Moore County approves conditional rezoning for 259-foot wireless tower on N.C. 2427

The Moore County Board of Commissioners on April 2025 approved a conditional rezoning for a 259-foot wireless communications tower on a 6.31-acre parcel at 9739 N.C. 2427, allowing Jordan 3, LLC to locate a 0.11-acre tower pad for Verizon service.

The decision follows a continued public hearing from the Feb. 18 meeting and a presentation from county planning staff and the applicant. Planning Director Deborah Hensminger told commissioners the request had been reviewed by the planning board, which voted 7-0 that the rezoning was consistent with the county land-use plan and recommended approval to the commissioners.

Supporters and applicants said the tower would fill a coverage gap along N.C. 2427 and improve access to 9-1-1 and emergency alerts, while opponents raised health and visual-impact concerns. Jonathan Yates, an attorney representing the applicant, told the board, “Folks traveling the road can use their phones. Folks living there can use their phones,” and added the primary public-safety benefit was improved access to emergency services and county alerts.

Why it matters: County planning staff said the tower site is limited to a small 0.11-acre portion of a larger 6.31-acre parcel; the rest of the property will remain zoned for agricultural uses. Commissioners approved a site-specific conditional zoning application enabling a wireless communications facility while leaving the bulk of the parcel in rural agricultural use.

What the board heard: Applicant representatives, including attorney Frank Longest and consultant Jonathan Yates, said the company relocated the proposed tower site after public meetings to address neighbor concerns. Yates said the site moved from about 229 feet off the road to about 470 feet off the road and that the tower would be sited to avoid nearby equestrian facilities. He said the tower compound is a 70-by-70-foot area and that other carriers could collocate on the structure in the future.

Resident speakers criticized the siting and raised health concerns tied to radiofrequency exposure. Gary Sullivan, a resident who spoke in opposition, cited older research and urged the board to consider alternative sites farther from homes and the road. Commissioners and applicant representatives discussed sight lines, the feasibility of moving the tower farther back without creating new impacts for other neighbors, and engineering standards intended to limit hazards.

Safety, engineering and approvals: The applicant stated the tower was engineered to ANSI/TIA‑222‑H standards for wind and ice loading and said the Federal Aviation Administration issued a “no hazard” determination. The North Carolina State Historic Preservation Office review was cited as finding no effect on archaeological or historic sites. The applicant estimated about 60–90 days for major construction once permits are in hand, with periodic technician visits thereafter.

Outcome and next steps: The board voted to approve the conditional rezoning to Rural Agricultural Conditional Zoning (RA‑CZ) for the 0.11-acre tower pad to allow construction of the 259-foot wireless communications facility owned by Jordan 3, LLC (deed book 4092, page 40). The motion was adopted by voice vote; the transcript records the motion carrying but does not list a roll-call tally. The approved conditional zoning requires a site-specific development plan and conditions the county and property owner agreed to during the rezoning process.

Context and history: The hearing was a continuation of a previously delayed rezoning request that drew community opposition at an earlier March 2024 meeting; applicant representatives said they met with neighbors twice and relocated the proposed tower to address concerns. County staff said the planning board had earlier found the request consistent with the county’s rural agricultural future‑land‑use designation.

Claims and concerns left on the record: Public commenters cited research and asserted potential health effects from electromagnetic fields; county staff and applicant representatives noted engineering standards, FAA and state historic‑preservation reviews, and the public‑safety rationale for improved coverage. The transcript records the public comments and the applicant’s responses but does not include independent scientific evidence introduced to the record.

Speakers quoted or referenced in this article include Deborah Hensminger, planning director; Jonathan Yates, attorney for the applicant; Frank Longest, North Carolina counsel for the applicant; Gary Bowles, property owner/supporter; and Gary Sullivan, resident commenter opposed. The record shows the board adopted the rezoning after discussion and public comment.

The county will now proceed under the conditional‑zoning approval and the site‑specific plan process required under the Unified Development Ordinance for final permitting and construction.