Planning commission recommends approval of 199‑foot communications tower despite strong neighborhood opposition

The Hernando County Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval of a public service facility overlay district to permit a 199‑foot monopole communications tower on property owned by a local church, despite extensive neighborhood opposition at the public hearing.

Applicant representatives said T‑Mobile would be the anchor tenant, the design includes four collocation pads, an 8‑foot opaque wood fence around the compound, a sound‑damped backup generator and a 37‑foot engineered fall zone. The applicant also noted an FAA determination of "no hazard" to air navigation and offered photo simulations showing limited visibility from several vantage points.

Residents who live on Rolling Acres and nearby streets offered multiple statements against the tower, citing concerns about visual impact, proximity to backyards and schools, property‑value effects, and perceived health risks associated with radio frequency emissions. The applicant and county attorney repeatedly told the commission that federal law preempts local governments from denying siting permits on the basis of RF environmental effects if the facility complies with FCC regulations; commissioners therefore focused their deliberations on setbacks, buffering and the tower’s placement on the parcel.

Commissioners debated an initial motion, which failed, then returned to a revised motion to recommend approval of the applicant’s proposed site plan and deviations for north and west setbacks to position the tower adjacent to a Dollar General and farther from residences. The commission voted 5–0 to recommend approval; the project will next be heard by the Board of County Commissioners, which will make the final decision.