Planning commission recommends approval of U.S. Cellular tower permit with operational and oversight conditions

The Charlotte County Planning Commission on May 28 recommended approval of U.S. Cellular’s conditional use permit to construct a telecommunications tower on a portion of Tax Parcel 8-A-26 owned by Blue Rock Resources, LLC. Andrew Carwile moved the recommendation and George Sandridge seconded; the motion carried with all members present voting yes.

The commission adopted a set of conditions that staff read into the record. Those conditions require the tower owner to adhere to all applicable federal, state and local laws and permits, and to build and operate substantially in accordance with the approved site plan. County officials — including the County Administrator, Building Official and Zoning Administrator or their designees — are permitted to enter the property to check compliance with reasonable advance notice and subject to applicable safety standards.

The permit requires the tower to be fully operational within two years of approval; the owner may request extensions in writing 45 days before the approval lapses, with a discretionary six-month extension possible from the zoning administrator and further extensions authorized only by the Board of Supervisors upon a showing of good cause. The tower owner must notify Charlotte County of any additional equipment placed on the tower after it is in operation and obtain a building permit for that equipment, and is responsible for restoring any driveway damaged by construction or subsequent use. The conditions also state that violations could lead to a stop order or revocation of the conditional use permit by the Board of Supervisors.

The commission’s action was a recommendation to the Board of Supervisors; the Board will consider the permit and the conditions as the next formal step in the approval process.