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King William supervisors approve 197-foot Arcola tower to fill local coverage gap
Summary
The Board of Supervisors approved a conditional use permit for a 197-foot Verizon monopole (Arcola Towers) in the Mangahook District, with conditions including county colocation space at no cost and limits on visual impact; staff said FAA rules require no lighting.
The King William County Board of Supervisors voted to approve a conditional use permit for a proposed 197-foot Arcola Towers telecommunications monopole aimed at improving cellular and internet service in an underserved portion of the county.
Planning staff presented the application during a public hearing, describing the site as a roughly 75-acre parcel in the Mangahook District (tax map 5-43) with an anticipated disturbance area of about a half‑acre. Staff said the facility is a 197‑foot monopole-style Verizon telecommunications tower with a 10‑foot gated gravel access road and that the parcel is designated Agricultural Conservation in both zoning and the future land use map. Staff told supervisors a balloon test conducted Jan. 23 produced photographs showing the tower’s projected visibility and that a community meeting on Jan. 29 included one nearby property owner and Arcola representatives.
The applicant represented by Jonathan Yates told the board the project is intended to cover a local service “deficit” or “doughnut hole” of cellular coverage. “So what we’re trying to…cover a deficit, and that’s the purpose of this facility,” Yates said, adding the design would accommodate Verizon and at least three additional broadband carriers. Yates also confirmed the applicant would provide county colocation space at no cost under a $0 lease agreement and that the county would be required to meet colocation guidelines.
Staff recommended approval with conditions, including that construction substantially conform to the conceptual site plan and that the county be provided space on the tower for county departments and emergency services. Staff and the applicant said the Federal Aviation Administration determined the structure does not meet the threshold for air-navigation lighting.
A supervisor moved to approve the conditional use permit; the board recorded 'Aye' votes and no recorded opposition, and the motion carried.
The approval authorizes the Arcola Towers site plan dated 06/10/2024 (last revised 09/05/2024) prepared by MB&C Engineering Services, and includes the conditions summarized by staff. The next administrative steps are for the applicant to comply with the conditions of approval and for staff to verify that construction matches the approved plans.
Why this matters: County staff and the applicant said the tower is intended to close a local coverage gap for residents and businesses, add LTE/5G capacity and permit other carriers to colocate. Supervisors weighed visual and land‑use impacts against those service benefits before voting to approve the permit.
What’s next: The applicant estimated construction would take about 45 days; staff and the applicant said they will coordinate final site and colocation details with county departments.
