The Davidson County Board of Commissioners on Monday approved a special‑use permit for Tillman Infrastructure LLC to build a 160‑foot monopole telecommunications tower (170 feet including the 10‑foot lightning rod) on Lot 45 in Arcadia Township, with conditions including a removal/decommissioning bond and review by county legal staff.

John Birchfield, representing LCC Telecom Services and Tillman Infrastructure, told the board the monopole will accommodate at least three carriers, include a roughly 50‑by‑50‑foot equipment compound, meet required setbacks and include a fall‑zone design and balloon‑test documentation. Birchfield said the site is naturally screened by woods and that Tillman would comply with removal and notification requirements in the ordinance.

Andrew Baker, a licensed real estate appraiser with Valbridge Property Advisors, testified that after reviewing sales and brokers he concluded, based on limited data points, that adjoining property values would be maintained. Multiple nearby landowners disputed aspects of the analysis and raised safety, visual and access concerns. Will Warwick, who said he owns Lot 36 nearby, asked the board to investigate how a historical right‑of‑way affecting his parcel was lost and requested negotiation of access rights with neighboring owners who are offering easement use for the tower driveway.

Residents including Foker Stever said the balloon test did not include their residences and described the tower as visually dominant from their yards. Birchfield and planning staff addressed safety questions, explaining that monopole towers rarely fail in the way a 302‑foot guyed tower did in Ohio and that a removal bond and decommissioning plan could be required and reviewed by the county’s legal department.

Planning staff recommended approval, noting the applicant submitted all required documentation. The board considered four statutory standards for a special‑use permit and approved them by roll call or voice vote (standard 1 passed 5–1; standard 2 6–0; standards 3 and 4 carried), then approved the special‑use permit and attached conditions requiring a removal/decommissioning bond sized to cover removal costs and language to be reviewed by legal counsel and the county manager.

Under the ordinance, if radio‑frequency lighting is required by the Federal Aviation Administration the applicant would be required to comply; staff noted the proposed height is below automatic FAA lighting thresholds. The planning department will coordinate bond language and the decommissioning plan with the applicant and the county attorney before issuing the final order.