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Board of Appeals hears conditional-use application for Queen Tree cell tower in Mechanicsville
Summary
The St. Mary's County Board of Appeals heard a conditional‑use application May 7 for a proposed communication tower on Oakville Road in Mechanicsville. Staff described the site plan and ongoing agency reviews; the board asked about 5G compatibility, tree heights and stormwater controls. No final decision was made.
The St. Mary's County Board of Appeals on May 7 took testimony and staff presentations on a conditional‑use application for the Queen Tree communication tower proposed at 41220 Oakville Road in Mechanicsville.
The application, filed for a 16.45‑acre parcel owned by Heritage Oak Farm Partnership, requests approval under the county Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance (Chapter 25) for a commercial communication tower. Harry Knight of Land Use and Growth Management described the site as a commercial nursery with a proposed 80‑by‑80‑foot lease area, a 60‑by‑60‑foot equipment pad, five equipment shelters, a 10‑foot chain‑link fence and a 10‑foot‑wide access road into the forested area. "All required agency reviews for the commercial site plan are currently in process," Knight said.
Why it matters: The proposal raises routine zoning and environmental questions for nearby residents — tree clearing, visual impact, stormwater controls and whether the tower will be configured for next‑generation wireless (often described as "5G"). The board’s review will determine whether the conditional‑use standards for the Rural Preservation District…
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