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Cumberland County approves conditional use permit and moves forward with Virginia State Police STARS radio system
Summary
The Board approved a conditional use permit for a 100-foot tower at the Public Safety Center and staff described a STARS network partnership with the Virginia State Police that cuts capital costs and targets full operation by March 2026.
Cumberland County supervisors voted Sept. 9 to approve a conditional use permit (CUP24-02) for a 100-foot steel lattice radio tower at the county Public Safety Center, clearing a key step for the county to join the Virginia State Police STARS (statewide public-safety radio) network.
Planning staff said the tower, to be owned by the Virginia State Police with the county as a tenant, will support multichannel digital voice and data communications for the Sheriff's Office, volunteer fire departments, EMS and animal control. The parcel at 1492 Anderson Highway is approximately 1.323 acres and currently houses the Sheriff's Office and emergency dispatch.
County staff presented a project timeline and budget breakdown. Equipment purchased through the state contract was described as being received and inventoried; the state is repurposing an existing tower and will perform the install, saving the county roughly $140,000 versus purchasing a new tower. The project’s estimated capital cost to the county is about $2,054,930; after discounts, grants and restructured debt the expected fund-balance draw is roughly $51,701. Staff said field installations and vehicle radio installs will run through March 2026, with an operational target of March 2026.
Planning staff requested a waiver because the parcel is small and the required fall radius (60 feet per a KCI Technologies structural report) would extend beyond county-owned property. Supervisors asked about insurance and proximity to the building; staff said they would follow up with the county risk manager and state police as needed. The Planning Commission had recommended approval unanimously.
‘We are essentially getting a $4,000,000 project for roughly $2,000,000,’ a staff presentation said, summarizing one-time capital savings and projected annual operational savings of $150,000–$200,000 compared with an in-house system.
The board approved the CUP by voice vote. The tower foundation contract will be awarded after permit processes are complete, and foundation work is slated to occur between October and December with radio installations and field testing beginning in December and continuing into early 2026.
What’s next: Staff will finalize the tower foundation contract after the CUP process and coordinate the state police-led equipment installation and training; the board asked staff to return if insurance or other site-specific issues require further action.
