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Verizon plans balloon test at proposed 199-foot tower site; public hearing expected after contract review
Summary
District staff said Verizon will shift a planned 199-foot cell tower slightly to meet setback requirements and proposed a public forum with a 199-foot balloon test so neighbors can see the tower's visual impact; a public meeting date was tentatively pushed to April pending contract finalization.
District staff updated the Amherst County School Board on a proposed Verizon cell tower near Amherst High School and outlined a company proposal to use a 199-foot balloon test at a public forum so neighbors can see the tower’s placement and scale.
A district staff member said Verizon plans to move the proposed tower slightly so it will be at least 200 feet from the property line; the company’s proposal reflects that the tower’s height is 199 feet. The staff member said Verizon recommended holding the district’s requested public meeting at Manalison so attendees could better view the test and the proposed tower location. “They call it a balloon test, and they’ll actually put a large balloon up at 199 feet where the tower will go so people can actually see where it will go and what it will look like,” the staff member said.
Board members asked procedural questions about timing and the contract process. The staff member told the board that Verizon is finalizing a contract; if the district can reach agreement on that contract the company will proceed with scheduling the public hearing and the balloon test. The district suggested a tentative public hearing in April, but the staff member said the date remains contingent on contract negotiation and review.
Why it matters: a 199-foot structure near school property can be visually prominent for nearby neighborhoods. The district said the balloon test is intended to provide a visible reference point for neighbors and asked that a contract be in place before a public hearing so neighbors have full information at the forum.
Staff and board members also discussed logistics (holding the forum at Manalison to maximize visibility) and next steps: receive and review Verizon’s contract, then set a public meeting date and notify neighbors. The transcript does not record a final decision or any vote by the board on the tower or on contracts; board members requested that the contract be reviewed before any public hearing is scheduled.
Ending: Staff said it will provide the proposed Verizon contract to the board for review and will return with a public meeting date once the contract negotiations are complete.
