Planning commission approves conditional permit for 199-foot cell tower near Chattahoochee River

On Feb. 18 the City of South Fulton Planning Commission voted to approve a conditional special-use permit for a 199-foot telecommunications support tower proposed at 0 Cochran Road (U26-001).

Staff recommended approval with one specific condition: adherence to the Clifton Day overlay district requirements, including a required stealth design. Staff said wireless facilities must be dismantled and removed within 90 days of the date wireless communication ceases.

Applicant Patton Hahn (1901 6th Avenue North, Birmingham, Alabama) told commissioners the project is intended to improve cellular coverage along Cochran Road near the Chattahoochee River. He said T‑Mobile would be the anchor tenant and the tower would be available for co-location by Verizon and AT&T. Hahn displayed propagation studies and said existing nearby towers do not provide adequate coverage, making a new tower the only viable option.

During questioning Vice Chair Stacy Williams asked for a visual description. The applicant said the tower is a monopole with a tree‑like top ('stealth') and that the site is heavily wooded; he said minimal vegetation removal is planned and fence and other requirements will be met. He added that equipment placement is conditioned on compliance with FCC safety limits.

Commission action and next steps

The commission first approved staff’s findings of fact and then approved the application conditionally based on staff recommendations. The case is scheduled for the Mayor and Council meeting on March 10, where the council will take the final vote.