County approves two Vertical Bridge towers to fill Verizon coverage gaps

Washington County commissioners voted to approve special exceptions for two proposed cellular communications towers, both submitted by Vertical Bridge to host Verizon and reserve space for future carriers.

Senior planner Don McDonald told the board the first proposal, the Vertical Bridge Haddock Tower, is a monopole roughly 199 feet tall on about 12 acres at 2905 Pioneer Road. "This tower is approximately 199 feet high," McDonald said, adding the site includes a 100-by-100 leased compound, a 50-by-50 fenced area for equipment, and a 10-by-10 reserved space for county emergency communications. Staff and the planning commission recommended approval, and no neighbors attended the required neighborhood information meeting; the board approved the special exception by voice vote.

The board considered a second Vertical Bridge request — the Cook Tower — a 260-foot lattice structure on about 18.65 acres on Peristill Road. McDonald said the site similarly reserves space for Verizon and two future carriers and includes county-reserved antenna space. Attorney John, representing the applicant, told commissioners the towers "are trying to solve a gap in coverage" along Pioneer Road and west of Vernon. He added the Cook Tower’s increased height was needed to meet Verizon’s coverage requirements.

Both items included associated development-review applications and variance requests. Public notice and planning-commission review were completed; commissioners approved both special exceptions and the related development orders during the public-hearing portion of the meeting.