying a proposed 145-foot monopole cell tower last year. County staff members said the location, height, and design of the taller pole would make it too visible to surrounding properties.
According to The Daily Progress, the tower company proposing the project, Milestone Partners, said they plan to apply for a one-time, 20-foot increase in height to 100 feet tall.
As previously reported by Inside Towers, the tower will help to provide broadband access to approximately 400 homes. School staff members said that about 60 percent of students in the area could not afford broadband connectivity. Jamie Foreman, interim head of the school division’s department of learning, access, engineering, and design, said in a statement, that the school division appreciates the support from the Board of Supervisors for a project that will “contribute to meeting the school division’s priority to continue to eliminate the learning opportunity gap.”
Western Senior Joe Barrese added, “I believe that by building this tower we improve the education of thousands of current students, as well as many other future students.”
According to an agreement with Milestone, Albemarle County Public Schools will receive $25,000 when the monopole is built, $5,000 if a second carrier sets up service on the pole and 40 percent of gross revenues from leasing space on the pole. Milestone and the School Board will enter into a 10-year lease for the space necessary to construct the pole, reported the Progress.
Some residents support the tower and cited increased public safety and the current lack of reliable service, while those who did not support the tower cited its visibility.
The board voted, 4-1, to approve the shorter tower, reported the Progress.
September 25, 2018
