Nottoway approves 300-foot radio tower at health department site for county emergency radio system

The Nottoway County Board of Supervisors on Tuesday approved a special-exception request to build a 300-foot self-supporting communications tower at the county health department site to host the countys P25 public-safety radio network.

County staff and consultants said the tower is critical to linking dispatch into the new radio system and to improving coverage across central and southeastern portions of the county. The project drew public comment and technical questions about visibility, setback waivers and safety before the board voted to grant the requested relief with staff conditions.

Greg Zote, county planning staff, told the board the proposal would place the tower on the health department parcel and asked the board to waive portions of the zoning setbacks under section 4-13-10 of the county zoning ordinance so the tower could sit closer to the existing dispatch complex. Zote said staff recommended approval with conditions including marking the propane tank slab and the drain field in the field and on construction plans and requiring a 10-foot construction setback from the active drain field.

Brian Thomas, a Crewe resident and planning commissioner who…