Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Telecommunications Zoning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Commission approves 245‑foot lattice tower at Georgia Power substation in District 5
Summary
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners unanimously approved a conditional‑use request for a 245‑foot lattice communications tower at 60 Glen Loch Road to support Georgia Power’s Southern Link system; the applicant said the structure will meet county code setbacks and lighting requirements.
The Carroll County Board of Commissioners approved a conditional‑use application on Aug. 6, 2025, for a 245‑foot lattice communications tower at 60 Glen Loch Road, sited between two Georgia Power substations and intended to carry proprietary Southern Link antennas for Georgia Power operations.
Ben Skipper, the county’s community development director, presented the application (CDash25‑07‑01) and said the planning commission had recommended approval, 5‑0. Applicant representative Matt Chania John stated the tower would be located between a switching station and a substation, would meet and exceed required setbacks, and would be designed for shared use under county code. He said the structure is light gray and provided photo simulations showing the tower visible only above the tree line from some distant vantage points.
Commissioners asked about future carriers collocating on the tower, generator plans and tax assessment. The applicant said AT&T is the most likely commercial colocator and that Diamond Communications would own the steel structure; the county tax assessor would likely assess Diamond for the tower’s personal property. The applicant said the site is at a substation and would draw power there if needed; commercial carriers that collocate often install sound‑attenuated generators to maintain 9‑1‑1 capability during outages. The applicant also committed to directional red lighting at night in compliance with safety requirements for a tower of that height.
Commissioner Hicks asked whether a tower collapse could fall outside the property; the applicant said the fall radius would remain within the parcel footprint in "most directions." Community development staff confirmed that any later addition of a generator or changes to the equipment would require a separate permit through the department.
Commissioner Chance moved to approve the application; the motion was seconded and passed by the board with a recorded outcome of 6‑0.
