T-Mobile to Appeal Denial

After the Board of Commissioners denied T-Mobile’s request for a tower in New Hanover County, North Carolina, the company decided to appeal the decision in the New Hanover County Superior Court. The 150-foot tower was met with opposition from neighbors during a March 2 Board of Commissioners meeting, which ultimately led to the denial of the tower with Commissioner Rob Zapple saying it would cause “visual disharmony.” “Commissioner Zapple’s motion to deny the Application instead reflected a lack of impartial decision-making and a predisposition towards denial,” the filing read. (Star News Online) The appeal alleges that the Commissioners denied the application solely on the generalized objections of the community members, and the denial was “arbitrary and capricious.” T-Mobile had previously applied for a special-use permit to place the structure in the area’s residential zone. The project was recommended for approval by county staff and the county planning board. “In a response, Deputy County Attorney Sharon J. Huffman denied nearly all of the company’s allegations and asked the court to uphold the Board of Commissioners’ decision,” according to the Star News Online.