Board approves 199‑foot telecom tower in Berkeley district to improve rural coverage

Spotsylvania County supervisors unanimously approved a special‑use permit for a telecommunications monopole in the Berkeley voting district to improve wireless and broadband service in a rural area.

Planning staff described the proposal as a 195‑foot monopole with a four‑foot lightning rod (199 feet overall) to sit within a 2,500‑square‑foot compound surrounded by an undisturbed 100‑foot vegetation buffer and an eight‑foot fence. Staff and the Planning Commission found the application compliant with the comprehensive plan and the county’s special‑use standards. The commission added a condition requiring the owner to pursue and install reflective concealment materials if they become commercially available.

A Berkeley District resident, Attila J. Bodnar, expressed concern about electromagnetic emissions and asked for limits and monitoring. The applicant’s representative said Verizon is the lead carrier, that FCC and FAA reviews have been completed and that independent electromagnetic emission (EME) studies demonstrate levels well below federal limits for human exposure. The applicant also said Verizon will bring fiber to the pole and that multiple carriers have expressed interest.

The board approved the permit and attached the staff‑recommended conditions, including remediation steps if the site causes interference to television, amateur radio or public‑safety systems; providing up‑to‑date owner contact information; and preserving the vegetative buffer. The vote was 7–0.