No hang-ups on Volusia County tower request - The West Volusia Beacon

In response to calls to improve cellphone service in the northwest part of the county, the Volusia County Planning and Land Development Regulation Commission has endorsed a request to build a communications tower in Pierson.

“We are proposing a 255-foot tower,” Andrew Rotenstreich, attorney for the applicants, told the PLDRC July 18. “There is a significant gap of cell service in this area.”

“It gives the coverage that AT&T needs,” he also said.

The site of the tower is a narrow strip of land on the west side of U.S. Highway 17 and along the CSX railroad, between Nolan Road and Little Brown Church Road. CSX Transportation Inc. is the owner of the land, which is zoned Prime Agriculture (A-1). The property in question is approximately 10,000 square feet. Approval of the tower would come in the form of granting a special exception in the zoning and accepting three variances to reduce setbacks of the property lines on three sides. While the PLDRC signed off on the request, the County Council will have the final say on the matter.

As well as handling AT&T’s call volume, the tower will also provide leases for other companies wishing to place their relay equipment on it. Those companies include T-Mobile and Verizon, Rotenstreich added. The applicants for the cell tower are Kendal Lotze and Ignite Wireless.

“This whole project started in 2022,” he said. “This is the only tower that will be needed in this area.”

The county planning staff’s report notes that the lattice-style tower will be built so as to minimize danger to anyone.

“It is not likely to be injurious to the area,” the report reads. “Adding a new communication tower to the area will improve reception for the citizens and emergency services. A fall letter was provided with the special exception application and if the tower were to fall, it would collapse into itself and not onto adjacent parcels.”

“You can’t let it fall on the railroad tracks, and you can’t let it fall on the road,” Rotenstreich said, adding there are few, if any, other sites suitable for the tower. “We’re down to a few spots, and we’re trying to stay away from residents as far as possible.”

“There’s no noise. There’s no dust. There are no fumes,” he also said.

As for possible dangers to aircraft and those aboard them, County Planner Kristen Ray said a key federal agency finds no problem with the addition of another tower.

“We did receive a letter from the FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] that there would be no hazard,” she told the commission.

PLDRC Secretary Edith Shelley moved to forward the proposal to the County Council with the commission’s recommendation for approval. Commissioner Frank Costa seconded. The commission was unanimous, 6-0, in favor of the project.

“That highway is heavily but extremely dark,” Costa said, referring to U.S. 17 and the need for reliable communication in the event of an emergency.

The County Council will act Sept. 3 on the proposal to build the tower.