Verizon seeks lease on school property; board asks for more information amid health and aesthetic concerns

Verizon representatives and a third‑party site manager presented a proposal on Jan. 8 to lease space on Roanoke County school property for a wireless monopole, outlining two possible locations and asking whether the board wanted the company to invest in engineering and design work.

Laurie Schweller, an attorney with Williams Mullen representing Verizon, said a typical lease would call for a roughly 75×75‑foot compound (adjustable), with five‑year renewal options that commonly extend to a 25‑year total term. She walked the board through the special‑use‑permit process required by Roanoke County and said the installation would require only electricity and fiber, limited routine technician visits and, depending on the option, either replacement of an existing light pole or a new freestanding monopole.

Board members pressed on height and footprint: presenters cited example monopoles up to about 95 feet and said engineers could examine whether a shorter pole would meet coverage needs on higher ground. Presenters said ground equipment could be fenced, and multiple carriers could share equipment in an expanded compound if desired.

Several board members voiced health and safety concerns. One member said international studies suggested elevated radiation exposure near some towers and that they were not willing to accept potential risks to students; Laurie Schweller and Verizon representatives responded that the Federal Communications Commission, the Food and Drug Administration and the National Institutes of Health set exposure standards and that those agencies did not show evidence of harm at levels typical of such facilities. Schweller said the FCC does not recommend a specific exclusion distance and that federal agencies continually review standards.

Presenters said they had searched for alternate commercial sites and used radio‑frequency modeling to identify locations that meet coverage, setback and engineering requirements; they reported few viable alternate parcels that would meet the modeling needs in the Cave Spring area.

The board did not authorize design or permitting work. Members asked staff and Verizon for additional peer‑jurisdiction examples, engineering details (including whether a shorter pole could achieve coverage), and community engagement materials before any firm commitment to move into design or the special‑use‑permit process.