The Morgan County Board of Zoning Appeals on Dec. 30 granted a special exception allowing Horvath Communications, with Verizon Wireless as the anchor tenant, to construct an unmanned wireless communications tower in an agricultural district in Adams Township.

Jason Riggs, representing Horvath Communications, told the board the proposal is for a guyed tower roughly 295 feet tall with a lightning rod increasing overall height to about 305 feet. He said the site will provide both increased capacity and coverage — addressing call-dropping where nearby towers are congested and filling a coverage gap along Interstate 70.

Riggs described a compound footprint of 100 by 100 feet (a quarter-acre) for the fenced equipment area, with guy wires extending outward that will occupy more of the parcel (he said the guide wires will use land out toward the property line and that the overall layout will encompass more acreage). Staff said the closest residence is approximately 325 feet from the proposed tower and that required utilities, an access drive and drainage measures will be provided. The health department raised no objection.

The county surveyor noted a plot plan and an erosion-control plan, including the construction driveway, must be submitted before any earth disturbance. Staff concluded the application met the six findings required for a special-exception wireless facility under the county Unified Development Ordinance and recommended approval.

A motion to approve petition SE-24-10 passed by voice vote after a second; the chair announced the motion carried. The approval is conditioned on the applicant submitting required plot and erosion-control plans to the surveyor’s office prior to earth disturbance, as noted in the staff record.

The tower will be unmanned and automated; the applicant stated the facility will support improved 911 communications and general mobile coverage in that portion of the county.