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Charlotte County planning commission backs U.S. Cellular tower permit despite resident's health concerns
Summary
The Charlotte County Planning Commission on June 23 recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve U.S. Cellular's conditional-use permit with proposed conditions, after hearing a resident's concerns about 5G-related health risks and staff explanation of a prior technical problem that delayed voicemail comments.
The Charlotte County Planning Commission recommended that the Board of Supervisors approve a conditional-use permit for a U.S. Cellular tower after discussion on Tuesday that included a resident's concerns about potential health risks associated with 5G service. The commission voted unanimously to stand by its May recommendation to approve the application with the proposed conditions.
The matter drew public comment from Eleanor Cox, who said her family's voicemail comments on the application had not been included at the May public hearing because of a technical issue. Cox told the commission she had submitted materials citing several studies linking 5G and health problems and asked whether commissioners had read her comments. Staff later explained the county's voicemail comment system had failed to transmit those recordings at the May hearing and invited Cox to present her concerns; Cox did so on June 23.
County staff and commissioners discussed the application with participation from a U.S. Cellular representative. The discussion focused on the need for additional wireless service in the area, technical differences between 4G and 5G, how tower frequencies operate and the process for upgrading existing towers. Supervisor Kay Pierantoni, the Board of Supervisors' representative at the meeting, recommended that U.S. Cellular provide documented studies addressing 5G and health to support the application.
After that exchange Eugene Wells moved to "stand by the recommendation the Planning Commission made in May to recommend approval of the application with the proposed conditions." Kerwin Kunath seconded the motion, and the motion carried with all members present voting yes. The motion preserves the commission's prior recommendation and sends that recommendation, with the record that Cox's voicemail comments were presented on June 23, to the Board of Supervisors for final action.
The commission did not make a finding on the health-science claims raised during public comment; commissioners instead asked for supporting documentation from the applicant and focused their formal recommendation on zoning and permit conditions. The Board of Supervisors will consider the commission's recommendation at a later meeting.
