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Board gets updates on radio system, grants, RISE Smart subscription and schedules zoning hearing on communication towers
Summary
The board received committee updates on a county radio upgrade (expected initial completion in May, installations by June), grant efforts including a $200,000 FEMA application, a one-year RISE Smart subscription approved for disaster mapping, and an ordinance committee recommendation to hold a Jan. 22 joint public hearing with the planning commission to consider adding communications towers to the conservation recreation district by special-use permit.
The Smyth County Board of Supervisors heard updates from committee chairs on several infrastructure and planning topics, including a radio-system upgrade, grant activity, adoption of a RISE Smart regional site plan subscription, and a proposed zoning text amendment to allow communication towers by special-use permit in the conservation recreation district.
Public safety staff reported the county’s radio installation is complete for emergency towers and that testing will use a GIS-based quadrant map to drive countywide coverage checks; the project lead anticipated an initial completion target in May and installations finished by June, with projected 93–94 percent coverage after testing.
Committee members described active grant efforts, including a $200,000 FEMA grant and a $400,000 mitigation grant application, and stressed the value of pursuing all funding opportunities. The public safety committee recommended subscribing to the RISE Smart site plan and associated program; staff said the first year would be at no cost to the county and the board approved the committee recommendation to accept the subscription without purchasing the optional iPad.
Separately, the ordinance committee discussed an Appalachian Power request to locate a communications tower on Flat Top Mountain and recommended proposing a text amendment to allow communication towers in the conservation recreation district by special-use permit. The committee recommended scheduling a joint public hearing with the planning commission on Jan. 22 to consider the amendment; the board accepted that recommendation.
Supervisors and staff also discussed statewide pressure related to data centers and solar facilities and the potential need to persuade state lawmakers to preserve local land-use authority. No binding county-level decisions on data centers were made; the committee recommended a joint board/planning commission process to study data centers, agritourism, tiny homes and RVs used for temporary housing before reporting back to the board and, if needed, scheduling public hearings.
